Wheat Variety Development Impact
In Montana, producers face widely variable environmental and growing conditions. It is difficult to use the same variety of seed from one side of the state to the other. Adapted varieties enhance production, efficiency and profitability. As a land grant institution, Montana State University has dedicated itself to finding solutions for the state's producers.
HOW?
New crop varieties from MSU are the results of scientific research conducted by MAES scientists. They are tested across the state to ensure they are best suited to address production challenges in Montana, including pests and drought and more. For example, Dagmar, an MSU spring wheat variety, was bred to have increased resistance to wheat stem sawfly.
WHY?
Each crop variety is bred with the end goal of increasing yield for growers. In Montana, spring and winter wheat and durum provide approximately $2 billion in revenue. through cutting-edge science and years of research into every variety, MSU continues to be dedicated to increasing take-home profit for growers and increasing the profitability of Montana's agriculture industry.
STATS, FACTS AND FIGURES
Wheat
Total acres of all wheat seeded in Montana for 2022 are estimated at 5.59 million acres, up from 5.52 million acres planted in 2021. Montana is ranked third in all wheat planted acreage in the United States with 11.9% of the 47.1 million acres planted.
- MSU-grown spring wheat varieties account for 2 million acres in Montana.
- MSU-grown winter wheat varieties account for 1.25 million acres in Montana.
- Vida is once again the leading spring wheat variety in Montana for 2022. Vida accounts for 22% of the 2.75 million acres of spring wheat planted in 2022.
- Warhorse is once again the leading winter wheat variety planted in Montana for 2022. Warhorse accounts for 28% of the 2.05 million acres of winter wheat planted.
- Bobcat is the third most common winter wheat variety for 2022. It accounts for 10% of the state's winter wheat acreage.
- Yellowstone is the fourth most common winter wheat variety planted in Montana. It accounts for 6% of the total winter wheat acreage in 2022.
Barley
- Total acres of barley seeded in Montana for 2022 are estimated at 1,090,000, up from 940,000 acres planted in 2021. Montana continued to rank first in barley acreage in the United States with 36% of the 3.05 million acres planted.
- Haxby is the leading feed barley variety planted in 2022 on 7% of all barley acreage.