USA: Montana farmers are planning to plant the smallest barley crop in 52 years

Montana farmers are planning to plant the smallest barley crop in 52 years, according to statistician Peggy Stringer of the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service in Helena, Mont. Montana farmers told the agency they plan to plant 50 thousand fewer barley acres than last year.

As of April 15, Montana farmers have planted 11 % of the planned barley crop, said Stringer. "They appear to be slower on planting this year. "Last year at this time they had 31 % of the barley crop."

Stringer said farmers plan to plant 950,000 acres of barley, down 50,000 acres from last year's 1 million acres. "That's the lowest it has been since 1953," she said. "We haven't been below a million for 52 years, but we've been as high as two million acres."

Stringer said she believes decreased barley contracts and the virtually non-existent feed barley market have played a significant role in the decrease in barley production in Montana. "It has been a downward spiral in barley production the past few years and the numbers keep dropping," she said. "We no longer have a feed barley market, and if their barley doesn't make malt, the farmers have nothing. They're unwilling to grow barley without a contract."

The record barley acreage planted was in 1986 with 2.4 million acres planted; the year also holds the record for the most acres harvested at 2.18 million acres. Last year holds the record for the best yield of 59 bushel per acre.

The year 1996 holds the record for the highest barley price at $3.34 and the highest average price of $3.07 for the season.