We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Winter wheat harvest is well underway. This combine is in high production on the Colter and Kelly Cederberg place near Turner. Spring Wheat harvest is ready to start as well as a number of other crops including peas, lentils, corn, oats, hay and Kamut.
The days are getting a little shorter, summer youth activities are winding down and junior and senior high school student athletes are gearing up for the fall sports season. As the community transitions from one season to the next the agricultural sector prepares for its annual harvest.
The farming and ranching industries of Blaine County are vital to the well being of everyone who calls this section of the Hi-Line home,
Winter wheat harvest is in full swing and spring wheat is ready to be cut any day now. Theses to grains make up the majority of the counties production but producers also grow corn, peas, lentils, oats and even the ancient grain known as Kamut among others. Of course hay is a big commodity as well and the region seems to have plenty of it right now.
When the year began it seemed as though we were headed for a long dry year but a wet spring continued into a wet summer and with many areas receiving well above average rainfall a bumper crop was a real possibility.
Talking with many of our eldest and wisest residents brings a similar response to this year's moisture, 'I've never seen it this green August 1st', is an opinion shared by many. Yes, precipitation has been great but things aren't as rosy as they may seem.
Early reports from area producers on their winter wheat crops have suggested a high bushel per acre harvest but protein content seems to be a real concern. Some have cut 11% grain but most are down around 8-9%.
In addition grain prices are really low and with current prices being what they are and protein content being what it is many are simply storing their grain in hopes of change in value down the line. 100 bushel per acre grain is great but if protein content is low it may be valued at less the two dollars a bushel
This dilemma makes it very important that producers check with the county USDA office for the posted daily grain prices. These prices vary from county to county and are adjusted daily.
It's important for producers to keep up with the market change and how it relates to the Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP) program established in the 2014 Farm Bill. This program establishes a guaranteed price per bushel on various crops through 2018.
The LDP price for Winter Wheat is $2.86 meaning that a producer is guaranteed that price. Last week the posted daily price for Winter Wheat was $2.91 at one point making it the closest grain to the LDP.
What the LDP does is reimburse the farmer the difference per bushel should the posted daily price fall below the benchmark. For example if a producer has 100,000 bushels of Winter Wheat and the posted price is $2.76 they would stand to receive 10¢/bushel from the USDA to cover the difference.
Where the grain is harvested does not affect what county the producer receives payment price. For instance if the grain is cut in Phillips County but is stored in Blaine County then the posted daily grain price in Blaine County is the one that would be used to determine payment.
Any producer can sign up for the program at any time they just have to enroll prior to selling the harvest.
If you have an interesting story or photo regarding this years harvest or farming and ranching in general please submit to bcjads@mtintouch.net and we will look forward to including it in a upcoming edition.
