Wheat Production in Montana

Reading level: 5th grade

Wheat in Montana Today

Wheat is Montana's most important field crop and a major source of farm income. In 2024, farmers in Montana harvested about 5.08 million acres of wheat and produced about 173.4 million bushels.

Montana ranks with North Dakota and Kansas as one of the top three wheat-producing states in the United States. Wheat for grain is grown across much of Montana, with more than 5.1 million acres reported in the 2022 Census of Agriculture.

Many of these acres are on family-owned farms and ranches, which make up most of Montana's farm operations. The north-central "Triangle Area" of Montana is still one of the largest grain-producing regions in the state.

Whole Wheat Pasta.
Whole Wheat Pasta.

Types of Wheat Grown

Montana farmers grow several kinds of wheat. The main type is hard red winter wheat, which is planted in the fall and harvested the next summer. They also grow hard red spring wheat, soft white wheat, and durum wheat.

In 2024, Montana farmers produced about 91.5 million bushels of winter wheat, 62.1 million bushels of other spring wheat, and 19.8 million bushels of durum wheat.

Hard wheats are used mostly to make breads and rolls because they have strong gluten that helps dough rise. Softer wheats are used in cakes, pastries, cookies, and crackers. Durum, the hardest wheat, is milled into semolina and used to make pasta such as macaroni, spaghetti, and lasagna.

How Wheat Production Has Changed

In the 1970s, Montana wheat production was around 120 million bushels a year; by the late 1990s it had risen to about 150 million bushels. Recent reports show production often above those levels when weather conditions are good, including about 186.7 million bushels in 2023 and about 173.4 million bushels in 2024.

These gains are linked to better crop varieties, improved farming technology, and careful soil and moisture management.

Two pancakes covered in butter on a plate.
Pancakes.

Parts of a Wheat Plant

A wheat plant has four main parts: head, stem, leaves, and roots. The head holds the kernels (seeds), which are the part we harvest and grind into flour.

The stem supports the head, the leaves capture sunlight for photosynthesis, and the roots anchor the plant and take up water and nutrients from the soil.

Growing Winter Wheat in Montana

The yearly cycle for winter wheat in Montana is similar from year to year, but weather can change the exact timing.

September

This is planting time for most winter wheat. Planting is called drilling because a machine called a drill places wheat seeds in rows at the right depth across the field.

October

Wheat seedlings sprout and look like short grass in the rows made by the drill. The plants need to emerge and grow a little before winter so they can survive the cold season.

November-February

During winter, wheat grows very slowly or becomes nearly dormant. Snow cover, when it is present, helps protect the plants from freezing temperatures and dry winds.

March

As days get longer and warmer, winter wheat starts growing faster again. Farmers also begin planting spring wheat varieties in suitable fields.

April-May

Farmers watch their fields and may spray to control weeds, insects, or diseases when needed, following label directions and integrated pest management guidelines. Good weed and pest control helps protect yields.

June

By late June, wheat kernels pass through stages called milk and soft-dough, when the inside of the seed changes from a milky fluid to a soft dough. The heads gradually turn from green to golden as the kernels mature.

July-August

Wheat dries down, and the kernels become hard. Combines move through the fields, cutting the plants and separating the grain from the stems and chaff in one continuous operation.

At harvest, the combine stores clean wheat kernels in a hopper until they are unloaded into trucks and hauled to on-farm bins or commercial grain elevators. At the elevator, each load is sampled, tested, and graded; higher-quality grain receives a better price.

From there, wheat may be shipped by rail or truck to mills that grind it into flour, or to ports where it is exported to customers around the world.

Sources for Teachers

These links provide background information and data for adults who want to learn more about wheat in Montana: