Farmers Asked to Participate in National Sunflower Survey

September 22, 2021 - The Sunflower Crop Survey is conducted bi-annually prior to harvest. Volunteers from all levels of the sunflower industry visit sunflower fields to survey the crop condition. Team...

Beef Checkoff Plan of Work Approved for Fiscal Year 2022

September 22, 2021 - The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) will invest approximately $38.9 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing,...

Net Farm Income in 2022 to Fall Sharply on Loss of Pandemic Aid

September 21, 2021 - Despite higher prices, farm income is projected to drop $23 billion in 2022 because of a sharp decline forecast in federal government payments and higher input costs, according to...

“Farm Safety Yields Real Results” theme for 2021 National Farm Safety and Health Week

September 21, 2021 - Agriculture is known as one of the most dangerous industries in America and abroad. During September 20-25, 2021, AgriSafe’s free webinars will share information on tractor and ro...

Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming

September 20, 2021 - The Risk Management Agency reminds producers of fall-planted crops in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2022 crop year...

Drought Tips for Fall Grazing of Sheep

September 20, 2021 - The Montana Ewe and Ram Sale in Miles City not only offers sheep producers some of the highest quality sheep genetics in the world but also an opportunity for producer education....

Biden Administration Moves BLM Headquarters from Colorado back to Washington, DC

September 17, 2021 - In a meeting with BLM employees today, Interior Secretary Haaland announced her intention to restore the BLM national headquarters to Washington, D.C., ensuring the bureau has a p...

American Sheep Industry Association President Attends Montana Ram Sale in Miles City

September 17, 2021 - The Montana Ram Sale in Miles City is a true western tradition. For 96 years, sheep producers from across the nation have attended this sale to purchase high-quality genetics to t...

Montana Beef Council and Wendy's Invite You to Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day

September 17, 2021 - National Cheeseburger Day is September 18, 2021 and it's a food holiday favorite for beef lovers everywhere! And the Montana Beef Council and Wendy's Restaurants in Montana have a...

USFWS Grants Radical Environmental Groups Review of Gray Wolves in the West

September 16, 2021 - The Service finds that the petitions by animal activist and environmental groups like Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Western Water...

Red Angus Association of America Approves Gene-Edited Traits for Animal Registration

September 15, 2021 - The Red Angus Association of America has announced they will provide herdbook registry of Red Angus animals carrying gene-edited traits for heat tolerance and coat color.

Luke Bryan, Bayer Team Up for 'Here's to the Farmer' Campaign

September 15, 2021 - After donating close to 5 million meals across the United States, Bayer will continue its partnership with five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan in 2021 to celebrate Americ...

NCBA Slams Animal Activist Group Over Complaint about Sustainability Messages

September 15, 2021 - NCBA, working as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, recently developed a campaign to transparently share the beef industry’s science-based sustainability story and connect consume...

Win Great Prizes in American Lamb Board Tailgate Adventures Campaign Contest

September 14, 2021 - Tailgating can be defined as an outdoor cooking adventure among fans who are eager to support their favorite team. So why not encourage consumers to include American Lamb in their...

Dairy Farmers and NFL Begin School Year with 'Fresh' Approach to Fuel Up to Play 60

September 14, 2021 - The dairy checkoff is positioning the farmer-founded Fuel Up to Play 60 program in a fresh way to help students and educators navigate the school year.

House Democrats Propose Cutting Death Tax Exemption and More in New Package

September 14, 2021 - Farmers, ranchers and other small-business owners will need to spend the next few months through the end of the year working with their accountants because of the ripple effects f...

USDA Accepts More than 2.5 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup

September 10, 2021 - This is double last year’s enrollment and brings the total acres enrolled across all CRP signups in 2021 to more than 5.3 million acres, surpassing USDA’s 4-million-acre goal. Pro...

Beef and Pork Export Values in July Remain Strong

September 10, 2021 - U.S. beef exports set another new value record in July, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). July export value climbed 45% f...

NCBA Looking for Singing Star to Perform National Anthem

September 10, 2021 - The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is looking for the next singing star to open the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in Houston. The 9th annual NCBA...

State of Montana to Modernize Its Decades-Old Drought Management Plan

September 9, 2021 - Governor Greg Gianforte has announced efforts to improve Montana drought and water supply planning. This planning effort was discussed during today’s Governor’s Drought and Water S...

Bipartisan American Beef Labeling Act Would Reinstate Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling

September 9, 2021 - This legislation, which will be formally introduced next week, would require the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, to develo...

USDA Expands Assistance to Cover Feed Transportation Costs for Drought-Impacted Ranchers

September 8, 2021 - In response to the severe drought conditions in the West and Great Plains, the USDA has announced its plans to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on g...

Dr. Morgan McCarty Named Colorado’s Assistant State Veterinarian

September 8, 2021 - The Colorado Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce Dr. Morgan McCarty has been selected as the Assistant State Veterinarian for the State of Colorado. In the role, Dr. M...

Brazil Halts Beef Exports to China after Confirming Two Cases of BSE

September 7, 2021 - Brazil, the world's largest beef exporter, has suspended beef exports to its No. 1 customer China after confirming two cases of "atypical" mad cow disease in two separate domestic...

USDA Seeks Comments On Labeling Of Cultured Meat Products

September 7, 2021 - The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit comments and information regarding the labeling of meat and pou...

Market News App Offers Valuable Tools for Sheep Producers

September 7, 2021 - The American Sheep Industry Association Market News App provides valuable resources for sheep producers, including a wool calculator. The app is available for free in both the Appl...

NCBA and PLC Denounce the Biden Administration's Misguided Focus on Wilderness Designations

September 3, 2021 - The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) have denounced the administration's elevated focus on federal wilderness designations as an overly-b...

Reward Offered in Large-Scale Cattle Death Case in North Dakota

September 1, 2021 - The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Department and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) today enlisted the help of the public to solve a case involving more than 58 dead cows i...

RMA Revises Dates for the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage and Apiculture Insurance Programs

September 1, 2021 - Livestock producers and beekeepers Agricultural producers now will have until December 1 to make coverage decisions and complete reporting activities for the Pasture, Rangeland, an...

Extension Secured of Critical Exemption for Livestock Haulers

August 31, 2021 - Today, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced an extension of the exemption from hours-of-service requirements for livestock haulers. Livestock haulers continue to...

Fewer Females Signal Ongoing Cattle Herd Contraction and Higher Prices

August 31, 2021 - USDA's midyear estimate showed inventory with the largest midyear decrease since 2012, down some 1.3% compared to July 2020. Drought conditions in the West and Northern Plains are pl...

Agricultural Groups Ask for More Time to Comment on WOTUS Definition

August 31, 2021 - Agricultural organizations are asking EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers for an extension of the period for commenting on how to define “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under t...

USDA Continuing African Swine Fever Prevention Efforts

August 30, 2021 - As part of its continuing efforts to respond to the detection of African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic and prevent its introduction into the Conterminous United States, Puert...

Beef Industry Leadership Summit to be Held in Nebraska

August 30, 2021 - This year’s Production Animal Consultation Summit for Industry Leaders on September 29 aims to bring together leaders from all segments of the beef industry to engage with local, sta...

Public Lands Council Moves In-Person Annual Meeting from Seaside, Oregon to Virtual

August 27, 2021 - On behalf of the Public Lands Council Board of Directors and Executive Committee, we invite you to attend the 2021 Public Lands Council Virtual Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 2...

Career Opportunities at Columbia Grain

August 26, 2021 - Since 1978, Columbia Grain has been dedicated to cultivating the growth of the food supply chain to ensure the world receives high quality grains, pulses, oilseeds and organics. In d...

Quilt Fundraiser Raises Money for Wyoming Collegiate and 4-H Wool Programs

August 26, 2021 - A Wyoming Steamboat handmade quilt is being raffled to help support University of Wyoming 4-H and collegiate wool judging programs. The quilt is traveling on display around the state...

NFU Welcomes New USDA Guidance on Enforcement of Packers and Stockyards Act Provision

August 25, 2021 - The USDA has issued a guidance document on how the Department will enforce the final rule on “Undue and Unreasonable Preferences and Advantages” under the Packers and Stockyards Act...

Pulse Growers Urged to Help Establish Harvest Price

August 24, 2021 - The Northern Pulse Growers Association would like to remind producers the importance of price discovery during the timeframe of September 1 to November 30 in determining harvest pric...

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to Allow Emergency Haying and Grazing Leases on Select Wildlife Management Areas

August 24, 2021 - The primary purpose of these leases is to enhance wildlife habitat and to benefit local producers. Deadline to apply is September 1, 2021.

Sheep Producers Watching California and Colorado H-2A Herders Wage Battles

August 24, 2021 - Planned wage increases for H-2A herders in California and Colorado in 2022 will certainly be felt by producers in those states. But they might simply be the first dominoes to fall in...

USDA Accepts 2.8 Million Acres for the Conservation Reserve Program

August 24, 2021 - This year, almost 1.9 million acres in offers have been accepted through the General CRP Signup, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has accepted over 897,000 acres for enrollment t...

MetraPark General Manager Retiring after 40 Years

August 23, 2021 - This year our region is going to lose one of biggest champions of the entertainment and agriculture industries to retirement. That’s because after 40 years of dedicated service, Metr...

Drought Dampens Production, Export Prospects for Key Wheat Classes

August 20, 2021 - Widespread drought across the northern and western regions of the United States has dampened prospects for projected production and exports in the 2021/22 marketing year of three cla...

Delta, Beef Prices Threaten to Take the Sizzle Out of U.S. Steakhouses

August 20, 2021 - Just as American steakhouses are recovering from the first wave of COVID shutdowns, the Delta variant threatens to diminish the appetite for a sector seen as a barometer for full U.S...

Cold Front Finally Brings Cooler Temperatures and Rain to Drought Stricken West

August 19, 2021 - This week prayers were finally answered as some desperately needed moisture fell across parts of the West. As usual, rain amounts varied but the moisture was definitely a welcome sig...

New Pay Initiatives for Wildland Firefighters

August 18, 2021 - Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have announced the implementation of President Biden’s pay initiatives to recognize and support federal wi...

Best of Beef Honored at Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville

August 18, 2021 - Producers, advocates, students and organizations representing the best of the beef industry were recognized through a variety of scholarship and award programs during the annual Catt...

Drought Forces Ranchers to Make Tough Decisions about Selling Cattle

August 16, 2021 - Last week at the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Nashville, Larry Schnell, owner of Stockman’s Livestock Exchange in Dickinson, ND and president of the Livestock Ma...

Bayer Petitions US Supreme Court on Roundup Case

August 16, 2021 - Bayer AG has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a landmark Roundup case, arguing in a petition filed on Monday that a federal appeals court committed errors in the case brought b...

Thune Amendment May Protect Farms and Ranches from Transfer Taxes

August 16, 2021 - In the middle of the U.S. Senate's flurry of amendments and votes last week on a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation resolution was a unanimous vote to protect farmers and ranchers f...

Rosebud County Cattlewomen Seeking Hay Donations for Ranchers Impacted by Fires in Southeast Montana

August 15, 2021 - Rosebud County Cattlewomen are organizing efforts to bring some small relief to ranches in Rosebud County affected by the Slough Grass, Rough Draw and Richard Spring fires.

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Help Drought Stricken Ranchers

August 13, 2021 - North Dakota Senator John Hoeven and Montana Senator Jon Tester have introduced bipartisan legislation to improve livestock disaster assistance programs to better meet the needs of p...

Field of Dreams Baseball Game Being Called a Success

August 13, 2021 - The 2021 iterations of the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees walk out of a cornfield in Iowa staged to evoke a 1989 movie wearing throwback uniforms circa 1919. And in baseball,...

Cargill and Continental Grain to Buy Sanderson Farms

August 12, 2021 - Cargill and Continental Grain Company have jointly agreed to acquire Sanderson Farms, valuing the U.S. poultry producer at $4.5 billion at a time when demand for chicken meat has bee...

Beef Box Giveaway Program Gains Popularity Across Montana

August 9, 2021 - The Montana Beef Council and the Montana Meat Processors Association announced the start of a Beef Box Giveaway in October 2020. Since then, winners have been randomly selected from a...

Ranchers Urged to Evaluate Feed and Grazing for Nitrate Toxicity during Drought

August 9, 2021 - As the drought across our region intensifies, Montana State University Extension educators are urging ranchers to evaluate feed and grazing for nitrate toxicity.

Metallica Scholars Initiative Awards $100,000 for Veterans Training Program in Agriculture

August 9, 2021 - Hartnell College has been selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $100,000 for a partnership that will prepare Monterey County veterans f...

Study Shows How Corn and Soybean Producers Benefit from U.S. Red Meat Exports

August 8, 2021 - U.S. beef and pork exports brought critical returns to the corn and soybean industries in 2020, according to an independent study conducted by World Perspectives, Inc. and released by...

Rounds to Introduce USA Beef Act, Restoring Integrity to “Product of USA” Label

August 5, 2021 - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues announced the introduction of the USA Beef Act. This Rounds-led bill limits the use of the “Product of USA”...

USDA Adopts Market Transparency Policies

August 5, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) announced today that it will begin publishing a National Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle report, which wi...

Colorado Grown Food Competition to Debut at 2021 State Fair

August 4, 2021 - To highlight Colorado’s diverse and unbeatable agricultural products and chefs, Governor Jared Polis has announced the inaugural “Governor’s Plate” competition to debut at the 2021 Co...

Richardson International Completes Acquisition of U.S. Durum Miller, Italgrani USA

August 4, 2021 - Richardson International Limited subsidiary, Richardson Oilseed (U.S.) Holdings Limited, has successfully closed on an agreement to purchase Italgrani USA Inc., the single largest Nor...

Scott Sims Chosen as Recipient of the 2021 Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award

August 3, 2021 - The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust is happy to announce Scott Sims of McFadden as the recipient of the 2021 Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award. Sims is being recognized for his excepti...

BLM Planning Emergency Action to Save Drought-Stricken Wild Horses and Burros

August 3, 2021 - The Bureau of Land Management has announced plans to take emergency action to save imperiled animals and prevent widespread thirst and mortality in wild horse and burro herds as droug...

EPA to Schedule WOTUS Rewrite Hearings

August 3, 2021 - The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced plans to schedule virtual public hearings throughout August and into September as part of planned revisions to waters of the Uni...

Montana Governor Tells USDA Secretary Anticipated Livestock Export Delays Threaten Family Ranches

August 2, 2021 - Montana Governor Greg Gianforte today urged Secretary Tom Vilsack of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to resolve anticipated delays in the approval of export certificates for Montan...

USFWS Extends Comment Period on Proposal to List Lesser Prairie-Chicken under Endangered Species Act

August 2, 2021 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is extending the deadline for public comment on the proposal to list two distinct population segments (DPS) of the lesser prairie-chicken under the...

Colorado State Vet Confirms First Equine West Nile Virus Case of 2021

August 2, 2021 - A horse residing in Weld County has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus (WNV), marking Colorado’s first confirmed equine WNV case in 2021. The horse, which had not been vaccinated aga...

Ag Lender Offers Drought Advice to Producers

August 2, 2021 - Montana Livestock Ag Credit’s president and CEO Ty Wells says that in addition to taking care of their mental health, farmers and ranchers really need to visit with their Ag lenders a...

Dominican Republic Confirmed Positive for African Swine Fever

July 30, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Dominican Republic has confirmed cases of African swine fever. The cases were confirmed as part of a cooperative surveillance prog...

University of Wyoming Wool Throw Sales Begin with Funds to Benefit State's Sheep Industry

July 30, 2021 - Wool shorn from sheep at the Laramie Research and Extension Center was processed and knitted into limited-edition, UW-themed throws at Mountain Meadow Wool in Buffalo. Each throw conta...

Grasshopper Outbreak Plagues Farmers and Ranchers

July 29, 2021 - If this year’s drought wasn’t already enough for farmers and ranchers to deal with, many across the West are also facing the second largest grasshopper outbreak in 35 years. And the ho...

RMA Extends Deadlines, Waives Interest Deferral for Emergency Drought Relief

July 29, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its Risk Management Agency (RMA) will authorize Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to extend deadlines for premium and administrati...

2020 Disasters Reveal Gaps in Ad Hoc Aid Legislation

July 28, 2021 - 2020 natural disasters, which showed that farmers and ranchers faced over $6.5 billion in losses, over $3.6 billion, or 55%, of which was not covered by existing Risk Management Agency...

NCBA Celebrates 35 Years of Beef Checkoff Successes

July 26, 2021 - As the Beef Checkoff celebrates its 35th anniversary, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, is shining a light on the successful promotio...

House Ag Committee Advances Disaster Aid Bill for 2020 and 2021

July 27, 2021 - Today, the House Agriculture Committee advanced the 2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act (H.R. 267), which would provide authorization for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (...

Former-US Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming dies

July 27, 2021
(AP) — Retired Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican known as a consensus-builder in an increasingly polarized Washington, has died. He was 77.

North Dakota Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring Addresses Drought Issues

July 26, 2021 - North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has requested the early release of emergency haying on acres enrolled in all Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract types from...

Latest Cattle Inventory Report Shows Beef Cows Down 2% as Drought Forces Liquidation in the West

July 26, 2021 - USDA cattle inventory reports have long-term implications and don't typically have much immediate price impact. However, Friday's cattle and calf inventories, compared to last year's r...

Montana Wheat & Barley Committee Facilitates Public Q & A with Candidates for MSU Wheat Breeding Position

July 23, 2021 - The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee is inviting Montana producers and stakeholders to participate in a public Q & A with the five finalists in the two available tenure track breedin...

Agriculture Calls on STB to Increase Rail Competition Following Executive Order

July 23, 2021 - On the heels of a White House Executive Order on competition this month, a large group of agricultural shippers recently wrote to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) to advocat...

Craig Huffines Named CSU Director of Equine Sciences and Elite Bovine Equine Genectic

July 23, 2021 - Craig Huffhines, a top executive with two-plus decades of leadership experience in the equine and beef industries, is returning to his alma mater as Colorado State University’s directo...

Gianforte Calls on BLM to Engage Montanans on APR

July 22, 2021 - Governor Greg Gianforte today again called on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide Montanans with sufficient opportunity for in-person, public comment on the BLM’s Environmen...

Gianforte Again Urges USDA to Open All CRP Acreage for Emergency Haying, Grazing

July 22, 2021 – With every region of Montana facing severe to extreme drought conditions, Governor Greg Gianforte again urged U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to allow for emergency haying an...

Cattle Sell Strong in Northern Livestock Video Auction Summertime Classic

July 22, 2021 - The best demand for calves was for big heavy weight cattle coming early in the fall or light calves late in the fall suitable to develop into yearlings. Yearling demand was good throug...

Daines Leads Fight to Protect Family Farms from Tax Hike

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led all 50 Senate Republicans in urging President Biden to abandon his effort to impose a tax increase on Montana family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches.

Deadline Fast Approaching for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup

July 21, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reminding producers and landowners that the signup deadline for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) current general signup is fast appro...

BLM to Host Virtual Public Meeting Today on American Prairie Reserve Bison Proposal Draft EA

July 21, 2021 - The Virtual Public Meeting for the American Prairie Reserve Bison Change of Use EA will be held Wednesday, July 21 @ 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required.

New Director of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station Joins UW

July 19, 2021 - Eric Webster previously was director of the Louisiana State University’s Iberia Research Station and assistant regional director of the LSU AgCenter’s southwest region.

2021 Montana Ram Sale and Montana Ewe Sale, September 15-16, 2021

The Montana Wool Growers Association would like to invite you to attend the 96th Montana Ram Sale and 8th Annual Montana Ewe Sale! Both sales will be held in Miles City, MT, at the Eastern Montana Fai...

Drought Taking It's Toll on Pasture and Range Conditions

July 19, 2021 - As farmers and ranchers in the West experience record-breaking heat, the continued extreme drought conditions are also taking a toll on growers, crops and livestock. That's as pasture...

NCBA Welcomes Court Decision on Navigable Waters Protection Rule

July 16, 2021 - On Wednesday, the U.S. District Court in South Carolina dismissed a challenge to the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) and granted a remand without vacatur, ensuring the rule rem...

Hay Hotlines Connect Livestock Feed Buyers, Sellers, and Truck Drivers Amidst Drought

July 16, 2021 - Drought is creating forage shortages throughout the West this year, which means producers will have to find alternative sources of feed for their livestock.
North Dakota State Univers...

RMA Authorizes Emergency Procedures to Help Drought-Impacted Producers

July 13, 2021 - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorizing emergency procedures to help agricultural producers impacted by extreme drought conditions. USDA’s Risk Management Ag...

South Dakota CattleWomen Photo Contest Winners Announced

July 15, 2021 - Cows, dogs and barns were some of the themes for winning for the first ever “Tell Us Your Beef Story” photo contest coordinated by the South Dakota CattleWomen (SDCW) for Beef Month....

Alpha Gamma Rho Announces the Return of Testicle Festival for 2021

July 13, 2021 - The Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity is proud to present the 2021 Testicle Festival on September 17th at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. This year’s Testicle Festival will feature live perform...

NCBA Calls Introduction of Agriculture Bill from New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker Misguided

July 14, 2021 - Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) noted the introduction of misguided legislation entitled the Farm System Reform Act by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressma...

South Dakota Beef Welcomes New Junior Beef Ambassadors

July 14, 2021 - The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) begins year two of the Junior Beef Ambassador program, a program giving area youth, ages 5 to 18, the opportunity to share their beef sto...

Columbia Grain Helping Growers During Record Drought

July 14, 2021 - Drought continues to take its toll on crops across the Northern Plains and Pacific Northwest. According to this week’s crop progress report, just 16% of this year’s spring wheat crop i...