The Crop Behind Your Coors Is Looking Good

July 2, 2026

While drought, limited irrigation supplies, and a challenging spring have tested barley growers across the High Country, Molson Coors officials say the 2026 crop is showing encouraging signs as harvest season approaches.

During this year's Molson Coors Barley Field Days in Worland, Wyoming, and Huntley, Montana, growers, company representatives, maltsters, distributors, and industry partners gathered to evaluate this year's crop while celebrating the partnerships that drive one of North America's premier malting barley programs.

Crop Overcomes Difficult Start

Molson Coors Senior Barley Program Manager Jason Boose said the growing season has presented its share of challenges from the very beginning.

"You really have to look back at the winter," Boose said. "It was dry and warmer than normal, so we didn't get the disease break that we would normally see, and we don't have the snowpack that we typically rely on."

With reduced snowpack came concerns over irrigation supplies throughout much of the growing region.

Despite those obstacles, Boose says the crop has performed remarkably well.

"Even with the delayed spring, late frosts, and limited irrigation, the crop is looking really good," he said.

Field Days Strengthen Partnerships

For Molson Coors Montana Regional Manager Cody Shick, the annual field days serve as much more than a crop tour.

"They're really important," Shick said. "Southern Montana, like much of agriculture, has faced significant challenges. Last year's harvest brought heavy rains that impacted barley quality, and we had another difficult start this spring."

Despite those hurdles, turnout at this year's events remained strong.

"The fact that everyone came out today really shows the sense of community we have," Shick said. "It's a chance to visit, enjoy some great beer, and celebrate the people who make this program successful."

A Chance for Growers to Connect

For Hardin, Montana, farmer Brandon Uffelman, the annual gathering offers a welcome break from the demands of the growing season.

"The ag community is a really close-knit community," Uffelman said. "We spend so much time working that we don't always get away from the farm. Events like this give us an opportunity to catch up with other growers, compare crops, talk about challenges, and just relax for a little while."

He said conversations with fellow producers often provide valuable insights as harvest approaches.

Connecting the Entire Supply Chain

The field days also provide an opportunity for those further down the supply chain to meet the farmers responsible for producing the barley used in Molson Coors products.

John Decker of Briggs Distributing in Billings, Montana said meeting growers gives distributors a greater appreciation for the work that goes into every product they sell.

"We're in the fun side of the business," Decker said. "Getting to meet the growers, hear their stories, and see everything they do to produce a great crop is really special."

More Than a Business Relationship

For Huntley barley grower Greg Gabel, the relationship with Molson Coors extends well beyond contracts and deliveries.

"We definitely feel like we're part of the Molson Coors family," Gabel said.

Having delivered barley to the program since childhood, Gabel says many of the relationships have lasted decades.

"We know the agronomists, the elevator managers, and everyone involved by their first names," he said. "We see each other in the community. It really is like family."

The Foundation of Great Beer

As another harvest draws near, Molson Coors officials remain optimistic that growers across Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming will once again produce the premium-quality barley that serves as the foundation for some of America's best-known beers.

Bill Coors coined the phrase, "barley is to beer as grapes are to wine." For Molson Coors and its High Country barley growers, that partnership continues to be built one growing season at a time.

Source: Western Ag Network