The 2017 barley harvest and numbers are in, and we are pleased to report above-average yield in our Wyoming Bighorn Basin and Southern Montana growing areas.  Regional manager for our WY Barley OP’s Rick Redd notes “we have had a phenomenal crop with above-average yields and acceptance rates 10-15% above average.  Another great year in the Bighorn Basin and Southern Montana!”  That said, this has been one of the smallest barley harvests in recent memory compared to the past few years which had been higher than average — Fear not, there is plenty of U.S. barley available.  Since a good chunk of our growers in the Wyoming and Montana region grow barley under irrigation, the hot August weather did not affect them as much as it would for dryland farming conditions.

USDA Statistics for Barley:

201720162015
Barley – Acres harvested1,954,0002,565,0003,158,000
Barley – Acres planted2,481,0003,059,0003,623,000
Barley – Production measured in BU141,923,000199,914,000218,187,000
Barley – yield measured in BU/Acre72.677.969.1
201420132012
Barley – Acres harvested2,497,0003,040,0003,274,000
Barley – Acres planted3,031,0003,528,0003,660,000
Barley – Production measured in BU181,542,000216,745,000218,990,000
Barley – yield measured in BU/Acre72.771.366.9