The majority of farmers across Madison County have wrapped up their harvest and not a moment too soon as cold overnight lows remain in the forecast with further possibility of showers. Record rainfall in June made for blessings and challenges for many growers.

The June rains produced record grain yields, especially in the dry farm areas of the county. However the heavy rains made for heavier wheat stands than anticipated at fertilization time and leaching further depleted the nitrogen levels, causing low protein wheat across the nation. As a result the elevators are docking growers a $.35 a quarter or $1.40 a point for low protein making growers scramble to find bin space to store wheat in hopes that the markets will change in their favor. Prices for October 20th provided by Centennial Grain are SWS $4.45, HRS $5.70, Feed Barley $5.25, Oats $6.75

Potato harvest is just barely wrapping up in parts of the county, but yields are reported to be above average. Cold overnight temperatures caused fears of frost damage, especially in the Teton Seed Management Area where the season extends later. Reports have circulated that several successive nights of freezing temperatures and daily highs not much above freezing have caused extensive frost damage to the seed potato crop in the Manhattan Montana area. While this is certainly not good news for our neighbors to the north, is will make a greater demand for the seed grown by our upper valley growers.