Makayla Getz

This year’s cooler and sometimes wet weather could have both positives and negatives for this year’s crops.

An increase in rain this year and some unpredictable weather has led to losses in places like Montana where events like flooding have impacted crops, said Park County Extension Educator Makayla Getz.

Temperatures have been up and down in the area, she said, with lower temperatures a couple weeks ago and much higher during fair week which can affect growth.

The length of the growing season (90-120 days) has been about the same, Getz added, and things like quality and amount of irrigation water depending on location is always a factor for producers.

“But I think things are still planning to look up, there’s been a decrease I think in [acres of] corn and barley, but then I think dry hay has kind of increased, so you know, six to one, half dozen to another,” she said. 

According to data from the USDA National Agricultural Statsitics Service there has been a roughly 19% drop in acres of barley planted in the state (88,000 in March 2024) compared to 71,000 acres in 2025, with 57,000 acres reported in March. In 2024 the season ended with 74,000 acres amounting to a 4% change. Corn is down 22%  from September of 2024 (90,00) and the first reported numbers in March of 2025 (70,000) although June acreage has shown an increase to 95,000 acres — a 5% increase.

But, crop rotation can also decrease the amount of acreage some crops are planted on, Getz added.

Plantings of sugar beets, alfalfa and other crops should be up, Getz said, and dried beans in Park County are on track to be consistent with previous years.