New MT Pulse Producers Help Push Back Grain Lab Results

Montana grain inspectors had a backlog that prolonged the inspection process by about two months this year. According to Stage Grain Lab Bureau Chief Greg Stordahl, the backlog was caused partly because of depressed grain prices driving private farmers to get their grain tested individually so they could show its quality. Stordahl says the quality overall was high.

"Most of it was pretty good," said Stordahl. "We haven't had any large negative repercussions from the quality of grain. Durham this year over in the northeast corner had some mold issues, but that was mainly due to the wet moisture that we had during harvest causing mold."

Stordahl hopes changes at the grain lab should speed up the process.

"One thing that we were down this year, we had the limited number of grainers or inspectors on the floor this year," Stordahl said. "However, we have corrected that and put an additional two more grainers on the tables to capitalize on this influx of samples that we had. Come next year we won't see this backlog."

The increase in pulse products, like peas, beans and lentils, grown in Montana made the lab even busier this year as pulse has to have a separate grading system. According to Stordahl, the lab saw a 70% increase in pulse samples.