The USDA's June acreage and quarterly stocks reports are seen as bearish for wheat and corn but slightly bullish for soybeans.

The USDA estimated producers planted more spring wheat acres than expected in March, which was surprising as traders thought cool, wet weather had caused at least some acres to go unplanted. Spring wheat acres were seen at 13.7 million, compared to the average of analysts' pre-report estimates of 13.1 million and the USDA's March estimate of 13.3 million.

All wheat planted acreage for 2009 is 59.7 million acres, above the average guess of 58.3 million acres as well as the 58.6 million acres estimated in March and last year's planted acreage of 63.1 million acres.

Acres Planted to Winter Wheat by State:

                  ...

Ranchers who lose sheep or cattle to wolves may soon have a $1 million account to tap for reimbursement if language recently approved by a Senate committee is approved by the full Senate and House, funding having ended from The Defenders Of Wildlife when wolves in Montana and Idaho were removed from the Endangered Species List.

Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, Dennis Unsworth, in a 105 page report detailing the results of a three year investigation, has found "substantial evidence" that the Lewistown based Montanans In Action political action group violated Montana's campaign finance reporting and disclosure laws promoting three statewide ballot initiatives in 2006.

The Montana Community Development Corporation is one of 59 organizations in the country chosen to receive business development money from the U.S. Treasury Department to promote small business on main street, and help businesses and communities across Montana with $2 million going directly into a loan fund that benefits people who may not qualify for a traditional business loan, but have a viable business that will provide income for themselves, and job opportunities in their communities.

Over the 4th of July weekend, AAA predicts travel in Montana, and the entire Mountain West, will increase by 1.2% from last year, compared to a decrease of 1.9% nationally, mainly due to a lower unemployment rate. Keeping gas prices under $3 per gallon can maintain holiday travel, especially since 90% of nonresident visitors drive to the state.

The State of Montana is offering up a draft habitat conservation plan to manage state school trust lands incompliance with the Endangered Species Act, regarding three species: Grizzly Bears, Canada Lynx, and Bull Trout. The proposed plan would endure for a 50 year period, and apply to about 548,000 acres of trust lands in Central and Western Montana.

170 new jobs in the Air Force's 2010 Realignment Plan for Malmstrom Air Force Base is a proposal before Congress, with no decision havin been made on whether it will be adopted, but is suported by President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2010 budget.