Spring barley Planting Dates in Montana

Usual spring barley planting and harvest periods in Montana, shown as ranges with their source. Use them to frame a plan, then adjust for your own frost dates and soil temperature.

Spring barley dates in Montana
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Apr 3 to May 20 usual (most active Apr 13 to May 11)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Jul 27 to Sep 10 usual (most active Aug 3 to Sep 2)	source	2026-11-11

Spring barley calendar for Montana
Item	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Planting				Planting window, most active in April	Planting window, most active in May
Harvest							Harvest window in July	Harvest window, most active in August	Harvest window, most active in September

What these dates mean in Montana

Planting usually runs about 48 days, from Apr 3 to May 20.

That start date is close to the middle of the 17 places in this data set that report spring barley planting dates (Apr 1).

Harvest usually runs about 46 days, from Jul 27 to Sep 10.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 115 days in Montana, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

Frost-date caveat: these are published ranges for Montana. A northern or high-elevation site will run later than a southern or low one, and a cold wet spring can push planting past the window. Frost dates and local conditions vary; NASS state-level usual dates from 20-year progress data (Oct 2010 edition), begin ~5% and end ~95% complete. Check your last spring frost and soil temperature, and confirm with your county extension office.

Related guides

Barley Planting Calendar

Spring barley dates in other places

Other crops in Montana

Last reviewed: November 2026. Source: USDA NASS, Field Crops Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates (October 2010 edition, copy hosted by Cornell University Mann Library). Dates are the usual start and end of the period when about 5% to 95% of the crop is planted or harvested, from long-run state progress data. They are historic averages, not a forecast.