Wheat Midds Alternatives: DDG, Sunflower Meal & Soyhulls for Montana and Wyoming Cattle

Market data as of September 25, 2026

Midds sold out? Call NTLS Feed & Grain at 701-809-9058 for delivered pricing on substitutes.

When wheat midds are sold out, ranchers and feedlots still have options. The best wheat midds alternatives in our region are dried distillers grains (DDG), sunflower meal, and soyhull pellets, all produced in the Dakotas within a day's haul of Montana and Wyoming. The trick is knowing which one fits your ration, when to buy it, and how to get it to your yard at the right price. That's what we do every day.

Why midds are hard to find

Wheat midds are a byproduct of flour milling, so supply depends on how hard the mills are running, not on how much feeders need. When mills slow down, midds get scarce quickly, even while cattle feeding is at its busiest.

Right now midds are on limited availability, and many sellers are sold out. According to USDA's weekly feedstuff report for September 21–25, 2026, Minnesota wheat middlings are up about 88% from a year ago. Over the same period, DDG and sunflower meal rose only about 33–39%.

Bottom line: if you're still chasing midds, you're likely paying more for less.

The alternatives at a glance

Based on current markets and typical protein levels, DDG delivers protein for roughly a third less than midds, and sunflower meal for nearly half the cost. The right choice depends on your cattle, your forage, and what midds were doing in your ration. Call us at 701-809-9058 and we'll help you sort it out.

Dried distillers grains (DDG) for cattle

DDG is the coproduct of corn ethanol production. It supplies both protein and energy, which makes it the most versatile midds substitute for growing cattle, backgrounding yards, and cow supplements. It's high in phosphorus and sulfur, so your mineral program may need adjusting.

North Dakota's ethanol plants produce about 1.5 million tons of distillers grains a year. We buy from multiple plants, so when one is short or priced high, we source from another.

Sunflower meal for cattle

Sunflower meal is one of the lowest-cost protein sources in the northern Plains. It runs about 29% crude protein in loose form and works well in range cubes and cow supplements. Quality varies by plant and season, so we verify the analysis on every load we sell.

The 2025 sunflower crop more than doubled from the year before, according to USDA, which means more meal is coming out of Dakota crush plants this fall and winter.

Soyhull pellets

Soyhulls are high in digestible fiber and are the closest match to the energy side of midds. They're low in protein, so they pair best with DDG or sunflower meal. With two new soybean crushing plants in North Dakota since 2023, soyhull pellets are now available much closer to Montana and Wyoming than before.

Other substitutions we can source

Depending on your needs and what the market is doing, we may also be able to offer:

• Bean culls and screenings: a protein source and pellet binder at a low price. See our guide to bean culls and bean screenings for cattle.

• Corn: for energy where starch isn't a concern.

• Chickpeas and pulse byproducts: protein and energy when available.

• Blends: a split load of two ingredients to cover protein and energy in one delivery.

Availability changes week to week. Ask us what's moving now.

When to buy: a seasonal guide

Timing matters as much as product choice. Here's how the year typically plays out for feed byproducts in our region:

Fall (September–November): the best time to lock in. Sunflower harvest brings the most meal of the year onto the market. It's also the right time to book winter needs before demand peaks. Buyers who wait until the snow flies often pay more and wait longer for trucks.

Winter (December–February): demand peaks. Cow-calf and backgrounding operations are all feeding at once, and freight gets tight. Holiday mill downtime can make midds even harder to find. Customers with booked contracts and standing delivery schedules get served first.

Spring (March–May): watch for plant maintenance. Ethanol plants often schedule maintenance shutdowns in spring, which can tighten DDG supply for a few weeks. Sunflower meal supply also starts to thin out. This is a good time to plan ahead for summer.

Summer (June–August): a window for value. Demand is typically lower while cattle are on grass, which can open better pricing on byproducts for buyers who have storage or want to contract ahead for fall.

Our advice: don't buy feed the week you run out. Call us a month or two ahead of when you'll need it, and we'll help you time your purchase.

How to get better pricing

The lowest FOB price at a plant doesn't always mean the lowest cost at your yard. Here's how our customers get better delivered pricing:

• Book ahead. Contracting for a season, instead of buying spot load by load, protects you from price spikes and gives you priority when supply gets tight.

• Set a standing delivery schedule. Regular deliveries every week or two fit our consistent trucking lanes, which lowers the freight cost per ton.

• Stay flexible on product. If you're open to DDG or sunflower meal depending on which is better value that week, we can steer you to the better deal.

• Take full loads. A full truck spreads freight cost over more tons. If you can't use a full load, we can split one between two products or with a neighbor.

• Give us a delivery window. Flexibility of a few days lets us fit your load onto a truck already headed your way.

Freight that works for Montana and Wyoming

Freight is often the biggest part of your delivered cost, especially with high fuel prices. NTLS Feed & Grain works with our own carrier, Lacher Logistics, which runs consistent lanes from the Dakotas into Montana and Wyoming.

Lower cost. Regular routes mean fewer empty miles. Trucks already moving on our lanes can carry your feed out and haul other freight back, which spreads fuel and driver costs over more loaded miles.

Reliable delivery. When midds sell out and everyone scrambles for substitutes, trucks get scarce too. Because we source the feed and control the trucking, we schedule pickup and delivery together and keep your loads coming through the busy season.

Why buy through NTLS Feed & Grain instead of direct from the plant?

Plants sell one product, FOB, on their own schedule. We work for you:

• Best delivered price. We compare multiple Dakota plants and quote the lowest cost to your yard.

• Freight handled. Consistent lanes into Montana and Wyoming, so you're not hunting for trucks.

• Substitutions when products sell out. When midds or DDG get tight, we find the next-best option and keep feed coming.

• Market timing. We watch prices every day and can tell you when to buy and when to wait.

We deliver to ranches and feedlots around Billings, Miles City, Lewistown, Sheridan, Gillette, Torrington, Worland, and across Montana and Wyoming.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best substitute for wheat midds?
It depends on what midds were doing in your ration. DDG and sunflower meal are the most cost-effective protein options right now, and soyhull pellets are the closest match for energy. Many operations blend two. Call us at 701-809-9058 and we'll help you find the right mix.

When is the best time to buy feed byproducts?
Fall is usually the best time to lock in winter needs, especially sunflower meal right after harvest. Booking ahead helps you avoid winter price spikes and freight shortages.

How can I get a better price on feed delivered to my ranch?
Book ahead, set a regular delivery schedule, take full loads, and stay flexible on product. A supplier who handles both sourcing and trucking can usually beat the cost of buying FOB and hiring a truck yourself.

Why are wheat midds so expensive right now?
Midds supply depends on flour mill run times, not cattle feeding demand. As of September 2026, Minnesota midds prices were nearly double what they were a year earlier.

Can you deliver feed to ranches in Montana and Wyoming?
Yes. NTLS Feed & Grain delivers DDG, sunflower meal, soyhull pellets, and other feed ingredients to ranches and feedlots across Montana and Wyoming, including the Billings, Sheridan, Gillette, and Big Horn Basin areas.

Get a delivered price comparison

Tell us your location, how many head you're feeding, and what you've been using midds for. We'll send a side-by-side delivered price on the best options for your operation, usually the same day. Request a quote or call us at 701-809-9058.

References

1. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, National Mill-Feeds and Miscellaneous Feedstuff Report, September 25, 2026. https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/AMS_3512.pdf

2. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, National Grain and Oilseed Processor Feedstuff Report, September 25, 2026. https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/AMS_3511.pdf

3. North Dakota State University, Sources and Prices for Selected Co-products Produced in North Dakota, November 14, 2024. https://ndsu.edu/agriculture/sites/default/files/2024-11/Coproduct%20Feeds%20in%20ND%2011.14.2024.doc

4. North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, testimony in support of SB 2327, March 13, 2025. https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/testimony/HAGR-2327-20250313-41104-F-LACHER_LAURA.pdf

5. University of Florida IFAS Extension, Distiller Grains for Beef Cattle Feeding (reviewed November 2024). https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AN225/pdf

6. Farm Progress, Sunflower Production Recovers with a Vengeance (2025-26 market year). https://www.farmprogress.com/markets-and-quotes/sunflower-production-recovers-with-a-vengeance

7. World Grain, North Dakota Soybean Processors Officially Opens, August 2024. https://world-grain.com/articles/20315-north-dakota-soybean-processors-officially-opens