6 General 



Montana Agricultural Statistics 2004 



Montana Crop, Livestock, and Weather Digest, 2003 



January: Weather conditions were dry in most areas of 

 the state. The winter wheat crop was rated 3 percent 

 very poor, 25 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 28 percent 

 good, and 2 percent excellent, better than last year's 

 crop rated at 6 percent very poor, 45 percent poor, 47 

 percent fair, 2 percent good, and percent excellent. 

 Calving and lambing had just begun at the end of the 

 month. Livestock grazing was reported at 81 percent 

 open, 15 percent difficult, and 4 percent closed. Due to 

 the lack of forage, virtually all the cattle and sheep were 

 receiving supplemental feed at month's end. 



February: Montana had above normal precipitation 

 during the month. Topsoil moisture conditions were 

 rated 23 percent very short, 44 percent short, 33 percent 

 adequate, and percent surplus, compared to last year's 

 conditions, which were rated 49 percent very short, 38 

 percent short, 13 percent adequate, and percent 

 surplus. The winter wheat crop was rated 4 percent very 

 poor, 18 percent poor, 60 percent fair, 16 percent good, 

 and 2 percent excellent, better than both last month's 

 and last year's crops. Grazing was reported at 34 

 percent open, 41 percent difficult, and 25 percent closed. 

 Calving and lambing were 23 percent and 12 percent 

 complete, respectively. 



March: Precipitation during March was normal to above 

 normal in much of the state. West Glacier received the 

 most at 4.53 inches for the month. Topsoil moisture 

 conditions were rated 5 percent very short, 21 percent 

 short, 68 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus, better 

 than last year's conditions which were rated at 22 

 percent very short, 36 percent short, 40 percent 

 adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Wind damage to the 

 winter wheat crop was rated at 55 percent none, 29 

 percent light, 14 percent moderate, and 2 percent heavy. 

 Freeze and drought damage was minimal. At month's 

 end, calving and lambing were 56 percent and 36 

 percent complete, respectively. Grazing was reported at 

 72 percent open. 



April: Montana received above average precipitation in 

 many areas of the state. Wet conditions delayed spring 

 planting until the end of the month when producers made 

 good seeding progress. Mild temperatures and 

 significant rainfall during the last two weeks in April 

 helped the winter wheat crop break dormancy much 

 faster than last year's crop. Producers reported that this 

 year's winter wheat crop was the best they've seen in 

 several years. At month's end, calving and lambing were 

 90 percent and 67 percent complete, respectively. 



May: During the first part of May, significant rainfall was 

 received in many areas of the state. Topsoil and subsoil 

 moisture levels were rated 72 percent and 59 percent 

 adequate, respectively, at month's end. The winter 

 wheat crop was rated 21 percent excellent, 54 percent 

 good, 19 percent fair, 5 percent poor, and 1 percent very 

 poor, much better than last year's rating of 1 percent 

 excellent, 17 percent good, 26 percent fair, 28 percent 

 poor, and 28 percent very poor. Small grains and row 

 crops seeding was nearly complete by the end of the 

 month. Grazing was virtually all open. Seventy-nine 

 percent of the cattle and calves and 76 percent of the 

 sheep and lambs had been moved to summer pastures. 



June: Montana received scattered precipitation the first 

 part of the month. A mid-month rain and hail storm 



produced localized crop damage. Hot, dry weather the 

 last week started to stress crops. The winter wheat crop 

 was rated 44 percent good, 26 percent fair, 8 percent 

 poor, and 3 percent very poor. Spring wheat, oats, and 

 barley crops were rated mostly in good to fair condition at 

 the end of the month. Haying was in full swing. 



July: Hot, dry weather prevailed across Montana most of 

 the month. Miles City and Roundup set the state high at 

 108 degrees. At month's end, winter wheat harvest was 

 well underway and the first cutting of alfalfa hay was 

 nearly complete. Hot, dry conditions decreased projected 

 yields for spring crops. Topsoil and subsoil moisture 

 levels were mostly very short and short by the end of the 

 month. Pasture and range conditions declined to nearly 

 the same levels as last year. 



August: The northeastern and central regions of the 

 state received rain the first week, but hot, dry weather 

 prevailed the rest of August. Miles City set the state high 

 at 107 degrees. By month's end, winter wheat harvest 

 was finished and small grains harvest was nearly 

 completed. The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 92 

 percent complete, compared to 74 percent last year. 

 Range and pasture conditions were rated mostly very 

 poor and poor at the end of August. 



September: Most areas of Montana received rain the 

 second and third weeks of September. Producers took 

 advantage of the cooler temperatures and moisture to 

 seed their winter wheat crop. At month's end, winter 

 wheat was 54 percent seeded, compared to 71 percent 

 seeded last year. Corn silage and dry bean harvest was 

 92 percent and 97 percent complete, respectively, and 

 sugar beet and potato harvest was underway. Range 

 and pasture conditions improved slightly with the 

 widespread rainfall. 



October: The weather was warm and mostly dry during 

 the month, with strong winds the last week. The majority 

 of the state received some precipitation mid-month, but it 

 was too little to make a difference in the topsoil or subsoil 

 moisture levels. Winter wheat seeding was complete by 

 the end of the month. Sugar beet and potato harvest was 

 coming to a close. Seventy-seven percent of the cattle 

 and calves and 80 percent of the sheep and lambs were 

 reported moved off summer ranges. 



November: During November, Montana had abnormally 

 cold temperatures and snowfall in most areas. Superior 

 received the most precipitation at 1.92 inches. Range 

 and pasture conditions improved with the snowfall, but 

 the cold weather forced livestock producers to feed 

 supplements earlier than in past years. At month's end, 

 65 percent of the cattle and calves and 68 percent of the 

 sheep and lambs received supplemental feed. 



December: The weather for the month was cold and 

 snowy. Bozeman received the most precipitation at 1 .36 

 inches. Snow cover provided good protection and 

 moisture for the winter wheat crop. Wind damage was 

 minimal. Topsoil moisture was rated mostly adequate to 

 short, and subsoil moisture was rated mostly short to very 

 short. At month's end, livestock producers reported only 

 12 percent of the pastures open for grazing due to the 

 inclement weather, compared to 89 percent open last 

 year. 



