6 General 



Montana Agriciiltiir.\l Statistics 2000 



MONTANA CROP, LIVESTOCK, AND WEATHER DIGEST, 1999 



Januar>: The month was unseasonably mild, except for a cold 

 period at the beginning of the month and again around the 25th. 

 Precipitation was slightly below normal. Snow cover on winter 

 wheat fields caused producers concern at the end of the month with 

 ratings of 22% good, 1 1 % fair. 59% poor, and 1% very poor. Wind 

 damage to winter wheat was rated mostly light. Calving and 

 lambing had just started by the end of the month, with few problems 

 as a result of the mild temperatures. Grazing was reported at 34% 

 open and the rest difficult or closed. 



February: Temperatures were significantly above normal with 

 average precipitation. Snow cover on winter wheat fields was rated 

 mostly very poor at month's end. Because of the scant snow cover, 

 wind damage to winter wheat increased and was reported at 18% 

 heavy. 46% moderate, 26% light, and 10% none. Good calving and 

 lambing progress was made with few problems reported. Livestock 

 grazing was rated at 74% open and the rest mostly difficult. 



March: A strong ridge of high pressure kept Montana warmer and 

 drier than normal for the majority of the month. Overone-half of the 

 total precipitation for the month fell on the first and last days of 

 March. Wind damage to the winter wheat crop was rated mostly 

 moderate or light. Freeze and drought damage was minimal. As a 

 result of the mild weather, some producers were able to plant barley, 

 spring wheat, oats, and sugar beets by the end of the month. Calving 

 and lambing were 55% and 29% complete, respectively. Grazing 

 was reported at 93% open. 



April: The month had generally warm temperatures and average 

 precipitation. Wet conditions at the beginning of the month slowed 

 down spring planting in some areas. By the end of April, producers 

 made good seeding progress with small grains. Sugar beet seeding 

 increased significantly and was 94% complete at month's end. The 

 winter wheat crop was rated 35% fair and 53% good. Calving and 

 lambing were 91% and 72% complete, respectively. Livestock 

 producers made a good start in moving their cattle and sheep to 

 summer pasture. 



May: At the beginning of the month, producers took advantage of 

 mild, dry weather to seed crops, but planting slowed down 

 significantly in the middle of May as a result of wet conditions. 

 During the last week farmers made good seeding progress, with 

 93% of the spring wheat seeded. Barley and oats seeded were 94% 

 and 84% complete, respectively. At month's end, all crops were 

 rated mostly in good and fair condition. Calving was virtually 

 complete and lambing was 88% complete. Seventy-eight percent of 

 the cattle and calves and about 57% of the sheep and lambs had 

 been moved to summer ranges. 



June: Most of the state received precipitation the first half of the 

 month, with the exception of some areas in the northwestern part of 

 the state, which allowed the best pasture conditions in many years. 

 Weather conditions were relatively dry for almost all areas of the 

 state the last part of the month. Crop progress was generally behind 

 normal, but crops were still reported mostly in good to excellent 

 condition. 



July: The month started out warm and relatively dry. Mild weather 

 turned to hot for much of the state, except for the northwestern part 



of the North Central District which had record low temperatures 

 toward the middle of the month. In the early morning on July 16, 

 Wisdom set the nation's lowest temperature at 26 degrees. The 

 month ended hot and dry. Crop conditions were rated mostly good 

 or fair. Winter wheat was 3 1 % harvested, ahead of the average of 

 22%. The second cutting of alfalfa hay was underway at 25% 

 complete. 



August: Hot, dry weather continued until about the middle of the 

 month when many areas of the state received some precipitation 

 and cooler temperatures. The moisture arrived too little and too late 

 to improve the drought-stressed pastures in most of Montana. 

 Producers moved their livestock off summer pastures earlier than 

 normal due to short ranges. At month's end, the winter wheat, 

 spring wheat, barley, and oats harvest were well behind last year's. 

 The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 67% complete, compared to 

 77% last year. 



September: Many locations in the state received precipitation the 

 first week in September. As the month progressed, the weather 

 turned much cooler. Producers made good progress in harvesting 

 their small grains, except for some crops in the north central, 

 central, and northeast parts of the state that were not yet mature 

 due to late seeding. Weather conditions at month's end were ideal 

 for seeding winter wheat which was 54% complete, compared with 

 35% for the average. Com silage and dry bean harvest was 64% 

 and 83% complete, respectively, and sugar beet and potato harvest 

 was off to a good start. Nearly half of the livestock was moved 

 from summer ranges, earlier than in normal years. 



October: Dry conditions allowed most farmers to finish harvesting 

 their small grains by the middle of the month, with the exception 

 of the northeast part of the state where some small grains had not 

 been harvested, primarily durum wheat. At month's end, sugar beet 

 and potato harvest was 99% and 95% complete, respectively, 

 ahead of both last year and the average. Winter wheat seeding was 

 98% complete by the end of the month. Eighty-one percent of the 

 cattle and calves and 89% of the sheep and lambs were reported 

 moved off summer pastures. 



November: Above normal temperatures prevailed the entire 

 month. Many record highs were recorded across the state. By the 

 end of the month, the winter wheat crop had emerged on 96% of 

 the seeded acreage. Producers were concerned about the lack of 

 snow, as winter wheat protecliveness of snow cover was rated 

 mostly very poor. They certainly welcomed the moisture received 

 at the end of November. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions 

 improved with this precipitation. Livestock were reported in good 

 condition and grazing was 91% open. 



December: The weather for most of the month was mild enough 

 for producers to do fall tillage. However, very little moisture was 

 received and the lack of snow continued to cause concern. Snow 

 cover of winter wheat was rated mostly very poor to poor. Some 

 wind damage to the winter wheat crop occurred and was rated at 

 4% heavy, \f>'"/( moderate, 42% light, and 39% none. Topsoil and 

 subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly short to very short. 

 As a result of the mild weather, livestock were reported in good 

 condition and grazing was still 92% open at month's end. 



