Crop, Livestock, and Weather Digest, 2006 



January: Montana had above normal temperatures in 

 January, with moderate precipitation in the form of rain and 

 snow. Fort Benton had the high temperature of 69 degrees, 

 and West Yellowstone had the low temperature of 12 degrees. 

 West Glacier received the most moisture at 7.59 inches. Snow 

 cover protectiveness on winter wheat fields was mostly very 

 poor at month's end, but wind, freeze, and drought damage to 

 the crop was minimal. The winter wheat crop condition was 

 rated 8% excellent, 44% good, 41% fair, and 7% poor at the 

 end of the month. Calving and lambing had just started. 



February: Temperatures varied widely during February. 

 Billings, Roundup, and Rapelje tied for the high temperature 

 of 69 degrees, and Wisdom had the low of -43 degrees. The 

 state had light to moderate precipitation during the month, in 

 the form of rain and snow. West Glacier received the most 

 moisture at 2.43 inches. At month's end, snow cover 

 protectiveness on winter wheat fields was rated mostly very 

 poor to poor. The winter wheat crop was reported in mostly 

 fair to good condition. Ninety-seven percent of the cattle and 

 calves and ninety-six percent of the sheep and lambs were 

 receiving supplemental feed at the end of February. 



March: Montana received moderate to heavy precipitation in 

 March. Both Helena and Great Falls experienced record high 

 precipitation on March 18. Joliet had the high temperature of 

 68 degrees, and West Yellowstone had the low of -23 degrees. 

 Snow cover protectiveness on winter wheat fields continued to 

 be rated mostly very poor to poor. Eighty-four percent of the 

 winter wheat crop was still in dormancy at the end of the 

 month, compared to thirty-six percent dormant last year. 

 Calving and lambing were 57% and 37% complete, 

 respectively, by the end of March. 



April: Many locations in the state received record 

 accumulations of precipitation for April. Wet conditions slowed 

 down spring planting in most areas. The weather was more 

 suitable for field work the last week, and producers made 

 some progress seeding grains. At month's end, field tillage 

 was 55% well underway, compared to 65% well underway last 

 year. Winter wheat was out of dormancy, and conditions were 

 mostly good to excellent at the end of the month. Calving and 

 lambing were 92% and 77% complete, respectively. 



May: The state received light rainfall during the month, 

 except for the last few days when moderate to heavy 

 precipitation occurred. Grass Range received the most 

 moisture at 2.32 inches. Winter wheat conditions were 25% 

 poor and very poor, 40% fair, 26% good, and 9% excellent at 

 month's end. Small grains planting was nearly complete. By 

 the end of the month, eighty-four percent of the cattle and 

 calves and 74% of the sheep and lambs, respectively, were 

 moved to summer pastures. 



June: During the first half of the month, Montana received 

 moderate to heavy precipitation. Several cities received 

 enough rain to break their daily precipitation records. Great 

 Falls had the most moisture at 3.52 inches. The state received 

 light precipitation the rest of the month. At month's end, 

 spring grains crop progress and hay harvest was well ahead of 

 last year and the five-year average. Winter wheat was almost 

 done heading, and conditions were mostly fair to good. 

 Pasture and range feed conditions were mostly good to fair at 

 the end of the month. 



July: Montana was hot and dry during July. Albion had the 

 high temperature of 108 degrees. The heat and wind stressed 

 spring planted crops. Topsoil and subsoil conditions 

 deteriorated from June. At month's end, winter wheat harvest 

 was nearing completion, well ahead of last year and the five- 

 year average. The second cutting of alfalfa and other hay was 

 underway. Pasture and range conditions were 39% very poor 

 and poor, 32% fair, 24% good, and 5% excellent at the end of 

 the month. 



August: Hot, dry weather continued. Some areas of the state 

 received rain at mid-month. Albion had the most precipitation 

 at 1.67 inches. Roundup had the high temperature for the 

 month at 103 degrees. By month's end, winter wheat harvest 

 was complete, and spring grains harvest and the second 

 cutting of hay were nearing completion. Range and pasture 

 feed conditions were well behind last year at the end of the 

 month. Dry weather was starting to affect the quality of 

 forage, and ranchers were moving livestock from summer 

 ranges. 



September: Montana had hot and dry weather until mid- 

 month when temperatures cooled down and the state received 

 moderate to heavy precipitation, in the form of rain and snow. 

 Sheridan received enough rainfall at 1.37 inches to break a 

 daily precipitation record. Rapelje had the most moisture for 

 the month at 2.02 inches. Spring grains harvest was wrapped 

 up by the third week. Widespread precipitation improved 

 winter wheat seeding conditions, and 68 percent of the crop 

 was planted at month's end. Fifty-five percent of the cattle and 

 calves and 44 percent of the sheep and lambs were moved 

 from summer ranges, ahead of last year. 



October: Montana received moderate to heavy precipitation 

 during the first and third weeks of October and light moisture 

 the rest of the month. Bozeman received the most 

 precipitation at 2.31 inches. At month's end, topsoil moisture 

 conditions were 8% surplus, 71% adequate, 18% short, and 

 3% very short. Subsoil moisture conditions were 1% surplus, 

 42% adequate, 41% short, and 16% very short. Winter wheat 

 seeding was 94% complete by the end of the month. Eighty- 

 two percent of the cattle and calves and eighty-five percent of 

 the sheep and lambs were moved off summer ranges. 



November: Temperatures varied widely during November. 

 Huntley had the high temperature for the month at 77 

 degrees, and Cascade had the low at -29 degrees. West 

 Glacier received the most precipitation at 6.04 inches. At the 

 end of the month, 68% of the winter wheat crop was rated 

 good to excellent, ahead of last year's average of 49% good to 

 excellent. Seventy percent of the cattle and calves and sixty- 

 nine percent of the sheep and lambs received supplemental 

 feed, more than last year. 



December: Montana had below normal precipitation during 

 the month. Thompson Falls received the most accumulated 

 moisture at 3.11 inches. Stanford had the high temperature 

 for the month at 64 degrees, and West Yellowstone had the 

 low at -37 degrees. At month's end, wind, freeze, and drought 

 damage to the winter wheat crop was light and 58% of the 

 crop was rated mostly good to excellent. Range and pasture 

 feed conditions were 16% good to excellent at the end of the 

 month, compared to 36% good to excellent last year. 

 Livestock continued to receive supplemental feed. 



2007 Montana Agricultural Statistics 



General 7 



