6 Gensral 



MORTAlf A AORICULTURAL STATISTICS 2002 



Montana Crop. Livestock and weather Digest. 2001 



January: A high pressure system kept Montana 

 warmer and drier than normal for the majority of the 

 month. Snow cover on winter wheat fields was a 

 concern of producers at the end of January with 

 protectiveness ratings of 1% excellent, 2% good, 30% 

 fair, 55% poor, and 12% very poor. Wind damage to 

 the winter wheat crop was reported at 5% heavy, 18% 

 moderate, 41% light, and 36% none at month's end. 

 Calving and lambing were off to a good start, 

 benefitting from the mild January weather. Livestock 

 grazing was reported at 43% open, 34% difficult, and 

 the rest closed. 



February: The weather was generally mild for the 

 month, except for a strong cold front that moved 

 through the state on the 5th. Snow cover provided 

 generally adequate protection and moisture for the 

 winter wheat crop. Because of a lack of forage due to 

 last year's drought, virtually all livestock were 

 receiving supplemental feed at month's end. Calving 

 and lambing were 21% and 13% complete, respectively. 



Blarch: Montana's weather was warm and dry in 

 March. During the month, the average precipitation 

 received was only 0.13 inches, which made it the 

 driest March since 1963 and the fourth driest on 

 record. The mild conditions allowed producers to start 

 fieldwork towards the end of the month. Nearly all of 

 the cattle and calves ajid sheep and lambs were 

 receiving supplemental feed because of poor range 

 and pasture conditions. At month's end, calving and 

 lambing were 52% and 44% complete, respectively, 

 both behind last year. 



April: Many areas of the state received near normal 

 amounts of rain or snow the first weeks of April. 

 Precipitation was very light the last part of the month, 

 which allowed producers to make good seeding 

 progress with small grains. Topsoil moisture was 

 rated at very short or short for a majority of the state 

 by month's end. Calving was 89% complete, compared 

 to last year's estimate of 91%. Lambing was 83% 

 complete, ahead of last year's estimate of 77%. 

 Livestock producers were concerned about a water 

 shortage for livestock, as some ponds and reservoirs 

 were reported as either low or empty. 



Blay: Some areas of the state received rain the first 

 week in May, but hot, dry conditions prevailed the 

 rest of the month. Topsoil moisture during May 

 continued to be rated very short or short for the 

 majority of the state. Sixty-three percent of the winter 

 wheat was reported in very poor or poor condition by 

 the end of the month. Small grains and sugar beets 

 seeding was nearly completed by the last week. 

 Calving was virtually finished, and lambing was 96% 

 complete. Livestock producers remained concerned 

 about a water shortage for livestock. 



June: Rain showers fell across the state the first two 

 weeks in June. Precipitation was generally light the 

 last part of the month. Crop conditions improved little 

 as a result of the mid-June rains. Eighty percent of 

 the winter wheat crop was reported in very poor and 

 poor condition at month's end. The first cutting of 

 alfalfa hay was 28% complete compared with 53% the 

 previous year. Topsoil moisture was rated at 1 2% very 

 short, 38% short, 47% adequate, and 3% surplus. 

 CRP land was opened to grazing. All livestock were 

 moved to summer pastures by the end of June. 



July: Much of the state received precipitation in July, 

 ranging from gentle showers to heavy downpours. 

 Some producers reported hail damage to crops. Winter 

 wheat was 41% harvested by the end of the month, 

 ahead of the five-year average of 23%. The first cutting 

 of alfalfa hay was 93% complete and the second 

 cutting was underway by month's end. Because of poor 

 crop and range conditions, some small grain producers 

 cut grains for livestock feed. In many parts of the state, 

 CRP acres were grazed or producers cut hay from the 

 land. 



August: Montana had hot temperatures and 

 precipitation the first week in August. Havre set the 

 high at 109 degrees. The weather remained hot but 

 turned dry the second week, which allowed producers 

 to make good progress in harvesting small grains and 

 hay crops. At month's end, the winter wheat harvest 

 was virtually finished, and the spring wheat, barley 

 and oats harvests were three-fourths complete. The 

 second cutting of alfalfa hay was 83% complete, 

 compared with 91% last year. Livestock producers 

 reported shortages of range ajid pasture feed and 

 livestock water in areas of the state. 



September: During the first week, rainfall was 

 received throughout the state. Temperatures were still 

 hot, but not as hot as previous weeks. Mid-month 

 warm and dry conditions allowed farmers to completely 

 harvest small grain crops by the end of the month. The 

 second cutting of alfalfa hay was 99% complete, 

 compared to the five-year average of 97%. The 2002 

 winter wheat crop was 71% seeded by month's end, 

 well ahead of the 47% average for the last five years. 

 Forty percent of the cattle and calves and 49% of the 

 sheep and lambs were reported moved off summer pastures. 



October: Dry conditions continued the first week, 

 allowing producers to make good progress with 

 harvesting late season crops. Most areas of the state 

 received a little rainfall the rest of the month. The 2002 

 winter wheat crop was 98 % seeded at month's end. 

 Dry beans and corn for silage were 100 % harvested, 

 and the sugar beet and potato harvest was 99% 

 complete. Because of poor range and pasture 

 conditions, some livestock producers grazed their cattle 

 on crop stubble. By the end of October, 78% of the 

 cattle and calves and 81% of the sheep and lambs were 

 moved off summer pastures. 



November: November was unseasonably warm and 

 dry. Producers were concerned about the lack of snow, 

 as winter wheat protectiveness of snow cover was rated 

 52% poor and 41% very poor. The last few days of the 

 month brought colder temperatures and moisture to 

 the state. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were both rated 

 at very short or short at month's end. Hay supplies for 

 livestock feeding were reported down. Approximately 

 two-thirds of the state's livestock were receiving some 

 supplemental feed by the end of the month. 



December: The weather for the month was warmer 

 and drier than normal. The lack of snow cover on 

 winter wheat fields continued to concern producers. At 

 month's end, wind damage to the winter wheat crop 

 was rated at 49% heavy, 19% moderate, 25% light, and 

 7% none. Because of the mild winter conditions, 

 livestock grazing remained primarily open, although 

 drought-stricken areas had little forage. 



