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MONTANA CROPS & LIVESTOCK - 1983 



JANUARY: The month began cool but temperatures were generally unseasonably -arm s tatew I de--l to 

 21 degrees above normal. Snowcover was very light, but no wind damage occurred to winter wheat. 

 FEBRUARY: The dry mild weather of January continued right Into February and generally lasted the 

 entire month. Temperatures averaged 4 to 14 degrees above normal. Many areas had temperatures In 

 the 60s sometime during the month. Precipitation was light and by the end of the month most of th 

 plains were free of snow. Winter wheat was beginning to green up by month's end. Weather was Ideal 

 for calving and lambing. MARCH: Temperatu res dur I ng the month were genera I I y very m I I d and pre- 

 cipitation was normal to above normal. Several major snowstorms occurred during the month. Winter 

 wheat was In good condition and greening. Fleldwork was barely getting started by the end of the 

 month. Calving and lambing conditions were mostly good, and by month's end about 55 percent of the 

 calves and 45 percent of the lambs were dropped. APRIL: Seeding of spring crops picked up momen- 

 tum and progressed ahead of normal. Temperatures averaged normal to below and precipitation aver- 

 aged below normal. Winter wheat remained In good condition. Calving was about 85 percent and lamb- 

 ing 75 percent complete, and 10 percent of the I Ivestock had been moved to summer ranges. MAY: A 

 general I y coo I month with dry conditions at the beg I n n I n g and ag a I n a t t he en d o f the month. Seed- 

 ing was genera I ly ahead of normal and was In the windup s tage b y mon t h 's end. Cattle movement to 

 summer ranges slowed as range growth was slow due to lack of moisture. JUNE: Topsoll moisture 

 became short In many locations, but shortages were al levlated by rains the end of the month except 

 for eastern areas. Crop development was generally ahead of normal. Rains the end of the month 

 helped pastures and ranges but came too late for optimum forage yields. JULY: Soil moisture was 

 generally adequate except for northeastern and southeastern areas. Crop development continued ahead 

 of normal, and by month's end winter wheat harvest had started In all areas. Ranges In southern 

 areas were becoming very dry. AUGUST: A hot and dry month especially over the eastern sections. 

 Harvest progress was considerably ahead of normal aided by good harvest weather. Grasshoppers were 

 becoming more plentiful but did minimal crop damage. SEPTEMBER: The small grain harvest was 

 essential ly complete by mid-month and dry bean and corn si I age harvest were In fu I I swing. 1 i ' 

 moisture was short but farmers were seeding winter wheat with hopes of rain later to germinate .he 

 crop. OCTOBER: A mostly dry month with average temperatures enabled a timely wrapup of harvest- 

 ing activities. Most of the winter wheat had emerged and germination was good except In some north 

 central and northeastern areas. Livestock movement from summer ranges was ahead of normal. 

 NOVEMBER: Temperatures averaged slightly above normal and by month's end snow covered all the 

 state. Most livestock were on supplemental feed as snowcover limited open grazing In many areas. 

 Livestock movement to market was slow. DECEMBER: Th 1 s month w I I I I ong be remembered not onl y be- 

 cause of It being the coldest on record, but also because of the duration of the cold and the ex- 

 treme low temperatures. Forty to fifty degree below zero readings occurred over all the state. Hay 

 and feed supplies were depleted faster than normal as livestock feed requirements to maintain body 

 heat and weight were raised significantly due to the extreme cold temperatures. 



