MONTANA CROPS & LIVESTOCK -- 1980 



JANUARY: Temperatures averaged below normal. Despite the light to practically no snowcover, wind damage to winter 

 wheat was light. February: Generous precipitation over most of the state with above normal temperatures. Open gra- 

 zing helped conserve hay supplies. Calving and lambing off to a good start by month's end. march: Temperatures and 

 precipitation both averaged above normal. After the first week, weather was rather mild with a few small storms over 

 parts of the state. Calving and lambing were aided by the generally mild weather with losses lighter than normal. 

 APRrt: Precipitation below normal with above average temperatures. Winter wheat broke out of dormancy and spring 

 planting was in full swing. Calving and lambing essentially finished. Stockwater supplies becoming sery short east- 

 ern part of state, may: Temperatures generally above and precipitation below normal. Considerable reseeding of winter 

 wheat to spring wheat and barley because of poor germination the previous fall. Volcanic ash from Mt. St. Helens erup- 

 tion showed no adverse affects on crops or livestock, june: Frequent showers and thundershowers throughout the month, 

 temperatures averaged normal. Hot, dry weather pushed crop development ahead of normal. Range conditions eastern part 

 of state very poor. Many operators marketed livestock or moved them to summer pastures out of state, july: Frequent 

 widely scattered showers during the month. Hay harvest slowed by shower activity. Winter wheat harvest started earlier 

 than normal, august: Temperatures generally below normal with periods of heavy precipitation. Grain harvest progressed 

 slow due to shower activity. Winter wheat harvest full swing, but slightly behind normal. Winter wheat seeding started 

 some areas. September; Generally near normal to above normal temperatures. Grain harvest slow due to showery weather, 

 but seeding of winter wheat progressed at about normal pace. Some supplemental feeding of livestock started in eastern 

 part of state. October: First half sunny and mild, last half cool and wet. Sugarbeet harvest delayed by the rain. 

 Winter wheat germination poor some areas, stands spotty and uneven. Moisture helped relieve critical livestock water 

 shortages eastern part of state. November: Very mild month with substantial precipitation. Livestock in good condition, 

 open grazing, but most livestock on supplemental feed. December: Weather showed great contrast, precipitation variable. 

 Record breaking warm temperatures over nearly all areas of the state averaged 12 degrees above normal. Winter wheat snow- 

 cover poor, deteriorated to none by end of the month. Winds and above normal temperatures dried out topsoil moisture, 

 fxtreme weather fluctuations put some stress on livestock. 



1981 



JANUARY: Very mild month with temperatures 10-15 degrees above normal. Numerous daily record maximum temperatures were 

 set. Mild temperatures brought winter wheat out of dormancy in some central and south central areas. Above normal temp- 

 eratures eased livestock feeding requirements considerably and relieved tight hay supplies eastern part of State. 

 FEBRUARY: Another mild month with temperatures averaging 4-12 degrees above normal. Precipitation west of Divide above 

 average, east of Divide below average. Livestock good condition, grazing generally open, march: Temperatures again very 

 mild, 10-15 Degrees above normal. General 'greening up' of winter wheat with some growth southern areas. Calving and 

 lambing about 50 percent complete, april: Precipitation generally below normal with temperatures near to above normal. 

 Seeding of spring crops in full swing with planting progress running about normal. Army worm infestations were showing 

 up in eastern counties, may: Variable temperatures with significant amounts of precipitation the latter part of the 

 month in all but the northeastern part of the state. Planting completion wind-up of spring crops delayed because of wet 

 conditions. Livestock moving to sumner ranges, june: Temperatures below normal with considerable precipitation. Spring 

 crop progress and haying delayed by the cool, wet weather. Winter wheat condition good to excellent, july: Hot and dry 

 for latter part of the month. Hot, windy weather placed stress on spring crops. Winter wheat harvest underway by month's 

 end. Stockwater shortages eastern part of state, august: Scattered light showers and above normal temperatures allowed 

 harvesting progress to advance ahead of normal. Winter wheat planting was getting a good start by the end of the month. 

 SEPTEMBER: Generally a very warm, dry month with moderate precipitation the last week. Winter wheat seeding delayed due 

 to lack of rain. Stockwater supplies critically short eastern part of State. OCTOBER: Month started off mild but with 

 generally cooler temperatures toward month's end. Potato and sugarbeet harvest about complete by the end of the month. 

 Host livestock moved from sumner ranges, novembeh: Temperatures generally well above normal with near to above normal 

 precipitation. Most livestock on supplemental feed with stockwater supplies still short in some eastern areas. 

 DECEMBER: Except for a short cold period at mid-month and at the end, temperatures were quite mild during the month. 

 Heaviest precipitation over the west, southwest and south central areas. Many ranchers held calves because of low prices 

 for both feed and livestock. 



