MONTANA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



MONTANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK — 1978 



JANUARY: Temperatures averaged below normal. Heavy snowcover in all major winter wheat growing 

 areas. Heavy snows required extensive use ot hay supplies to maintain livestock. FEBRUARY: Great 

 fluctuations in temperature and snowfall. A blizzard raged in the eastern third of the State most of the 

 second week. Considerable stress placed on livestock — death losses slightly above normal. Hay supplies 

 short in the eastern part of the State. MARCH: The month began cold and damp, with near or record 

 breaking warm temperatures at the end of the month. The long winter and snow contributed to a higher- 

 than-normal death loss among calves. APRIL: Precipitation generally light and spotty but heavy the last 

 week of the month. Winter wheat broke out of dormancy in good condition. Seeding of major spring crops 

 ran behind average. Significant number of livestock were still on supplemental feed as range growth was 

 slow. MAY: Precipitation fell as rain or snow each week of the month, with temperatures averaging near 

 normal. Planting progress was slow due to the wet weather. Range growth slow. JUNE: A wide range of 

 weather during the month characterized by frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures 

 generally averaged near to above normal. Winter wheat and spring crops were in good condition. Haying 

 was active in all areas with progress ahead of normal. Range feed supplies and stockwater were better than 

 average. JULY: The month was characterized by frequent thundershowers and near-normal temperatures. 

 Crops were in good condition, with haying delayed by frequent showers. Winter wheat harvest started the 

 last of the month. AUGUST: The weather was variable — hot and dry during the middle of the month, but 

 cooler weather and some precipitation during the last week. Winter wheat harvest was in full swing, with 

 most of it completed by the end of the month — slightly ahead of normal. In contrast, spring grain 

 development and harvest continued to lag behind normal. Winter wheat seeding started in some areas. 

 SEPTEMBER: Precipitation was generally light and scattered. Small grain harvest made good progress 

 during the month. Livestock movement to winter ranges was slow due to good conditions of summer 

 ranges. OCTOBER: The month was mild with sunny days and cool nights. Harvest of sugarbeets and 

 potatoes was nearing completion. Winter wheat germination was good. Livestock were in good condition 

 and started receiving supplemental feed toward the end of the month. NOVEMBER: A general snowstorm 

 swept over the State on the 8th and 9th. Temperatures averaged below normal. Adequate fall grazing had 

 put livestock in good condition and the majority were on supplemental feed by the end of the month. 

 DECEMBER: A cold month as temperatures averaged below normal. An inch or more of snow covered the 

 ground the entire month over all the State. Considerable stress was placed on livestock due to cold weather. 

 Heavy snow and frequent winds made it difficult to get feed to livestock. 



MONTANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK — 1979 



JANUARY: Temperatures averaged much below normal. Combined with November and December, this 

 was the coldest three-month period on record for much of the State. Precipitation was generally light. 

 Livestock feeding heavy, but d iff icu It due to drifting snow. FEBRUARY: Great temperature fluctuations and 

 periods of heavy precipitation. Snowcover reached a record number of days in most areas of the State. 

 Continued heavy feeding necessary for livestock. MARCH: Winter released its grip and provided fairly 

 good conditions for spring calving and lambing. Death losses varied. Somegreeningof winter wheat began. 

 APRIL: Precipitation was generally light to moderate with below- normal tempertures. Winterkill of winter 

 wheat generally greater than normal. Spring planting started but frequent snow and rain showers prevented 

 extensive fieldwork. MAY: Moderate amounts of precipitation first of the month with variable 

 temperatures. Warm, dry weather permitted significant planting progress. Range growth slow, but normal 

 movement of livestock to summer ranges. JUNE: Temperatures generally above normal, but precipitation 

 below normal. Dry conditions retarded crop growth and range development. Many winter wheat fields 

 patchy, with irregular development. JULY: Most of the month was hot and dry with grains, hay and ranges 

 showing stress because of the warm temperatures and below-normal precipitation. Winter wheat harvest 

 began the latter part of the month. AUGUST: Near-normal to above-normal temperatures with scattered 

 light precipitation, changing to general over the State by month's end. Harvesting hampered by the 

 widespread rainfall and progress was running behind normal. Shortage of soil moisture limited planting of 

 winter wheat. SEPTEMBER: Generally a very warm, dry month. Seeding of winter wheat was running 

 behind the normal pace due to continued dry conditions. OCTOBER: Above-normal temperatures most of 

 the month, with the first overall freeze of the season occurring the first week of the month. Precipitation 

 generally light. The sugarbeet and potato harvest was essentially completed by the end of the month. 

 Livestock movement from summer ranges slightly ahead of the normal pace. NOVEMBER: Continued very 

 dry during the month with temperatures generally below normal. Snowcover remained light and grazing 

 remained open in most areas. Cattle and sheep were both in good condition going into the winter. 

 DECEMBER: Temperatures averaged well above normal. Precipitation in the northeast and southeast much 

 below normal. Fields were bare most of the month and grazing remained open in most areas, although it was 

 only rated fair. 



