STATE OF MONTANA 7 



MONTANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK - 1969 



Winter weather became progressively colder during December 1968, with severe cold temperatures covering all of 

 the State by the end of the month. Frequent periods of snow gave heavy amounts of precipitation and snow depths 

 ranged from 3-17 inches, providing good winter wheat cover. On January 1, 1969, grazmg by livestock was difficult, 

 requiring heavy supplemental feeding. Due to the extreme low temperatures and deep snow, ranchers had great 

 difficulty doing their farm chores and feeding and caring for their livestock. However, by April 1 , only a few snowdrifts 

 remained to remind Montanans of the fierce 1968-69 winter. On April 25-26, winter weather returned as a spring 

 blizzard with higli winds and drifting snow occurred in the southeastern district. Deep drifts of snow were piled up and 

 many miles of telephone lines went down. This storm will be unforgettable to many farmers and ranchers. Sheep and 

 cattle losses were. significant. 



Soil moisture conditions remained short for most of the 1969 growing season. The spring thaw in April was fairly 

 slow and orderly with only local flooding. Water runoff filled nearly all the stockwater reservoirs but much of the water 

 soaked into the ground. Moisture in the form of snow, hail and rain accompanied by freezing weather were received in 

 June. Beneficial amounts of moisture fell in western and southcentral Montana. Topsoil moisture was short in all other 

 areas, with critical shortages in the northcentral, northeast and central districts. By the middle of June, crops in nearly 

 all areas of the State were showing stress from lack of moisture. The widespread lack of moisture slowed plant growth 

 but rain was received the last week in June, replenishing topsoil moisture and improving growing conditions. Hail fell in 

 Judith Basin County and in areas of the northcentral district with some farmers experiencing a complete crop loss. 

 After the middle of August, irrigation water became short in many areas and by September, topsoil moisture was short 

 throughout Montana. Lightning started several forest and grassland fires but they were controlled before extensive 

 damage occurred. 



CROPS 



Seeding of the 1969 WINTER WHEAT crop started in late August of 1968 and was near completion by 

 mid-October. Good to excellent germination of new seedings was reported. On April 1, 1969 most of the winter wheat 

 fields were green with only a few remaining dormant. Some fields eroded more than normal and damage by cutworms 

 caused some reseeding. Some of the winter wheat crop was damaged by frost on June 12-13 and later cut for hay. 

 Wheat streak mosaic was reported in many areas with the heaviest damage in Yellowstone County. The 1969 winter 

 wheat harvest got started the first of August and was completed during the last week of September. The uneven 

 ripening of fields had caused some delay in harvesting progress. High winds in August caused shattering of wheat in 

 many areas of the State, but yields were generally good and better than expected. Test weights and protein content 

 were above the previous year for most of the State. 



Field tillage and planting of SPRING CROPS started during the first week of April in the southeast portion of the 

 State and in a few other favorable areas. The spring season was generally two weeks behind normal because many fields 

 were still too wet to work. Planting of all spring crops were virtually completed the first week in June. The light to 

 heavy frost in June also caused damage to hay, corn, beans and potatoes. Cutting of alfalfa hay started June 1 and was 

 near completion by August 1 5 . Harvest of oats and barley started the second week of August and spring wheat shortly 

 thereafter. Harvest progressed under favorable conditions and was completed the third week of September. The protein 

 in spring wheat exceeded the level of the previous year. In late August and early September, the harvesting of flaxseed, 

 dry beans and corn silage was getting underway and by mid-October was completed. 



Digging of potatoes began in mid-September, but shortly thereafter a freeze caused some damage to tubers. 

 Potato harvesting was virtually complete by the end of October. The harvesting of sugarbeets got started the last week 

 in September and made good progress until delayed by snow and cold temperatures in October, and muddy fields and 

 frozen topsoil in November. Sugarbeet harvesting was nearly complete by November 10. 



LIVESTOCK 



Livestock came through the exceptionally long, hard and cold winter, in fair to good condition. Some loss of 

 cattle was reported where the ranchers .depended on the open range and supplemental feeding wasn't started soon 

 enough. Many winter ranges opened up for grazing by the first week of April but 90 percent of the State's livestock 

 were still receiving supplemental feed. Ranchers began moving range livestock to spring and summer ranges in late April. 

 Calving was completed in early May and lambing was completed during the second week of May. Sheep shearing was 

 completed during the first week of June. A snowstorm on April 25-26 caused losses of new born calves, lambs and 

 recently shorn sheep. Movement of range livestock to summer ranges was completed by the middle of June. 

 Stock-water was generally adequate but many springs and stockponds dried up. Movement of range livestock from 

 summer ranges began the first week of September and was completed by mid-November. The dry, late summer left 

 much of the cured range grass brittle, which resulted in breakage and waste when grazed by livestock. Supplies of hay, 

 forage and range feed were adequate throughout most of the State for the winter. On January 1 , 1970, the number of 

 cattle and calves in the State was up one percent; sheep and lambs decreased 6 percent and chickens decreased 5 

 percent from the prior year; hogs and pigs on December 1 were down 9 percent. 



Montana's rank in numbers of livestock among the States at the beginning of 1970 was as follows: All cattle and 

 calves, 13th; beef cows, 7th; stock sheep, 4th; all hogs, 30th; and chickens, 41st. 



