6 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



MONTANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK — 1970 



Montana experienced an "open winter" with temperatures a\eraging ser>' close to normal. There were 

 no widespread se\ere stomis; although some sections did experience brief, local blizzard conditions on several 

 occiisions. October 1969 was the coldest October since 1925 in most sections of the State. Mild weather 

 pre\ailed during \o\ ember and for the most part continued through Februarv' except for below normal tempera- 

 tures east of the Rockies during Januan.-. There were several cold periods during these 4 months but they 

 were of short duration. Bluster.' weather was characteristic of March as winds were stronger than usual with 

 temperatures averaging below nomial and precipitation generalh' above nonnal. Snowfall was heavy throughout 

 the month in the higher elevations and mountain snowpacks increased significantly. 



The 1970 iirowing season began with cold, wet and windv weather, .\uril temperatures averaged 5 degrees 

 below nomial and precipitation fell mostl\- as snow. Severe blizzard conditions were experienced on the 

 ■27-28th of .April in central Montana with snowfall reported up to .36 inches east and north of Lewistown. 

 Ma> continued the wet trend but temperatures were not as cold. Total precipitation amounts during the 

 month were well above nonnal. Drier and wanner weather returned during June with the number of days 

 with 90° or wanner near a record for the month at man>- stations. Hea\\' runoff from record mountain snowpacks 

 caused persistent low level flooding during early June along both the Gallatin and Madison rivers. Dr>', 

 wann weather returned during Julv- and .\ugust, depleting soil moisture supplies and resulting in moisture 

 shortages over much of eastern Montana. Beneficial precipitation was received during late July and partially 

 offset the very hot .August temperatures. .After the first week, September was characterized by persistently 

 cool temperatures. New record-low September temperatures were observed at many locations in the western 

 half of the State. Moisture during the month relieved most moisture shortages. 



CROPS 



Fanners were slow seeding winter wheat during the fall of 1969, in the hopes that soil moisture would 

 improve and insure gennination of the seed. Moisture conditions did not improve and consequently fanners 

 were not able to seed as much winter wheat in the triangle area as intended. In the major winter wheat 

 area, gennination was poor and stands were spotty. Most areas received only short periods of snowcover 

 during the winter but wind damage was minimal. Soil moisture shortages continued into early spring. Just 

 prior to planting of spring wheat, heav>- amounts of precipitation fell in all areas of the State, bringing much 

 needed soil moisture but delaving planting progress by several weeks. Intennittent periods of cool, wet 

 weather slowed plant growth during late spring. The summer period was generallv- wann, with periods of 

 hot weather that depleted soil moisture and speeded maturation of the wheat crop. Weather conditions during 

 harvest were generally verv' good. Completion date of the harvest was about nonnal. 



Barley, oats and sugarbeet planting was underwav- at mid-.-\pril but was running about 3 weeks behind 

 nonnal. Potato planting started in mid-May. Sugarbeet planting was completed the first week of June. However, 

 some acreage in southcentral Montana was not planted due to poor planting conditions. Beet thinning began 

 the second week in June and was completed the second week of Julv'. Com planting was virtually complete 

 by mid-June. 



The first cutting of alfalfa hav started shortlv after mid-June and wild hay harvest a week later. 



Stacking the first crop of alfalfa was completed b> the last week of July, and wild hav harvest was complete 

 the end of August. 



Harvesting of barley and oats started the first week of .August and was completed during the third week 

 of September. Cutting com for silage began at the end of .\ugust and was completed bv- October 12. 



Potato digging started the last week of September and was completed bv- October 26. Frost damaged 

 some potatoes and slowed the harvest. Sugarbeet harvest began the last week of October and was completed 

 earlv in November. 



LIVESTOCK 



Mild weather in the fall of 1969, allowed fanners and ranchers to get the majoritx of their fall work 

 done on schedule. Cattle, calves, sheep and lambs were in good condition, with shrinkage less than usual. 

 A few fall snowstonns hit Montana but the snow (juicklv melted. With the generally open fall, supplemental 

 feeding was light. Gn\zing became more difficidt with increased snowcover in Januarv-. Supplemental feeding 

 increased when livestock required uiore feed to maintain body heat in the colder temperatures. However, 

 overall, 1969-70 winter temperatures were fairly wann. Supplemental feeding was light throughout the winter 

 months because mild weather allowed extensive use of winter ranges. Hay and other roughages were in 

 goo<l supply. 



Calving, lambing and shearing startetl in late Januarv- in several areas of Montana and finished up in 

 late May. Scouring and pneinnonia caused some loss. 



Range livestock began moving on to suunner ranges in early May. Snow and slow grass growth delayed 

 the movement somewhat, but b> mid-June all livestock were on sinnmer range. 



In earlv- September range cattle and sheep were beginning to come off summer ranges. Movement to 

 winter ranges was completed bv- early November. 



Winter ranges were in gooil condition. Hav- and feed grains were in above average supplv. Stockv\-ater 

 supplies were ailequate. Livestock marketing activitv- was slow. Range livestock were receiv ing supplemental 

 feed bv the end of December. 



