1996 Montana Agricultural Statistics General-Crop, Livestock. & Weather Digest 7 



MONTANA CROP, LIVESTOCK, AND WEATHER DIGEST, 1995 



January: Weather for Montana remained mostly mild. There were above normal temperatures and very little 

 precipitation in the major wheat growing areas. The protectiveness of snow cover at month's end was rated 98% poor. 

 Although protection v/as minimal, wind damage was not much of a problem. 



February: Some welcome precipitation came, but amounts were well below normal in the major wheat growing areas of 

 the state. Winter wheat was rated 50% poor. Calving and lambing were well underway with 27% and 15% complete, 

 respectively. 



March: Weather was characterized by greatly varying weather patterns. Spring storms brought needed moisture to many 

 areas of the state. The winter wheat condition showed some improvement. Snowstorms caused increased livestock 

 losses, especially in central Montana. 



April: Some much needed moisture was received in the first half of the month. Wet conditions were causing some 

 anxiety among producers wanting to get into the field. By month's end just over 40% of the spring wheat and barley was 

 seeded, nearly 10 points behind normal. Calving was 91% complete and lambing 73% complete by the end of the month. 



May: Above normal amounts of precipitation were received for the first part of the month. Planting progress remained 

 behind normal and cool conditions hindered crop progress. Many acres of winter wheat had to be reseeded to spring 

 wheat because of the dry fall planting conditions and weather stress in the spring. Only 28% of the winter wheat crop 

 was rated good to excellent. Nearly two-thirds of the livestock had been moved to summer ranges by the end of the 

 month. 



June: The month started out warm and dry. Farmers were able to wrap up spring seeding. By the end of the month 

 many areas of the state were looking for some moisture as the topsoil was getting dry. A prolonged hot spell in the 

 northeast was causing some serious stress to the crops. The winter wheat condition improved to 57% in the good to 

 excellent range, much of the increase was attributed to the condition being assessed on the remaining winter wheat acres 

 after much of the crop was reseeded to spring wheat. The pasture and ranges were doing very well. 



July: Numerous rain showers and cooler weather started the month. Crop progress lagged behind normal but the weather 

 offered relief to the northeast district. Many producers had trouble putting up their hay because of scattered rains. All 

 crop conditions were rated very good. Winter wheat harvest had just started by the end of the month. Nearly half the 

 spring grains had started turning color. 



August: Temperatures averaged above normal for the month which assisted in the ripening of the crops. By the end of 

 the month over half the winter wheat was harvested and spring grain harvest was nearly 40% complete. The dryer 

 weather caused the pasture and range feed condition to fall by the end of the month. Fire danger was a concern with all 

 the dry grass. 



September: Farmers had a fair month to nearly finish their harvest. Winter wheat harvest was completed halfway 

 through the month. There was a hard fi-ost mid way through the month that caused some crop damage. Winter wheat 

 planting started with many producers concerned about the lack of moisture. Moisture was received and producers were 

 able to plant a more normal winter wheat acreage than the last couple of years. Livestock producers had moved nearly a 

 third of their livestock off summer ranges. 



October: The remaining small grains were slow to get harvested. Row crop harvest progressed behind normal for the 

 month. Winter wheat planting was finished by the end of the month with 83% of it emerged. The winter wheat 

 condition was rated as 19% fair, 66% good, and 15% excellent. 



November: Varied weather was the general rule for the month. Snow cover was erratic with extreme fluctuations in 

 temperature. Some wind damage to the winter wheat crop was reported, but the condition was rated 69% good and 12% 

 excellent at month's end. 



December: This month was also marked by a wide variety of weather. Snow cover for the major wheat growing areas 

 was still rated mostly poor. There were reports of more wind damage to the winter wheat crop. The limited snowfall 

 kept grazing mostly open. 



