Montana Agricultural Statistics 1 989 General 7 



MONTANA CROP, LIVESTQCK, AND WEATHER DIGEST, 1988 



JANUARY: A warm and very dry month with no snow cover. Wind damage to winter 

 wheat was light. The crop was in mostly fair condition. Grazing was open in most areas. 



FEBRUARY: Mild temperatures continued. Precipitation varied with much of central 

 Montana receiving above normal amounts. The west and southwest were dry. Winter wheat 

 was mostly in fair to good condition. Grazing, difficult at mid-month, was mostly open at 

 month's end. 



MARCH: Temperatures were above normal. Precipitation was varied with most areas 

 receiving less than normal. Winter wheat remained in mostly fair to good condition. Wind 

 damage was light to moderate. 



APRIL: A very dry month. Soil moisture was mostly short in all areas. Seeding was ahead 

 of normal, but emergence was slow. Hay and range grass growth was severely retarded. 



MAY: Drought worsens. Winter wheat headed out in the driest areas. About one-third of 

 the spring crop was very poor to poor, two-thirds fair to good. Stockwater shortages were 

 widespread. Some ranges remained dormant. Weather warm and dry. 



JUNE: Drought became critical. About three-fourths of all crops and ranges in very poor to 

 poor condition. Weather mostly hot and dry. 



JULY: Showers the first week gave a brief respite from the drought, but then a steady 

 deterioration developed to month's end. Grain harvest started well ahead of normal because 

 of drought-induced maturity. Livestock feed and stockwater shortages became critical. 



AUGUST: Heat and drought continued in spite of widespread but localized showers. Winter 

 wheat seeding delayed. Nearly all small grain crops harvested. About half of all livestock 

 moved off of summer ranges. 



SEPTEMBER: Cool weather and rains started about mid-month which gave encouragement 

 for winter wheat seeding. By month's end soil moisture shortages had been eased in two- 

 thirds of the state. Livestock movement from summer ranges slowed. 



OCTOBER: Winter wheat seeding was completed during the first two weeks. Harvesting of 

 row crops was completed well ahead of normal. The month ended with soil moisture 

 supplies nearly 60% short. Emerged winter wheat condition was mostly fair to good. 



NOVEMBER: Soil moisture shortages continued. Snowfall at mid-month provided protection 

 for winter wheat but slowed grazing. Weather was mostly warm and dry. 



DECEMBER: Soils remained dry although precipitation was above normal. Temperatures 

 were mostly warm. Winter wheat was in fair to good condition. Hay and stubble fields 

 were open for grazing. 



