MONTANA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 1990 OnNHRAL 7 



MONTANA CROP, LIVESTOCK, AND WEATHER DIGEST, 1989 



JANUARY: The month was warm, snowy, and unusually windy. Snowfall helped the winter 

 wheat crop through periods of strong winds. Russian wheat aphids were reported in many 

 locations. 



FEBRUARY: One of the coldest months on record. Winter wheat condition deteriorated even 

 though snow cover protection was good. The cold put considerable stress on livestock, 

 especially newborn calves. 



MARCH: Snowfall was above normal and temperatures below normal. Topsoil moisture was 

 replenished. Winter wheat was rated fair to good, but winter kill was suspected. 



APRIL: Temperatures above normal. Except for the west, precipitation was also above 

 normal. Extensive winter wheat freeze damage became apparent as the crop began to grow. 

 Planting progress was well behind normal. 



MAY: A wet and cool month. Soil moisture was mostly adequate. Spring seeding was nearly 

 finished, slightly behind normal. Emergence of spring crops was well behind normal. Pasture 

 and range feed condition was mostly good to excellent. 



JUNE: Cool weather held back crop growth, but crop condition was mostly good to excellent 

 because of adequate moisture. Hay harvest was also delayed. 



JULY: Warm temperatures and below normal rainfall dried soils and lowered crop condition 

 mostly in the eastern third of the state. Winter wheat harvest later than normal. 



AUGUST: Rains caused considerable sprout damage in spring grains and delayed harvest 

 operations. Eastern Montana remained mostly dry. 



SEPTEMBER: Small grain and hay harvest was completed by month's end after a slow start. 

 Winter wheat seeding was on schedule. Nearly half of the soils were short of moisture with the 

 driest soils in the east. 



OCTOBER: Late season crop harvest was completed except for sugar beets. Soils remained 

 critically dry in the eastern counties. Winter wheat seeding was complete with emerged stands 

 in good condition. 



NOVEMBER: Soil moisture shortage in the eastern counties continued, while elsewhere soils 

 were wet. Most planted winter wheat was emerged and in fair to good condition. Nearly all 

 livestock were moved from summer pastures. 



DECEMBER: Topsoil moisture supplies improved. Snowcover protection for winter wheat was 

 mostly good to excellent. Most livestock were on supplemental feed. 



