2008 Montana USA, Crop, Livestock, and Weather Digest
Last updated: January 14, 2009
January: Montana had below normal precipitation during January. West Glacier received the most accumulated moisture for the month at 4.55 inches. High temperatures were mostly in the 40s to 50s. Wisdom and Goldbutte both had the low temperature for the month at minus 37 degrees. Winter wheat had little snow cover, but wind and frost damage was minimal. At month's end, winter wheat crop conditions were rated 32% good to excellent. Ninety-six percent of cattle and calves and ninety-five percent of sheep and lambs received supplemental feed. February: The state had light to moderate precipitation during February. Seeley Lake received the most accumulated moisture for the month at 2.44 inches. Choteau had the high temperature of 63 degrees, and Plentywood had the low of minus 21 degrees. At the end of the month, winter wheat had less snow cover than last month, but crop conditions were better, at 35% good to excellent. Calving and lambing were well underway at 26% and 17% complete, respectively. The number of livestock receiving supplemental feed remained high at month's end, nearly the same as last month. March: Montana received light to moderate precipitation during the month. High temperatures were mostly in the 50s to 60s. Topsoil moisture conditions were 30% adequate to surplus at month's end, compared to 75% adequate to surplus last year. Winter wheat conditions were 34% good to excellent, significantly lower than last year's 71% good to excellent. By month's end, calving and lambing were 53% and 40% complete, respectively. Ninety-six percent of livestock received supplemental feed, the same as last month. April: From a tornado near Kalispell on the 9th to record snowfall and record cold in some areas, April was a month of weather extremes. On average, however, temperatures were below normal for most of the month. Precipitation varied from below normal the first two weeks to light and moderate the last two weeks. Spring planting was well underway by the end of the month. Calving and lambing were 87% and 74% complete, respectively. At the end of the month, 81% of cattle and 79% of sheep received supplemental feed, compared to 65% last year May: Eastern Montana received above normal moisture the first week, while the western and central districts had light precipitation. Almost all areas of the state reported above normal precipitation the third week. Light precipitation prevailed the rest of the month. High temperatures were mostly in the 70s and 80s. Many areas reached the low 90s mid-month. Spring planting was nearing completion at month's end. Calving and lambing were finished by the end of the month. Seventy-nine percent of cattle and calves and eighty-one percent of sheep and lambs had been moved to summer ranges. June: Most of Montana received adequate to above normal precipitation the first half of the month and below normal precipitation the rest of the month. High temperatures were in the 70s and 80s until the last week when the highs reached the 90s. At month's end, all of the small grains, pulse crops, and most of the oilseeds were progressing slower than last year. The first cutting of alfalfa hay and other hay was behind last year and the five-year average. All livestock had been moved to summer pastures by the end of the month. Range and pasture feed conditions were 56% good and excellent. July: The state had light to moderate rainfall the first week and light precipitation the rest of the month. Hot weather prevailed during July. Farmers began harvesting winter wheat the last week, well behind last year and the five-year average due to the delayed growing season. The first cutting of alfalfa hay was nearing completion and the second cutting was just underway at month's end. Pasture and range conditions were 44% good to excellent, behind last year but ahead of the five-year average. August: Hot weather continued and lasted the entire month. Roundup, Hardin, and Huntley all reached 105 degrees the last week. Rainfall was light to moderate across the state the first week. Precipitation was below normal the rest of the month, except for the northwest and north central districts, which received above normal moisture the last week. Harvest of small grains still lagged behind last year's harvest at month's end. Winter wheat was 94% harvested. Pasture and range conditions were 39% good to excellent, ahead of both last year and the five-year average. September: Rain fell across the state the first two weeks, delaying harvest of small grains. Limited precipitation and warm temperatures the rest of the month helped fields to dry out, allowing farmers to make good progress with harvest. Winter wheat seeding was 52% complete at month's end, compared to 65% complete last year. The second cutting of alfalfa hay was virtually complete. The movement of livestock from summer ranges was well underway by the end of the month. October: Temperatures were above normal in October. Most of Montana received moderate precipitation the second week. The southeast and south central districts had heavy moisture. Precipitation was light the rest of October. Small grain harvest was complete by mid-month. Sugar beet harvest and corn harvest for grain were behind last year at month's end. Winter wheat seeding was complete. Seventy-five percent of cattle and calves and eighty-five percent of sheep and lambs were moved off summer pastures by the end of the month. November: Precipitation was light to moderate during November. Temperatures were above normal. At month’s end, winter wheat conditions were 68 percent good to excellent, compared to 51 percent last year. Corn was in mostly good to excellent condition, but harvest was well behind last year. Topsoil moisture conditions were 68 percent adequate to surplus, ahead of last year’s 44 percent. Most livestock had been moved off summer pastures by month’s end. Forty percent of cattle and calves and fifty-five percent of sheep and lambs received supplemental feed, fewer than last year. December: Montana received above normal precipitation for the month. Temperatures were below normal for December. At the end of the month, protectiveness of snow cover for the winter wheat crop was mostly good to excellent. Winter wheat conditions were 75 percent good to excellent, ahead of last year’s 33 percent. Due to cold weather and heavy snowfall, ninety-three percent of cattle and calves and ninety-five percent of sheep and lambs received supplemental feed at month’s end, more than last year.
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