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Wheat conditions declining
Montana
There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending April 18, and currently, fieldwork is 55 percent well underway, 22 percent, just started, and 23 percent no field work underway, compared to last year's ratings of 27 percent well underway, 34 percent just started, and 39 percent no field work underway, according to the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service April 19.
For the week, most of Montana saw highs in the upper 60's to upper 70's, Glendive and Hardin were the hot spots for the state reaching 80 degrees. The lows for the state were mainly in the lower 20's to middle 30's with Scobey at 11 degrees for the state low. There were some areas of the state receiving rain during the week. The wet spot for the state was West Glacier with 0.74 inches of rainfall last week. The weather outlook for the week of April 26-May 2 is for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for the entire state. Normal temperatures for this period are lows from the middle 20's to the upper 30's and highs from the lower 50's to middle 60's.
Winter Wheat conditions are declining due to a combination of winter kill and soil moisture levels. Also, crop planting is well ahead of last year and the five-year average due to the warmer temperatures and limited moisture.
Seventy-five percent of the pastures are open for grazing compared to last year's rating of 80 percent open. Calving and lambing are right on schedule with 82 percent and 53 percent completed compared to last year's 82 percent for cattle and 59 percent for sheep.
Date: 4/21/04
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