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Wheat suffering winter kill, limited moisture
Montana
There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending May 2, and currently, fieldwork is 82 percent well underway, 12 percent, just started, and 6 percent no field work underway, compared to last year's ratings of 71 percent well underway, 19 percent just started, and 10 percent no field work underway, according to the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service, May 3.
For the week, most of Montana saw highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Flatwillow was the state's hot spot reaching 88 degrees. The lows for the state were mainly in the mid 20s to lower 30s with Wisdom at 11 degrees for the state low. Precipitation was scattered throughout the state last week. Red Lodge saw the most precipitation with 0.64 inches. The weather outlook for the week of May 10-16 shows below normal temperatures and near normal precipitation for the entire state. Normal temperatures for this period range from lows in the upper 20s to lower 40s, and highs from the middle 50s to upper 60s.
Winter Wheat conditions are below the five-year average due to a combination of winter kill and limited soil moisture. As a result, some winter Wheat is being re-seeded. Also, crop planting is well ahead of last year and the five-year average due to the warmer temperatures and limited moisture.
Pastures open for grazing are at 80 percent, compared to last year's rating of 90 percent open. Calving and lambing are right on schedule with 92 percent and 74 percent completed, compared to last year's 91 percent for cattle and 74 percent for sheep.
Date: 5/5/04
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