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Winter Wheat declining, pastures open
Montana
There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending April 25th, and currently, fieldwork is 70 percent well underway, 18 percent, just started, and 12 percent no field work underway, compared to last year's ratings of 50 percent well underway, 27 percent just started, and 23 percent no field work underway, according to the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service, April 26.
For the week, most of Montana saw highs in the upper 60's to upper 70's, Harlem and Havre were the hot spots for the state reaching 75 degrees. The lows for the state were mainly in the lower 20's to lower 30's with Wisdom at 16 degrees for the state low. There were some areas of the state receiving rain during the week. Billings received 1.11 inches of rainfall last week. The weather outlook for the week of May 3- 9 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 lower 40's and highs from the middle 50's to upper 60's.
Winter Wheat conditions are declining due to a combination of winter kill and soil moisture levels. Some winter Wheat is being reseeded. Also, crop planting is well ahead of last year and the five-year average due to the warmer temperatures and limited moisture.
Seventy-six percent of the pastures are open for grazing compared to last year's rating of 87 percent open. Calving and lambing are right on schedule with 89 percent and 70 percent completed compared to last year's 88 percent for cattle and 66 percent for sheep.
Date: 4/28/04
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