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Topsoil moisture levels mostly adequate to surplusMontana During the week ending May 20, Montana received scattered precipitation, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Field Office, May 21. Glendive got 1.27 inches of moisture during the week, the most in the state. Albion reached 95 degrees, making it the hot spot for two weeks in a row. West Yellowstone had the low of 20 degrees again this week. Topsoil moisture adequate and surplus is 81 percent, below last week's 91 percent but above last year's 48 percent. Subsoil moisture adequate and surplus, at 67 percent, is down from last week's 75 percent but is higher than last year's 53 percent. The number of days suitable for fieldwork was 5.5, down from last week's 5.7 days. Scattered thunderstorms with hail in one south central county caused some damage to sugar beets, corn, and other crops. Some sugar beet fields in the northeastern part of the state got rained out. Warm weather has all crops emerging faster than last year. Twenty-seven percent of winter wheat is in the boot stage compared with 19 percent last year and a five-year average of 12 percent. Winter wheat good and excellent, at 76 percent, is similar to last week but is far ahead of last year's 54 percent and the five-year average of 45 percent. Range and pasture feed conditions are continuing to improve with 66 percent rated good to excellent compared with 59 percent the previous week. Almost all pastureland is open for grazing. Only 16 percent of cattle and 15 percent of sheep are receiving supplemental feed. 5/28/07
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