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Calving, lambing reach half-way pointMontana For the month ending March 30, Montana received light to moderate precipitation, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Field Office, March 31. Swan Lake received the most accumulated moisture for the month at 2.82 inches. Boulder, Townsend, and Wisdom had record high snowfalls on March 29 of 0.40 of an inch, 2.0 inches, and 2.0 inches respectively. Other precipitation records for March included Wisdom with 1.0 inches on March 20. Highs were mostly in the 50s to 60s, and low temperatures ranged from the negative 20s to the positive teens during the month. Wisdom had the low of minus 19 degrees, and Huntley had the high temperature of 70 degrees. Topsoil moisture adequate and surplus is 30 percent, below last month's 34 percent as well as last year's 75 percent. Subsoil moisture adequate and surplus is 24 percent, unchanged from last month's 24 percent, and below last year's 54 percent. The weather outlook for April 7 through 13 is for below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation both east and west of the continental divide. Normal temperatures for this period in Montana are highs in the mid 40s to the mid 50s and lows ranging from upper teens to the lower 30s. Winter wheat condition, good and excellent, is slightly below last month and is substantially lower than last year with 34 percent good to excellent this month, 35 percent last month, and 71 percent last year. Damage to winter wheat increased from last month. Winter wheat affected by wind, moderate to heavy, is 26 percent compared to 8 percent last month. Twenty-one percent of the crop is rated moderate to heavy for damage from freeze and drought compared to 16 percent last month. Snow cover is still poor but has improved from last month. Sixteen percent of pastures are closed for grazing, unchanged from last month, but higher than last year. The number of livestock receiving supplemental feed is still high. Ranchers continue with calving and lambing with calving just over 50 percent and lambing at 40 percent completed. 4/7/08 Date: 4/2/08
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