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Heat helps crops progressMontana Most of Montana received below normal precipitation for the week ending Aug. 3, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Field Office, Aug. 4. Cities in the northeast district received moderate precipitation, and Glasgow received the most moisture of 1.33 inches. Temperatures were above normal. Highs ranged from 80s to 100s, and lows ranged from 30s to 50s. Roundup had the high temperature at 105 degrees, and Olney and Wisdom shared the low of 31 degrees. Topsoil moisture adequate and surplus, at 17 percent, is below last week's 33 percent and the five-year average of 18 percent, but is above last year's 13 percent. Subsoil moisture adequate and surplus is 26 percent, below last week's 38 percent, but above last year's 24 percent and the five-year average of 22 percent. The number of days suitable for field work was 6.7 days, up from the previous week's 6.2 days. The weather outlook for Aug. 11 through 17 is for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation both east and west of the continental divide. Normal temperatures for this period in Montana are highs in the upper 70s to the upper 80s and lows in the lower 40s to 60 degrees. Hot weather experienced in the past two weeks has crop fields turning fast although progress of most crops is still behind last year. Sawfly damage in both winter and spring wheat fields is evident in the north central district. Reports in the northeast district indicate some of the spring planted crops have been hayed and those that are too short to be harvested will be grazed. Conditions of all the small grains except winter wheat have declined from the previous week. Most pulse crop and oilseed farmers have started harvest during the past two weeks. Ranchers have begun moving livestock from summer pastures due to the typical late summer shortage of grass. Range and pasture feed conditions are below last week, last year, and the five-year average. Thirty-one percent is good to excellent this week. 8/11/08 Date: 8/6/08
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