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Hay supplies going fastMontana For the month ending Jan. 3, most areas of Montana experienced below normal precipitation, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Field Office, Feb. 4. West Glacier received an accumulated 4.55 inches during the month, the most in the state. Swan Lake had the second highest moisture accumulation for the month at 2.96 inches. Highs were mostly in the 40s to 50s, and low temperatures ranged in the negative 30s to negative teens. Wisdom and Goldbutte shared the low temperature of minus 37 degrees, and Valentine had the high temperature of 60 degrees. Topsoil moisture adequate and surplus is 32 percent, above last month's 30 percent but below last year's 56 percent. Subsoil moisture adequate and surplus, at 21 percent, is below last month's 22 percent and last year's 37 percent. The weather outlook for Feb. 11 to 17 is for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation east of the continental divide and for above normal temperatures and near normal precipitation west of the divide. Normal temperatures for this period in Montana are highs in the mid 20s to the upper 30s and lows ranging from 5 degrees to the upper teens. Twenty percent of pastures are closed for livestock grazing compared to 12 percent last year. Recent moisture and cold temperatures have increased the need for supplemental feeding. Hay supplies are being used up fast as only about half the pastures are open. A few ranchers have started calving and lambing. Winter wheat condition is similar to last month but rated below last year with 32 percent good to excellent compared to 54 percent last year. Snow cover has improved from the previous month. High winds and variable temperatures across most of the state have caused about the same amount of damage to winter wheat as last year. 2/11/08 Date: 2/5/08
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