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Winter wheat condition rated good to excellentMontana For the month ending Feb. 29, Montana received light to moderate precipitation, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Field Office, March 3. Seeley Lake received the most accumulated moisture for the month at 2.44 inches. Belgrade set a new precipitation record Feb. 25 of 0.15 of an inch, replacing the previous record of 0.13 of an inch. Boulder and Shelby had record high snowfalls on Feb. 25 of 3.5 inches and 0.60 of an inch, respectively. Other precipitation records for Feb. 25 were Belgrade and Shelby with 0.15 and 0.60 of an inch, respectively. Highs were mostly in the 40s to 50s, and low temperatures ranged from the negative 20s to the positive 20s during the month. Plentywood had the low of minus 21 degrees, and Choteau had the high temperature of 63 degrees. Topsoil moisture adequate and surplus is 34 percent, above last month's 32 percent, but below last year's 75 percent. Subsoil moisture adequate and surplus is 24 percent, above last month's 21 percent, but below last year's 37 percent. The weather outlook for March 10 to 16 is for above normal temperatures and near normal precipitation both east and west of the continental divide. Normal temperatures for this period in Montana are highs in the mid 30s to the mid 40s and lows ranging from zero to the mid 20s. Sixteen percent of pastures are closed for grazing compared to 20 percent last month and 21 percent last year. The number of livestock receiving supplemental feed is still high. Ranchers are keeping busy as calving and lambing are well underway. Winter wheat condition, good and excellent, is better than last month and last year with 35 percent good to excellent this month, 32 percent last month, and 34 percent last year. Damage to winter wheat is still relatively low. Winter wheat affected by wind, moderate to heavy, is eight percent. Sixteen percent of the crop is rated moderate to heavy for damage from freeze and drought. Snow cover is worse than last month and last year. 3/10/08 Date: 3/4/08
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