Hot and dry conditions prevailed across the state of Montana again for the week ending Aug. 2, with an early week storm providing a little respite for parts of the state, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Field Office, Aug. 3.
The dry heat coupled with high winds has opened fire season in Montana with some grass fires starting from machinery as producers harvest in addition to lightning caused fires. High wind and heat damage to crops was noted in several areas of the state, and the durum wheat growing northeast reported winds above 70 mile per hour.
Conversely, the rain storm early in the week halted field work for a couple of days as producers waited for their fields to dry out enough to get their machinery back out into them.
Crops continued to turn rapidly in the hot, dry weather with durum wheat 87 percent turned compared to the five-year average of 27 percent.
Producers have begun harvesting small grains weeks ahead of normal with 25 percent of barley, 4 percent of durum wheat, 3 percent of oats and 6 percent of spring wheat harvested at this time. Pasture and range conditions continue to decline from last week due to continued dry weather with 26 percent rated good to excellent compared with 48 percent last year.
Producers continue to move livestock off summer ranges ahead of normal with 5 percent of cattle and 5 percent of sheep moved so far and are voicing concerns about the availability and price of hay that will be needed in the months to come.
Source - http://www.hpj.com
