Conditions remain too wet for fieldwork

Spring conditions finally began to arrive over the week ending April 22, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, Montana. The high temperature for the state was recorded in Hardin at 81 degrees. The low temperature for the week was recorded in West Yellowstone at 12 degrees. Precipitation was reported at 75 weather stations. The highest recorded precipitation for the week was in Yaak with 0.85 of an inch of moisture. Topsoil moisture conditions were 88 percent adequate to surplus, tracking with last year’s 94 percent. Subsoil moisture conditions are 74 percent adequate to surplus, which is below last year’s 88 percent. Crop reporters noted that conditions remained too wet for fieldwork throughout the state, as spring runoff is occurring with flooding in scattered areas. The spring melt has made rating the progress and condition of the winter wheat crop easier for some reporters, though other reporters were still unable to assess the crop given field conditions. Winter wheat was reported with 55 percent of the crop breaking dormancy, up from 17 percent last week. Reporters in Broadwater county noted winter kill on some winter wheat and alfalfa crops. Fifty-seven percent of the winter wheat crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared to 66 percent last year.