Winter wheat harvest begins

Hot, dry weather was observed in much of the state for the week ending July 15 with extreme weather reported in Sheridan County, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, Montana. The high temperature for the state was recorded in Powderville at 105 degrees. The low temperature for the week was recorded in West Yellowstone at 30 degrees. Precipitation was reported at 48 weather stations. The highest recorded precipitation for the week was in Plentywood with 2.94 inches of moisture. An EF-1 Tornado was confirmed in Plentywood with winds up to 110 mph. Topsoil moisture conditions for the state were 66 percent adequate to surplus, above last year’s 12 percent. Subsoil moisture conditions were 61 percent adequate to surplus which is above last year’s 20 percent. There were reports of crop losses due to hail in Sheridan County. Winter wheat harvest has started in some areas but was less than 1 percent statewide.