Severe storms, crop damage reported

Dry winds and warm temperatures were the observed throughout the state for the week ending Aug. 5, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, Montana. The high temperature for the state was recorded in Wolf Point at 101 degrees. The low temperature for the week was recorded in Yellowstone at 27 degrees. Precipitation was reported at 57 weather stations. The highest recorded precipitation for the week was in Melville with 1.64 inches of moisture. Topsoil moisture conditions for the state were 49 percent adequate to surplus, above last year’s 3 percent. Subsoil moisture conditions were 48 percent adequate to surplus which is above last year’s 10 percent. Producers have started harvesting canola, dry beans, mustard seed, and spring wheat. Several reports from northwest areas indicate that soil conditions are drying out due to no precipitation, high winds and high temperatures. Severe storms and crop damage were reported in Powell, Roosevelt, and Yellowstone counties, with kernels being knocked out of small grains according to reporters.