Cool weather, rain slow fieldwork

Cool weather and precipitation slowed fieldwork over the week ending June 24, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, Montana. The high temperature for the state was recorded in Joliet at 90 degrees. The low temperature for the week was recorded in Seeley Lake at 32 degrees. Precipitation was reported at 91 weather stations. The highest recorded precipitation for the week was in Melville with 4.79 inches of moisture. Topsoil moisture conditions for the state were 86 percent adequate to surplus, above last year’s 31 percent. Subsoil moisture conditions were 79 percent adequate to surplus which is above last year’s 38 percent. Many reporters noted that precipitation had operators waiting for drier conditions to cut hay; though in Powder River County operators began haying winter wheat. Broadwater County experienced minor flooding.