Harvest still not complete, weather causing problems
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Farming has never been said to be easy. It takes long hours and hard work to get the harvest completed in a perfect scenario. Add in unpredictable weather, including high winds, a winter storm with plenty of wet snow and freezing temperatures and the level of difficulty is near impossible.
Soggy fields and wheat and barley layed on its side due to the heavy snow and the likelihood that getting a combine into remaining fields may not happen has left producers with a predicament that may carry over into the spring.
In addition the weather and resulting field conditions will have an impact on the seeding of winter wheat across the region.
The following is from the USDA Montana Crop Report for the week of October 7th: AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:
Continued precipitation and cool temperatures were observed across the State last week, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Topsoil moisture conditions for the state were 100 percent adequate to surplus, compared to 95 percent in the previous week and 56 percent the previous year.
Subsoil moisture conditions were rated 85 percent adequate to surplus compared to 45 percent the previous year. Reporters in Daniels, Dawson and Prairie counties reported harvest continues to get further behind and crop conditions are deteriorating rapidly due to moisture, sprout, mold and disease.
A reporter in Sweet Grass County stated a grasshopper infestation has taken a toll on rangeland conditions. Statewide, barley harvest was estimated at 93 percent complete, behind the previous year of 95 percent. Durum wheat made little harvest progress and was reported at 64 percent complete, well behind last year at 95 percent.
Second cutting hay harvest continues to be slow due to wet conditions, with 94 percent of alfalfa and 92 percent of other hay harvested. Oilseed harvest continues behind schedule, with approximately 85 percent of the canola crop harvested by the end of the week, behind last year at 94 percent Flaxseed harvested was reported at 44 percent complete, behind the previous year at 80 percent.
Safflower harvested was reported at 40 percent complete, behind both the previous year and 5-year average of 51 percent and 52 percent, respectively. Sugarbeet harvest made little progress last week with only 5 percent of the crop harvested, significantly behind the previous year at 25 percent.
Winter wheat planted for the 2020 crop season was estimated at 49 percent complete, behind last year at 56 percent and well behind the 5-year average of 74 percent. Livestock moved from pasture is starting to pick up, with 30 percent of cattle and calves and 21 percent of sheep and lambs moved.
