USDA Montana Crop Progress Report - April 23

The past week brought colder temperatures and snowfall to many areas in the State of Montana, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

According to the National Weather Service Forecast Office, temperatures ranged from 45 degrees to 22 degrees across the State, while there was 0.01 to 2.1 inches of precipitation observed in the State for the week ending April 23.

Drought conditions improved slightly in areas experiencing moderate and severe drought. However, overall drought conditions continued to persist.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor published on April 18, 66.7 percent of the State was experiencing dry or drought conditions, down from 70.9 percent the previous week.

Twenty-six-and-a-half percent of the State was rated as abnormally dry.

Thirty-five percent of the State was rated as being in moderate drought, up one percentage point from the previous week.

While 5.3 percent of the State was rated as experiencing severe drought conditions, down from 8.0 percent the previous week.

Dawson County reported that it was too wet to work in the fields.

Valley County reported that they had lots of flooding and some colder weather.

Prairie County reported that they had some warmer weather over the last week, which encouraged their winter wheat to begin breaking dormancy, although reports indicated the possibility of significant amounts of winter-killed wheat.