MONTANA CROP PROGRESS
United States Department of Agriculture
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
MONTANA FIELD OFFICE
P.O. BOX 150969 · Lakewood, CO 80215-0969
Cooperating with the Montana Department of Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE									   Contact: Eric Sommer
September 6, 2022									             	(800) 392-3202

CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION
WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 4, 2022

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY:  Temperatures during the week were well above average, with little to no precipitation across the State, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Rainfall was limited to localized pockets of northern Montana, which afforded producers ample time for fieldwork, as evidenced by double-digit harvest progress for many crops. Comments from several counties noted hot, dry conditions, with little to no forecasted rain. Irrigation water was noted to be short in some counties. Fire danger was high. According to the United States Drought Monitor for August 30, extreme drought (D3) was noted across 3.6 percent of the State, severe drought (D2) covered 11.9 percent, and moderate drought (D1) was present across 25.7 percent. Abnormally dry conditions existed across 36.2 percent of Montana. Under abnormally dry weather conditions, the area categorized as drought‑free decreased to 22.6 percent of the State.
	Reports from Mineral, Missoula, and Ravalli Counties indicated that forest fires resulted in a heavy smoke presence along the Bitterroot, which will most likely lead to drying issues for growers with hay on the ground. In Valley County, producers were wrapping up harvest, although comments indicated grasshoppers continued to plague the area. Additionally, most growers were waiting to seed their 2023 winter wheat crop until some much-needed moisture was received. Conditions in Powder River, Roosevelt, and Wibaux Counties paralleled those noted above – hot, dry, and windy, with a large grasshopper population. Statewide, livestock producers were beginning to bring their herds back from summer pastures, although at 4 percent, progress was behind that from last year for both cattle and sheep. The State’s canola, corn for silage, dry edible bean, Durum wheat, flaxseed, mustard seed, oat, safflower, and spring wheat harvests were advancing ahead of the average pace, while the barley and other hay harvests were slightly behind normal.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS	
Commodity	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average	
	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	
Alfalfa hay					
	2nd cutting harvested		99	82	91	NA	
Barley					
	Harvested		80	75	88	81	
Canola					
	Harvested		75	58	67	60	
Corn					
	Harvested for silage		20	17	19	18	
Dry edible beans (includes Chickpeas)					
	Harvested		72	70	74	63	
Durum wheat					
	Harvested		81	61	78	66	
Flaxseed					
	Harvested		70	63	68	54	
Lentils					
	Harvested		93	85	NA	NA	
Mustard seed					
	Harvested		75	55	65	62	
Oats					
	Harvested		80	69	83	78	
Other hay					
	2nd cutting harvested		77	75	78	78	
Safflower					
	Harvested		40	30	29	22	
Spring wheat					
	Harvested		87	75	94	80	
Winter wheat					
	Planted		4	2	3	2	
					
Cattle and calves					
	Moved from pasture		4	NA	27	NA	
Sheep and lambs					
	Moved from pasture		3	NA	22	NA	
NA – not available
(--) – zero

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION	
	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average	
Days suitable for field work		7.0	6.0	7.0	6.6	
					
Topsoil moisture	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	
	Very short		40	35	54	36	
	Short		45	42	39	35	
	Adequate		15	23	7	27	
	Surplus		--	--	--	2	
Subsoil moisture					
	Very short		29	35	66	33	
	Short		56	47	30	36	
	Adequate		15	18	4	30	
	Surplus		--	--	--	1	
NA – not available
(--) – zero

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION	
Commodity	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average	
	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	
Corn					
	Very poor		3	3	15	4	
	Poor		5	5	20	10	
	Fair		19	19	35	27	
	Good		71	71	29	49	
	Excellent		2	2	1	10	
Safflower					
	Very poor		--	--	32	10	
	Poor		19	18	45	17	
	Fair		47	52	23	35	
	Good		20	25	--	34	
	Excellent		14	5	--	4	
Pasture and range					
	Very poor		17	21	52	25	
	Poor		26	25	35	22	
	Fair		36	30	13	25	
	Good		21	24	--	23	
	Excellent		--	--	--	5	
Sugarbeets					
	Very poor		--	1	11	5	
	Poor		1	1	16	9	
	Fair		22	25	40	28	
	Good		76	72	33	46	
	Excellent		1	1	--	12	
NA – not available
(--) – zero