Two Montana Counties Declare Drought Disasters

Yellowstone and Stillwater county commissions in Montana have declared drought disasters in their counties.

Officials say low rainfall and warm temperatures have created conditions that one farmer says are not usually seen until mid-September.

Yellowstone County agricultural agent Steve Lackman says that an assessment shows a 50 percent loss of feed on pasture and grazing land and an estimated 80 percent loss on dry land hay production.

The Billings Gazette reported that Stillwater County’s resolution says dry land hay production in Stillwater County is estimated to be 15 percent of normal, and most of the dry land spring wheat is not expected to make a harvestable grain crop. Livestock pasture and range conditions are also extremely poor.