The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Recropping Potential is Poor to Fair for North Chouteau County

The Chouteau County Soil Moisture Survey was started by Judee Wargo in 1993 to assist farmers in determining recropping potential on cereal grain stubble. After 31 years, the Chouteau County Extension Office continues to compile data for determining recropping potential and provide the state drought committee with soil moisture information.

All of the stubble plots north of the Missouri River excluding the Knees area rated in the fair to poor range. In the northern regions, the Paul Brown probe went from 12-26 inches in the stubble which calculates to less than five inches of moisture in the soil. For poor locations, producers will need four inches of growing season precipitation to get a 25- bushel yield for barley. For spring wheat, poor locations will need five inches of rain during the growing season to get a 25-bushel yield. All plots south of the Missouri river and the Knees have good to excellent potential for recropping.

All winter wheat plots scored in the good to excellent range except for three locations: north of Carter near Apple School, Pleasant Valley north of Fort Benton, and southwest of Big Sandy near Hopp School. These three locations have less than five inches of moisture in the soil. To get a 40-bushel winter wheat yield five inches of rain is needed during the growing season. All remaining plots have a full soil profile and will do well with just a couple of inches of moisture during the growing season.

Hard copies of the 2024 Soil Moisture Survey are available at the Chouteau County Extension Office or can be e-mailed upon request. The document is also available on our website at montana.edu/extension/chouteau.

Montana State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.