By Robert Lucke
Drought conditions in this part of Montana are worse than they were in 1988, according to statistics provided by the Farm Service Agency in Hill County.
Mike Zook, Hill County FSA director, uses 1988 as a benchmark year for drought conditions because it is the driest in his memory.
FSA uses several measuring stations around the county for comparisons.
At Fort Assinniboine, precipitation statistics show that 1999 was 113 percent of normal, 2000 was 86 percent of normal and 2001 was 57 percent of normal. The 1988 statistics for Fort Assinniboine were 62 percent of normal.
In Havre, 1999 showed 102 percent of normal, 2000 was 70 percent of normal, and 2001 was 61 percent of normal. Havre in 1988 was 56 percent of normal.
Hingham in 1999 was 84 percent of normal, 2000 was 63 percent of normal, and 2001 was 56 percent of normal. Stats for 1988 for Hingham were 58 percent of normal.
North of Havre at Simpson, 1999 precip levels were 91 percent of normal, 2000 was 66 percent of normal, and 2001 was 54 percent of normal. In 1988, Simpson was 58 percent of normal.
In Gildford, 1999 was 95 percent of normal, 2000 was 60 percent of normal, and 2001 was 45 percent of normal. The 1988 statistics for Gildford were 66 perrcent of normal.
Rudyard in 1999 was 96 percent of normal, 2000 was 53 percent of normal, and 2001 was 57 percent of normal. The 1988 statistics for Rudyard were 60 percent of normal.
