SHEPHERD — While Monday’s hailstorm hammered homeowners in Shepherd, growers also suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars from lost crops.

Norman Haaland, who grows malt barley just south of Shepherd, said he received a call from his neighbors after the storm had passed, informing him that his machine shed was no longer standing tall.

Watch full video of crop damage from Monday storm below:

Farmers and ranchers faced with crop damage after Monday storm

“‘Norman, you realize your machinery shed is gone. It’s out in your field,’” Haaland recalled the conversation Wednesday.

Not only was the machine shed gone, but the swather sitting inside was also swallowed by debris, leaving Haaland with a sight he is still trying to process.

“I’m just waiting for them to come out and look at it, so we can start cleaning up,” Haaland said.

But not everything can be cleaned up. Haaland’s crops were destroyed by the hail.

One hundred fifty acres of what used to be two-to-three foot tall malt barley are now flat.

“That crop out there is probably worth about a hundred grand. So, that’s a loss,” Haaland said. “Yeah, it hurts. It’s a real financial loss.”

Just down the road, the MSU Agriculture Center of Research in Huntley is also facing devastation.

“There’s really nothing. We have no crops left on the station,” Kent McVay, the superintendent of the agriculture center, said.

The research and experiment team are unable to replant crops this year. The station grows winter and spring wheat and other crops for research purposes.

“We’ll have no harvest here on station this fall,” McVay said.

McVay recalled similar damage from a storm in 2019, when total damage was estimated at $1 million.

“We may have as much damage this time as we did then,” McVay.

A field day was scheduled for Wednesday at the station was canceled because there was nothing to show.

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Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 17 drawing

16-23-39-46-55, Mega Ball: 12

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04-07-28-36-46, Lucky Ball: 02

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13-19-20-29, Bonus: 02

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When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
• Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
• Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
• Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

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Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

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This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Thunderstorm activity moves further east today. It will be a mostly sunny day with high temperatures reaching the 70s and 80s.

For updates on the Jericho Mountain Fire, visit this link or view my Facebook post below.

A weak ridge of high pressure builds over the region on Wednesday, keeping us dry and warm. Highs will be in the 80s again. It will be a bit breezy in western Montana. Wind will be around 10-20 MPH.

The return of southwest flow aloft brings afternoon thunderstorms back by Thursday. The first day of summer is coming up on Friday, as well as a cold front bringing rain and thunderstorms. We are watching the potential for some severe thunderstorms.

It will not feel like summer heading into he weekend, however. A center of low moves into Montana late Saturday into Sunday, bringing much cooler air, widespread rain, and even some mountain snow. High temperatures will only reach the 50s and 60s, especially on Sunday.

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WEATHER ALERTS:

NONE

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Helena Temperature Records Today:
High: 97 (2022)
Low: 34 (1954)
AVG: 75/49

Great Falls Temperature Records Today:
High: 97 (1961)
Low: 33 (1994)
AVG: 73/46

Have a great Tuesday!
Joey Biancone
Meteorologist

MTN