10 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



CROPS AND UVESTOCK IN MONTANA DURING 1958 



Crops: Total crop production (on a weight basis) in 1958 increased 9 per cent from 1957 and 

 was 23 per cent above the average production for the ten years 1947-56. The acreage of all crops 

 harvested, at 8,795,000, was about 3 per cent under the harvested acreage in 1957 and also 3 

 per cent under the 10-year average. 



The 1958 crop season opened with adequate soil moisture to induce favorable growth of 

 winter wheat and range grasses. Frequent showers provided sufficient soil moisture to germinate 

 spring crops. Seeding operations were retarded somewhat by wet weather in April. Field work 

 made good progress in May and was virtually completed by June 1. Unseasonally hot, dry weather 

 during the last half of May depleted soil moisture supplies east of the Continental Divide and all 

 dry-land crops showed signs of deterioration by June I. Damage was particularly severe in some 

 northeast counties. Small grains, hay and range grasses responded to frequent showers in June 

 and during most of July. By June 30, stockmen were assured of good summer grazing and ample 

 supplies of hay in all except the northeast area. Below average temperatures with adequate soil 

 moisture during July were conducive to excellent crop development. The period of high tempera- 

 tures and light rainfall which usually prevails between July 4 and July 21 did not appear until 

 August. By that time dryland small grains had passed the critical stage of development and 

 matured with good test weight and quality. 



Above average temperatures and light precipitation in August provided ideal conditions for 

 ripening grain. Warm, dry fall weather facilitated harvesting of grain and hay. Corn in the north- 

 east area was severely damaged by lack of moisture and considerable acreage was abandoned 

 or diverted to pasture. Digging of sugar beets was slowed somev/hat by rain and low temperatures 

 in October. Seeding of fall grains started in August and progressed slowly because of soil moisture 

 shortages. Fall rains were inadequate to replenish moisture supplies in most counties east of the 

 Continental Divide. The dryness impeded germination of winter wheat and stands were only fair 

 in the major producing areas as winter set in. 



Montana's wheat crop of 101,882,000 bushels was 24 per cent over the 81,986,000 bushels 

 harvested in 1957 and 15 per cent over the 1947-56 average of 88,428,000 bushels. It was 11 per 

 cent under the record crop of 114,232,000 bushels produced in 1953. Winter wheat production 

 reached a record high of 64,542,000 bushels. Durum production at 840,000 bushels was the smallest 

 since 1955. The other spring (bread) wheat crop totaled 36,500,000 bushels. This was 30 per cent 

 over 1957 but only about two-thirds of the average for the preceding decade. 



Oats production of 9,348,000 bushels was slightly below the previous year but about 3 per cent 

 above average. The output of barley, at 52,239,000 bushels, was a record high. It was 15 per cent 

 above the preceeding year and more than twice the 10-year average. 



Hay cuttings amounted to 3.0 million tons. Although about the same as in 1957, the crop was 



11 per cent below average because of smaller acreage harvested even though yield per acre was 

 better than average. 



The 320,000 bushel crop of flaxseed was up 16 per cent over 1957 but was only a little more 

 than the long-time average. Mustard seed production increased from 12.7 million pounds in 1957 to 

 19.3 million pounds in 1958. The increase was due primarily to a better than average yield. 



Less acreage and a lower yield reduced the alfalfa seed harvest 42 per cent from 1957. Crested 

 wheat grass and sweet clover production declined sharply due to much smaller harvested acreages. 

 The red clover seed crop was off because of a low yield. 



Sugar beet tonnage was lower in 1958 due to smaller acreage and yield. The dry bean crop 

 was larger than in 1957 from a better yield per acre. Potato production was up because of more 

 harvested acres and a better yield than the previous year. The dry pea crop was too small to 

 estimate. The com harvest was down from 1957 because of reduction in both acreage and yield. 



Cherry and apple crops in 1958 were each about 4 per cent above the previous year. 



Livestock: Montana's cattle population increased 1 per cent during 1958, to 2,269,000 head on 

 January 1, 1959. Prices increased during the year and reached a peak in October then fell off. 

 However, they were considerably higher at the end of the year than at the beginning. Range 

 conditions were good and for most months better than in 1957. Due to good grazing and increasing 

 prices, marketing, on the basis of total pounds of beef sold were dovm 2 per cent from the year 

 before. Sheep and lambs numbered 1,840,000 head at the close of 1958, an increase of 7 per cent 

 for the year. 



Hogs on forms January 1, 1959 totaled 147,000 head, an increase of 30 per cent during the 

 year. Horse and mule numbers increased 1 per cent to 89,000 at the end of the year. The chicken 

 population at 1,505,000 head on January 1, 1959 was an increase of 21,000 for the year 1958. 



