10 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



CROPS AND LIVESTOCK IN MONTANA DURING 1952 



Crops — Total crop production in 1952 was slightly less than the preceding year and the 

 average of the previous decade. However, the acreage harvested of all crops at 9,365,900 acres 

 was a record high, one-half of one percent above the previous high year of 1951 and 16 percent 

 above average. 



The 1952 crop season opened early with good supplies of soil moisture, and seeding was 

 completed with a minimum of delay. However, precipitation during the growing season was 

 only about 75 percent of normal, resulting in dry conditions over much of the State. Rainfall 

 during May and June was very short and dry land crops in Eastern Montana germinated with 

 thin stands and developed poorly. Irrigation water was short in several areas. Unlike the 

 two previous seasons, the weather at harvest time was very favorable and crops were token 

 from the fields earlier than usual and with a minimum of loss. 



Montana's 1952 wheat crop of 83.5 million bushels was one-eighth smaller than the 

 record high 1951 production, but 15 percent above the preceding 10 year average. Spring wheat 

 production was about 18 percent below 1951 and one-fifth less than the high point reached in 1950. 

 Drought conditions in the eastern and northern sections resulted in reduced yields. Production 

 of winter wheat in 1952 was slightly larger than the year before, but the acreage harvested 

 was one-fifth greater. Winter kill was light, but yields were down because of the dry summer. 



Production of oats and barley was a little above 1951 crops as a result of increased acreage. 

 A shift in barley acreage from the dry eastern section farther west contributed to an increase in 

 yield. The average yield of oats was a little lower than the previous year. 



An estimated 2.6 million tons of hay was produced in 1952. Yields in the western half 

 of the State were good, but dry conditions in the eastern third resulted in poor yields on non- 

 irrigated land. 



Flaxseed acreage continued to decline and production was the lowest since 1937. Yields 

 were higher than in 1951. Mustard seed production was nearly one-fifth smaller than the previous 

 year. A 40 percent reduction in acres harvested was partly offset by bumper yields. 



Production of alfalfa seed was nearly one-third larger than the year before as a result of 

 increased yields. Crested wheatgrass seed production, however, was considerably smaller as 

 much of the acreage was used for pasture. 



Potatoes, dry beans, seed peas and sugar beets all did very well in 1952 under irrigation. 

 Harvesting conditions were ideal. A lack of soil moisture limited corn development with only a 

 small part reaching maturity. 



The cherry crop was a record high and apple production was much improved over the 

 previous two years. 



Livestock — The cattle population in Montana increased 4 percent during 1952. At the close 

 of the year the inventory totaled 2,152,000 head. Prices dropped sharply the last few months 

 causing many ranchers •with adequate feed to delay marketing in hopes of a price recovery. 

 Range feed and hay were short in the dry eastern third. Marketings were slightly above 1951. 



Sheep and lambs numbered 1,791,000 head at the close of 1952, a decline of about 4 per- 

 cent from the beginning of the year. A strong dov/nturn in prices contributed to the decrease 

 in population. The lamb crop was larger than in 1951. 



Hogs on farms on January 1, 1953 totaled 130,000 head, a decline of nearly one-third from 

 the beginning of 1952. Horse numbers dropped about 8 percent, and the chicken population was 

 about 6 percent smaller. 



