12 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



Apples and cherries were severely hurt by spring frosts and yields were 

 low. 



Livestock — The State's cattle inventory on January 1, 1950 totaled 1,726,000 

 head. This was a reduction from that recorded a year earlier, partly as a result 

 of increased marketings in 1949. By January 1, 1951, the cattle population 

 reached 1,881,000 head, an increase of 155,000 head during 1950. Excellent 

 range and feed supplies prevailed throughout the year and cattle made favor- 

 able gains. Prices were on the upswing and there was a tendency to restock. 

 Marketings of cattle and calves were lower in 1950, 638,000 head, as com- 

 pared with 940,000 head sold in 1949. 



A total of 1,584,000 head of sheep and lambs were on farms and ranches 

 January 1, 1950. Conditions were generally good for sheep operations, al- 

 though there were some high losses during late spring storms. A sharp rise 

 in sheep and wool prices the latter part of the year encouraged more sheep 

 raising and there was a strong demand for stock sheep. By January 1, 1951 

 the inventory of sheep and lambs reached 1,716,000 head, reversing the long 

 decline in sheep numbers. 



Hogs numbered 145,000 head the close of 1950, a reduction of 18,000 from 

 that recorded the first of the year. A total of 1,778,000 chickens v/ere on farms 

 January 1, 1951, compared with 1,957,000 the first of 1950. 



Crops and Livestock in Montana During 1951 



Crops — The total volume of crops harvested in 1951 was less than the 

 preceding year, although above average. Wheat production has higher, but 

 most other crops were below 1950. Acres harvested of all crops amounted to 

 9,302,600 acres as compared with 9,172,700 acres in the preceding year. 



The 1951 crop season opened late and had a very short growing season. 

 Abundant soil moisture at seeding time delayed field work, but resulted in 

 good germination of crops. Precipitation during the growing season was very 

 light in parts of the eastern portion and in the southwest, with serious moisture 

 shortages developing in several sections. Timely rains relieved drying con- 

 ditions elsewhere in the state. Unusually high temperatures in July damaged 

 grain crops in the drier areas. Cool, wet weather beginning in mid-August 

 and continuing throughout the fall, severely hampering harvest operations 

 and delayed maturity of crops. Operations continued into December in some 

 northern counties. Insect activity was very light during the season. 



Wheat production in 1951 totaled 97,988,000 bushels, the highest on record. 

 An estimated 4,576,000 acres of spring wheat was harvested, producing 

 68,640,000 bushels, slightly above the previous record production in 1950. 

 Seeding was delayed by the late spring and some reseeding was necessary 

 due to crusted topsoil. Hot weather in mid-July, "forced" a sizeable acreage, 

 reducing yields. Harvest was delayed by the wet fall and a substantial amount 

 of the wheat was moisture damaged. Binders and swathers were used ex- 

 tensively. Winter wheat was harvested from 1,334,000 acres and amounted 

 to 29,348,000 bushels, larger than the production in both 1949 and 1950. Winter 

 kill was only moderate. Moisture conditions were favorable in the chief pro- 

 ducing areas and yields were good. 



Total production of oats and barley amounted to 10,200,000 and 12,880,000 

 bushels respectively. Acreages of both were below 1950, due in part to the 



