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STATE OF MONTANA 



PREFACE 



This is the third volume of Montana Agricultural Statistics prepared under 

 a cooperative agreement between the Montana Department of Agriculture, 

 Labor and Industry and the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, United States 

 Department of Agriculture. The assembly, publication and distribution of in- 

 formation of this kind was initiated with an agreemnt in September, 1945 and 

 with the aid of funds from several local sources the first bulletin was issued 

 in December, 1946. Second and third issues of Montana Agricultural Statistics 

 have been made available through extensions of the cooperative agreement 

 and with funds appropriated by the thirtieth and thirty-first sessions of the 

 Montana Legislature. The statistical program of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture limits the preparation of data to the "state" level, and it would 

 not be possible for the B.A.E. office in Montana to compile the county in- 

 formation in this bulletin without contributions from a cooperating agency. In 

 the course of their regular program of work both the state and federal depart- 

 ments collect statistical information. Through cooperative effort much more 

 of this information can be made available for public use. 



The need for statistics contained in this bulletin is manifest by the num- 

 erous and consistent requests for information of this kind. Many copies of the 

 first and second issues have been distributed regularly to individuals and 

 firms interested in county crop and livestock data. Among its many uses, the 

 bulletin serves as a reference and guide to persons, agencies and companies 

 associated with the: production, marketing, shipping and processing of agri- 

 cultural commodities; manufacturing and distribution of machinery, equipment, 

 supplies, fertilizer and other goods used on farms and ranches; plans and de- 

 velopment of irrigation projects; determination of farm and ranch credit rates. 



MONTANA'S RANK 



Montana is distinguished by its rich natural resources, scenic beauty, 

 friendly people and prosperous agriculture. It ranks high among other states 

 in agricultural production, income and developments as indicated by the fol- 

 lowing table. 



Position of Six Leading States in Selected Phases of Agriculture. 1948 * 



First Second Third Fourth Fiith Sixth 



Mustard Seed Production lbs. Montana Calif. _ 



Protein Content of Wheat % Montana _ 



Acres Stripcropped Montana N. Dak. Nebr. Colo. S. Dak. Wyo. 



Increase in Cropped Acres...** Montana S. Dak. Calif. N. Dak. Colo. Wash. 



Spring Wheat Production bu. N. Dak. Montana S. Dak. Idaho Minn. Wash. 



Wool Production, lbs. Texas V/yo. Montana Calif. Utah N. Mex. 



Lambs Raised Number Texas Wyo. Calif. Montana Utah Idaho 



Sugar Beet Production..... Tons Calif. Colo. Idaho Montana Nebr. Mich. 



Total Acres Irrigated Calif. Colo. Idaho Montana Wyo. Utah 



Barley Production bu. N. Dak. Calif. S. Dak. Minn. Montana Colo. 



Alfalfa Seed Production Jdu. Kans. Utah Ariz. Okla. Montana Calif. 



Flaxseed Production bu. Minn. N. Dak. S. Dak. Calif. Iowa Montana 



Dry Pea Production . cwt. Wash. Idaho Ore. Colo. Calif. Montana 



Cash Income Per Farm Dol. Ariz. Calif. Nev. Wyo. Colo. Montana 



* Production and income items relate to 1948; other items to various recent periods. 

 ** Rank based on total acres harvested in 1948 as a percentage of average acres harvested during 

 the decade 1937 to 1946. 



