10 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



CROPS AND UVESTOCK IN MONTANA DURING 1956 



Crops: Total crop production (on a weight basis) in 1956 declined 16 percent 

 from the record high attained during 1955. The acreage of all crops han,'ested, at 

 8,708.000 acres, was about 5 percent under the harvested acreage in 1955 and 3 

 percent below the 1946-55 average. 



Crop prospects at the opening of the 1956 crop season were generally favorable. 

 Soil moisture supplies, although short in some eastern counties were generally 

 adequate. Seeding operations were accomplished on schedule. In June warmer 

 than normal temperatures together with very light precipitation, hindered germina- 

 tion of seed and prevented normal stooling of seedlings. Conditions were reversed 

 in July and August with cool temperatures and normal to above normal precipita- 

 cion. This enabled crops to make a moderate recover>^ from the dry conditions 

 that existed in June. Har\'esting operations progressed rapidly during a generally 

 dry 10-day period in the middle of August and delays in threshing crops were 

 not serious. 



Montana's wheat crop of 86.983,000 bushels was about 24 percent less than the 

 record high 1953 crop of 114,232,000 bushels. Winter wheat production at 24,928,000 

 bushels was less than one-half of 1955. when record production was realized. Nearly 

 one-third of the winter wheat acreage seeded during the fall of 1955 was diverted 

 due to poor germination and excessive winter kill. Approximately 85 percent of 

 the diverted acreage was reseeded to durum and other spring wheat. Durum produc- 

 tion at 18.093,000 bushels was the highest of record and accounted for about 21 

 percent of the total wheat production in 1956. Other spring wheat (hard red spring) 

 comprised 51 percent of the total. 



Decreased harvested acreages and slightly lower yields in 1956 reduced oat and 

 barley production below 1955 levels. Production of oats at 7,070,000 bushels was 

 35 percent under 1955 and 35 percent less than the 1946-55 average. The total pro- 

 duction of barley was 27 percent below the record year of 1955, but 30 percent 

 above the 1946-55 average. 



Production of hay was 2.7 million tons as compared with 3.1 million tons in 

 1955. The decline is attributed to smaller acreage cut. Sub-normal precipitation 

 also lowered yields of non-irrigated hay. 



Flaxseed production declined for the second consecutive year because of higher 

 abandonment and lower yields. Total production of flaxseed at 450.000 bushels was 

 off 33 percent from 1955. Mustard seed production advanced from 30.799,000 pounds 

 in 1955 to 32.980.000 in 1956. The larger crop was due to increases in both yield 

 per acre and acres harvested. 



Less acreage together wath a sharp decrease in yield lowered alfalfa seed pro- 

 duction 41 percent from 1955. Crested wheatgrass seed production also declined 

 sharply due to smaller yields from less acreage. 



Sugar beet production was greater in 1956 due to both increased acreage and 

 higher yields. The dry bean crop was also larger than in 1955 due to better yields 

 per acre. Potato production was down because of smaller har\-ested acreage. Pro- 

 duction of seed peas was the same as in 1955. Higher yields per acre were offset 

 by reduced acreage. Lack of precipitation in the eastern production areas hindered 

 the corn crop and reductions in both acreage harvested and yield per acre pulled 

 the 1956 crop 25 percent under 1955. 



Cherry production in 1956 dropped to only 12 percent of the 1955 crop. This 

 drastic decline in production can be traced to cold weather damage during the 

 winter and early spring seasons. 



Livestock: Montana's cattle population declined 7 percent during 1956. decreas- 

 ing the number of cattle and calves on farms Januan,- 1, 1957 to 2.317.000 head. 

 Prices were considerably lower than those of 1955 until September, but were only 

 slightly less for the balance of the year. Range conditions, although lower than 

 in 1954, were generally adequate except in the drier sections of central, northcentral 

 and eastern Montana! Marketings on the basis of total pounds of beef sold for 

 the vear were about 24 percent greater than in 1956. Sheep and lambs numbered 

 1.650.000 head at the close of 1956. Lamb prices were lower during the first 4 

 months of 1956 than in 1955. However, they were higher through the last 8 months. 



Hogs on farms on January 1. 1957. totaled 113,000 head, a decrease of 20 percent 

 during the year. Horse and mule numbers declined about 3 percent, while the 

 chicken population showed a little decrease. 



