STATE OF MONTANA 



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SOME CHANGES IN MONTANA'S AGRICULTURE 



Fewer farms and ranches are operated in Montana each year but they gain in size 

 and the total cropland is on the increase. With exception of several western counties, there 

 is a steady consolidation of small farms with larger units and more sod land is broken for 

 crops. 



A graphic comparison of form numbers and croplond for a thirty year period is presented 

 by the maps. With each representing one hundred farms, circles vary in size according to 

 to overage acres of cropland per form and the area they cover on the map is proportional 

 to the cropland in each county. It is readily noted that the 1954 map reflects more cropland, 

 fewer farms and much more cropland per form, particularly in north central counties. 



NUMBER OF FARMS AND ACRES OF CROPLAND 



Each circle represents 100 farms with size of circle scaled to acres of cropland per farm.. 



1954 



