10 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



CROPS AND LIVESTOCK IN MONTANA DURING 1954 



Crops: Total crop production in 1954 declined 10 percent from the record 

 high attained during 1953. The acreage of all crops harvested, at 9,203,600 acres 

 was about 5 percent under the harvested acreage in 1953, but considerably above 

 that of the preceding decade. 



The opening of the 1954 crop season was accompanied by cool weather and 

 below normal precipitation. These conditions prevailed until July. Seeding oper- 

 ations were timely due to light rainfall, but crop germination was generally satis- 

 factory. Hot, dry weather during July resulted in high abandonment of some grain 

 and seed crops, and lowered yields for the balance. The harvest was hindered by 

 excessive rainfall and hail. Some late crops were benefitted by the moisture, but 

 the resulting delay in harvesting and the damage from hail caused an overall reduc- 

 tion in yields. 



Montana's wheat crop of 82,856,000 bushels was about 27 percent less than the 

 record high 1953 crop of 114,232,000 bushels. Winter wheat production was 40,536,- 

 000 bushels, setting a new record. The average yield per acre of 24 bushels was 

 equalled only in 1942 and 1948. Spring wheat production declined as a result of a 

 smaller harvested acreage and lower yields per acre. In 1954, spring wheat com- 

 prised only 51 percent of the total wheat production as compared with 72 percent 

 the previous year. 



Oat production was 4 percent smaller than the 1953 crop, due to poor weather 

 conditions during the growing and han^esting seasons. However, barley production 

 rose substantially as a result of a sharp increase in acreage which was caused by 

 acreage diversions from wheat. Barley production was 24 percent above the for- 

 mer record high which occurred in 1948. 



Production of hay in 1954 was 2.9 million tons as compared with 3.1 million tons 

 in 1953. The decline is attributed to large carryover stocks and a smaller amount 

 of acreage cut. Lower precipitation also lowered yields of non-irrigated hay. 



Flaxseed production continued the climb which began in 1953 with an increase 

 of 58 percent. This production resulted from a large increase in acreage, but a 

 lower average yield per acre. Mustard seed production also advanced sharply 

 from 6,552,000 pounds in 1953, to 8,682,000 in 1954. The larger crop was due to in- 

 creases in both yield per acre and the number of acres harvested. 



Although alfalfa seed acreage was smaller than the year before, higher yields 

 increased production about 43 percent. Crested wheatgrass seed production, how- 

 ever, dropped considerably due to smaller yields from less acreage. 



The production of sugar, beets, dry beans and potatoes was greater than in 1953 

 due to increased harvested acreage. The yields per acre, however, were lower for 

 each, with the exception of potatoes as a result of hail and untimely precipitation. 

 Seed pea production was reduced by hot, dry weather which mainly affected those 

 grown on non-irrigated land in Flathead County. Hot, dry weather reduced corn 

 yields 2.5 bushels per acre and lowered total production as compared to 1953. 



Cherry production continued high in 1954 and apple production was much 

 better than during 1953. 



Livestock: Montana's cattle population rose 4 percent during 1954, increasing 

 the number of cattle and calves on farms on January 1, 1955 to 2,395,000 head. 

 Prices were generally lower than those of 1953 until August, but were higher for 

 the balance of the year. Range conditions, although at times slightly lower than in 

 1953, were generally good except in the drier sections of southeastern and south- 

 western Montana. Marketings for the year were about 20 percent greater than in 

 1953. Sheep and lambs numbered 1,756,000 head at the close of 1953. Higher lamb 

 prices induced a 4 percent increase in pen feeding for market, although the lamb 

 crop was smaller. 



Hogs on farms on January 1, 1955, totaled 112,000 head, an increase of almost 

 one-fourth during the year. Horse and mule numbers declined about 7 percent, but 

 the chicken population held relatively steady. 



