

GEORGE LACKMAN 



COMMISSIONER 



HELENA, MONTANA 59601 



TELEPHONE: 406 449.3144 



NEW ADPRESS 



AIRPORT WAY BUILDING WEST 



1300 CEDAR STREET 



MONTANA AGRICULTURE 



Montana agriculture of today is an example of progressive change 

 and applied technology. It has both a proud heritage, as depicted 

 in the works of artist C. M. Russell, and a great potential for the 

 future. This enormous potential is rivaled only by the enormity of 

 our natural beauty, and will benefit the economic and social well 

 being of Montana as it assures an increasingly more important role 

 in supplying the demands of international markets. 



Montana produced 120,108,000 bushels of wheat in 1974. The 

 total wheat production consists of 78,175,000 bushels of winter 

 wheat, 36.060,000 spring wheat and 5,073,000 durum. Barley production 

 reached 37,120,000 bushels. The oat crop produced 8,800,000 bushels, 

 and our flax seed production was 152,000 bushels. In addition, 

 Montana produced 3,000,000 pounds of alfalfa seed, 175,000,000 c.w.t. 

 of potatoes and 154,000 c.w.t. of dry beans. 



Montana stockmen had 3,340,000 cattle and calves on hand January 1, 

 1975. This cattle inventory was valued at $534,400,000. The 770,000 

 sheep and lambs on Montana ranches and farms were valued at $23 million. 

 Hogs and pigs were estimated at 190,000 head at the end of 1974. Total 

 value of the swine inventory was $855,000. In number of livestock 

 among all of the states, Montana ranks 10th in all cattle and calves, 

 8th in beef cows, 6th in sheep and 29th in hogs. 



Agriculture is Montana's largest industry. It is also our fastest 

 growing industry. Cash receipts to Montana agricultural producers have 

 more than doubled in the past ten years; from slightly over $400 million 

 in 1964 to $1,190,403,000 in 1974. Better prices account for some of 

 this growth, however, significant yield increases for most crops and 

 increases in livestock production contributed importantly to this growth. 



