1998 Montana Agric irLTiRAi. Statistk s 



I()RK\V()RI)--NOTKS FROM THE STATE STATISTICIAN 5 



NOTES FROM THE 

 STATE STATISTICIAN 



Montana Agricultural Statistics Service is delighted 

 to present the thirty-fifth edition of Montana 

 Agricultural Statistics to Montana's agricultural 

 community. Montana's farmers, ranchers, and 

 agribusinesses made this publication possible 

 through their willingness to provide basic 

 agricultural information. 



Montana Agricultural Statistics Service works in 

 cooperation with the Montana Department of 

 Agriculture, the Montana Wheat and Barley 

 Committee, the Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee, 

 Montana State University, and many other producer 

 organizations to provide basic agricultural 

 information. Accurate, unbiased information 

 represents the building blocks necessary for 

 producers to develop sound marketing programs. 



To meet the challenges of the next century. Governor Racicot established the Vision 2005 Task Force to 

 address issues affecting agriculture and come up with a plan to double Montana's agricultural economy 

 by 2005. Information plays a key roll in the recommendations made by the Task Force to ensure that the 

 Montana agricultural community reaches this goal. Expanding markets both locally and globally and 

 adding value to agricultural products are some of the Task Force's recommendations. 



We have made the information in this bulletin available on the Internet. Check out our homepage at 

 www.nass.usda.gov/mt/. As you look over the bulletin, we would appreciate any comments or 

 suggestions you have for improving this publication. Again, to everyone involved in Montana's 

 agncullure, thanks for your continued support. Thanks to our staff of statisticians, technicians, and 

 enumerators who are dedicated to providing Montana's number one industry, agriculture, with high 

 quality statistics. 



Peggy Mnngj 

 State Statistician 



