MONTANA FARM REVIEW 



CROP PRODUCTION STATISTICS 



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Total Tonnage Produced 1925 and 1924 



Revision of 1924 production estimates to data furnished by the special census 

 of agriculture taken by the United States Department of Commerce, reduced the 

 preliminary estimate of gross tonnage about 293,000 to 4,995,301 tons. Revision 

 of the 1923 tonnage in light of what the census data shows would likely bring 

 that year slightly below 1924 with about the aame relationship to 1924 as shown 

 by the estimates last year. This would still place the 1924 season as producing 

 the largest crop tonnage in the state's history closely following 1923, a year almost 

 equally favorable from a crop production standpoint. 



In 1925, however, despite an excellent early prospect the growing season took 

 an unfavorable turn in early July when dry weather and hot winds damaged 

 crops severely over much of the eastern half of the state. Grain and hay tonnage 

 which are two important items in the total tonnage, were materially reduced on 

 this account. 



While 1925 total tonnage falls about 12:5 per cent below that of 1924, due to 

 the weight of the wheat and the hay crops, several crops show gains compared 

 with 1924. Barley, rye, potatoes, beans, sugar beeta, peas and alfalfa seed 

 production all record larger tonnage than in 1924. However, increased acreage 

 is largely accountable for the increase in most cases; potatoes, peas and alfalfa 

 seed also gave better yields per acre than in 1924. 



The following table shows the production estimates for 1925 and 1924 

 expressed in tons to afford a better comparison of the total crop output of the 

 state in both years: 



TONNAGE PRODUCED 1925 AND 1924 



#1924 estimates revised; 1925 preliminary subject to revision December, 1926. 



ACREAGE CHANGES 1925 

 Acreage devoted to 11 principal crops in Montana in 1925 was 6,754,000 

 compared with 6,530,000 revised estimate for 1924; an acreage of 6,545,000 in 



1923 and 6,626,000 the average of the past four years. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, 

 flax, potatoes, beans and hay acreages were all increased in 1925. In this group 

 the grains were increased largely as a result of the very favorable yields In 



1924 throughout the principal grain areas of the state, combined with the good 

 prices that prevailed for all grain crops during the marketing season of the 1924 

 crop. Potatoes recorded a very small increase in acreage, but had previously been 

 on a downward trend since 1920, the 1925 acreage of 35,000 acres being still con- 



