MONTANA AGRICULTURE IN 1928 



THE YEAR IN FARM CROPS 



The year in farm crops in Montana 

 was one of mixed trends. Acreages, as 

 was expected following the bumper 

 yields of 1927, were again expanded 

 despite climatic factors that operated 

 to curtain final plans as to spring 

 plantings and sowings. Yields, mainly 

 by these same climatic factors, were 

 reduced about 16 per cent compared 

 with 1927 but were about 29 per cent 

 better than those of an average sea- 

 son. Prices generally were disappoint- 

 ing, especially in case of the principal 

 cash crop, wheat, and in case of po- 

 tatoes. Relatively low prices for the- 

 feed crops and hay which are largely 

 utilized on Montana farms for farm 

 livestock were offset by a generally 

 higher level of livestock prices. Special 

 crops such as flax, sugar beets, beans, 

 peas and seed crops sold generally at 

 prices as high if not higher, than in 1927. Farm wages as reported averaged, on 

 the whole, slightly above those of 1927, but during harvest the spread was very 

 small. The supply of farm labor compared favorably with that of the preceding' 

 year. 



While there was some noticeable contrast between grain yields as between 

 the northern half and the southern half of the state, there was no large area 

 where yields were poor. In the northern half of the state yields of grain generally 

 averaged about as good as in 1927, while in the southern half they averaged 

 moderately under those of last year but were still well above average. 



As between various crops, the winter wheat and winter rye crops were the 

 hardest hit by spring drouth. In addition to drouth damage, winter wheat en- 

 countered a rather general outbreak of a form of root-rot throughout central 

 Montana. 



Flax and corn suffered rather wide-spread darrage from August frosts. Hail 

 apparently took a somewhat larger toll of yields than usual with a few storms 

 doing severe damage in localized areas. 



THE YEAR IN LIVESTOCK 



The year in livestock both from the standpoint of size of marketings as well 

 as from the standpoint of average prices, has recorded substantial gains con- 

 pared with 1927. As a result, livestock apparently has more than made up the 

 loss in gross income from crops compared with last year and in view of the 

 general distribution of the livestock income among crop producers, has gone 

 a long way in smoothing out the net returns to agriculture as between the two 

 years. 



The grazing season for cattle and sheep, following the spring drouth which 

 reduced the quantity of early green feed and prolonged dry feeding, took a very 

 favorable turn in June and throughout the balance of the season ranges and pas- 

 tures furnished ample feed of good quality. The dry spring weather on the other 

 hand, was much more favorable for young livestock than in 1927. Favorable 

 results with lambing, calving and spring pig crops were reported in contrast with 

 the larger than average losses of young livestock in the spring of 1927. 



Cattlemen in particular made further improvement in their position during 

 the year and their heavy 1928 marketings have probably finally marked a general 

 cleaning up of old obligations. Evidences of any general restocking of herds 

 in response to the higher prices of beef are few as yet, one reason for this lag 

 probably being that a large number of cattlemen do not realize the cyclical nature 

 of the recent up-swing in prices and will respond as in the past to the prices 

 themselves, rather than to the underlying causes that produce the major price 

 swings. 



