6 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



MONTANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK— 1962 



The 1962 season was one of abundant production, and was in sharp contrast to the droughty 

 1961 crop year. The aggregate 1962 crop harvest was 38 percent above the 1951-60 overage. Crops 

 were harvested from 8.2 million acres compared with 7.6 million in 1961. Soils were dry in 

 practically all non-irrigated areas until May 11, when moderate to heavy rainfall broke the 

 drought statewide, except in a portion of the north central district. The timely rainfall encouraged 

 farmers and ranchers to seed more spring wheat, barley and other crops than in 1961. However, 

 the growing season was shorter than usual as killing frosts occurred during the first week 

 of September, about three weeks ahead of normal. While most of the small grains were already 

 harvested in advance of the frosts, growth of late maturing grains, as well as com, beans, 

 potatoes, seeds and hay crops was terminated and yields were curtailed somewhat. 



Crops: Production of all wheat in 1962 totaled 78,297,000 bushels, nearly twofold the drought- 

 reduced 1961 crop. This placed Montana third in wheat production in the Nation. The harvested 

 acreage was the lowest since 1942 primarily because of acreage controls, above normal hail 

 losses, and abandonment from drought in several north central counties. The reduction in acreage 

 was more than offset by higher yields per acre. Winter wheat output, at 37,136,000 bushels, was 

 5 percent under the 1961 crop, mainly because of reduced acreage resulting from heavy abandon- 

 ment which occurred before the rains came in May. Durum production of 6,696,000 bushels was 

 the highest since 1957 and almost five times the previous year's crop. Other spring wheat totaled 

 34,201,000 bushels, two and one-half times the drought reduced 1961 crop. This gave Montana 

 second rank in the production of other spring wheat in 1962. Yield per acre of this class was the 

 highest since 1915 and exceeded winter wheat for the first time since 1928. 



The barley crop totaled 54,961,000 bushels, a new record high and more than double the 1961 

 production. Montana ranked third among the States as a barley producer in 1962. Oats output of 

 10,783,000 bushels was the largest since 1955. 



Alfalfa seed at only 520,000 pounds was equal to the lowest of record. Crested wheatgrass 

 seed production totaled 1,564,000 pounds, over two times the average, and also the highest of any 

 State. The mustard seed crop at 20,180,000 pounds was the largest of any State, and compared 

 with 16,020,000 pounds in 1961. 



The sugar beet crop w^as curtailed by the short gro'wing season, and at 838,000 tons, was 6 

 percent below the 1961 tonnage. Potato production, at 1,248,000 cwt., was down 13 percent from 

 1961, and production of dry beans at 204,000 cwt. was 8 percent smaller. 



Hay cuttings totaled 3,488,000 tons, a record high which exceeded the previous record of 

 3,195,000 tons in 1927. Of this total, 1,983,000 tons were alfalfa; 633,000 tons were wild hay; 392,000 

 tons were clover-timothy and the remainder was other tame hay including grain hey, wheatgrass 

 hay, and miscellaneous mixtures. Montana ranked 5th in wild hay, 12th in all hay, and 14th in 

 alfalfa hay production in 1962. 



Production of sour cherries in 1962 totaled 240 tons compared with a record high crop of 570 

 tons in 1961. Sweet cherry output at 2,400 tons was the largest of record. The apple crop totaled 

 25,000 bushels as compared with 40,000 bushels in 1961. 



Livestock: Montana's cattle and calf population increased 9 percent during 1962 to 2,325,000 

 head on January 1, 1963. Good grazing conditions during the summer and fall of 1962 encouraged 

 ranchers to restock up to and beyond predrought levels. Beef cattle prices advanced from a low 

 of S18.20 per cwt. for the year in July to a high of S24.00 per cwt. in September. For the 1962 

 calendar year the average price at $21.02 was $1.60 per cwt. higher than a year earlier. Calf 

 prices reached a peak in December and at $30.00 per cwt., were the highest of any month since 

 October 1959. The yearly average price of calves at $28.05 compared with $25.48 in 1961. Market- 

 ings of cattle and calves during 1962 totaled 920,000 head, a decrease of 16 percent from the 

 previous year. Montana ranked 14th in numbers of cattle and calves on January 1, 1963. 



Sheep and lambs numbered 1,581,000 head on January 1, 1963, a decrease of 1 percent during 

 the year. On January 1, 1963, Montana ranked sixth in the number of sheep and lambs. 



Hogs on farms January 1, 1963 totaled 154,000 compared with 148,000 head a year earlier. 

 The chicken population at 1,129,000 birds represented a decrease of 34,000 for the year. 



