AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



FOREWORD 



Agriculture is Montana's leading industry. Cash receipts from farm marketings and government 

 payments totaled $614 million in 1969. Montana farms and ranches provided employment for 59,000 

 persons, and related enterprises furnished employment for many more. 



Agriculture in Montana is a dynamic industry. Production of livestock and crops is done more 

 efficiently each year by fewer farmers and ranchers. With the shortage of skilled labor, there is a 

 continuing need for more automation which is occurring at a rapid rate. Such a dynamic industry 

 needs facts about current inventories and production, which will enable them to make correct 

 decisions for the future. 



Complete and accurate basic information contributes to improved decision-making in any 

 organization whether farm or ranch, private business, corporation or State Government. The statistics 

 in this bulletin provide the basic information about Montana's foremost industry. They were 

 assembled with the cooperation of public-spirited Montanans who voluntarily provided information 

 concerning their own outfits. While most of the basic information was obtained from farmers and 

 ranchers, supplemental information was acquired from sugarbeet companies, mills and elevators, bean 

 companies, seed processors and dealers, slaughter plants, hatcheries, manufacturers of dairy products, 

 auction markets, railroad companies and others. 



State agencies, in addition to those in the Montana State Department of Agriculture which 

 contributed significantly were the Livestock Commission, Livestock Sanitary Board, Railroad and 

 PubUc Service Commission and the Board of Equalization. Agencies of the U. S. Government which 

 furnished material were the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Soil Conservation 

 Service, Weather Bureau and the Extension Service. Credit and thanks are due to these and all others 

 who assisted the Montana Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. Funds for the printing of this 

 pubUcation were furnished by the Montana State Department of Agriculture. 



The text and statistical data presented in this bulletin were prepared by the staff of the Montana 

 Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, under the direction of Daniel L. Herbert. Agricultural 

 Statistician-in-Charge, and John E. Cochrane, Assistant-in-Charge. Staff members who contributed 

 significantly in the preparation of this issue were Olav Rogness, L. Max Cain. Robert G. Prongua, 

 DelRoy J. Gneiting and Donald A. Bickett, Agricultural Statisticians; Grace A. Cross, Statistical 

 Assistant; and clerks Jean A. Bryant, Donna R. Doggett, Jean M. Eickmeyer, Charlotte A. Hagen, 

 Denise M. Hampton, Marcia A. Heiser, Rita LaSalle, Rose M. Miller, Ollie K. Mires, Marie Moore, Lois 

 C. Rigler and Eleanor A. Teigen. 



Offices of the Montana Crop and Livestock Reporting Service are located in Room 208, 

 McGaffick Steamboat Block, 616 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana. Statistics published by this agency 

 are available to anyone without charge by writing to the Agricultural Statistician, Post Office Box 

 1 726, Helena, Montana, 59601 . 



