6 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



MONTANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK - 1968 



The year 1968 opened with unusually cold temperatures and snow accumulation which hindered all activities and 

 created the need for extra feeding of livestock. Temperatures averaged much colder than normal throughout December 

 1967 and early January 1968. From then until mid-February, mostly moderate weather prevailed, then it turned quite 

 warm with average temperatures for February, well above normal. Periods of April-like weather prevailed during 

 March. Several stations reported this was the warmest March since 1946 and also one of the warmest of record. By late 

 March, field tillage work was underway in most areas of the State. Topsoil moisture supplies in early April 1968 were 

 rated as adequate on Montana farms and ranches with the exception of the northern one-third of the State. Subsoil 

 moisture was adequate except in a few northern counties. 



Strong winds during the last week of April decreased topsoil supply, caused several dust storms and caused wind 

 damage to winter wheat, mainly in the northcentral counties. Towards the end of May, topsoil moisture shortages 

 continued along the northern border counties and in the northeast. In June, rains replenished soil moisture supplies 

 except in some northeast and western counties. This delayed summer fallow and weed control operations and weeds 

 became a problem. Cutworms were troublesome in the southeastern district. Alfalfa weevil damaged some alfalfa fields 

 but grasshoppers did only light damage. Hail damage occurred in scattered central, southern and western counties. Hot, 

 dry weather during the middle of July rapidly depleted soil moisture throughout the State. 



In early August, soil moisture shortages developed in all western and southwestern counties and most counties 

 east of the Divide. Cloudy, rainy weather August 13 and 14 replenished soil moisture but halted all harvest activities in 

 the State. Cold temperatures set in after the middle of September. There was heavy snowfall in places along both sides 

 of the Continental Divide. Open, warm days in October allowed outside work to be completed. Farm and ranch activity 

 continued in November at a brisk pace with little interruption from the weather. Extremely cold temperatures set in 

 the last days in December and covered all of the State. 



CROPS 



WINTER WHEAT seeding for the 1968 crop began late in August 1967 and was virtually completed by October 

 20, later than any recent year except 1965. Inadequate soil moisture delayed planting in the western one-third of the 

 State. Snowcover was intermittent throughout the winter of 1967-68. The crop emerged from winter dormancy early in 

 April 1968 virtually undamaged by winter kill and wind damage. Mild spring temperatures allowed the crop to make 

 excellent progress. However, high winds caused severe damage to some wheat planted on sandy soil in northcentral 

 counties. On May 24, winter wheat was in the early boot stage and by June 14, the crop was starting to head. 

 Harvesting began about July 26 and progressed well until interrupted by rains on the 13th and 14th of August. Rain 

 and continued wet weather led to bleached grain, decreased yield and test weight. Harvest was carried on intermittently 

 and on September 13, reached 90 percent completion, about a week later than in 1967. 



SPRING GRAINS were virtually all seeded by the middle of May. Cool temperatures retarded growth somewhat 

 in late May and early June. Soil moisture was generally adequate for spring grain development in the central and 

 southern parts of the State. Grains in the important northeastern counties suffered considerably from dry weather. 



Spring wheat and feed grain harvest progressed normally until near the end of August when cool, wet weather 

 held harvest at a standstill for nearly two weeks. Harvest was completed by the middle of September. The yields were 

 good and above 1967. Irrigation water was adequate and less than average hail losses were reported. Later than usual 

 killing frosts made up for the slow start of irrigated crops. Total acreage of all major crops was 8,209,500 acres, 5 

 percent less than the previous year. 



ALL WHEAT production at nearly 126 million bushels was a record high, 6 percent more than the previous 

 record high produced in 1967. 



LIVESTOCK 



Heavy supplemental feeding occurred Statewide from mid-December 1967 through mid-January 1968 during 

 extremely cold weather. February weather was unusually mild and supplemental feeding was minimal. The relatively 

 mUd winter was favorable for livestock and conserved hay supplies. Calving, lambing and shearing began in early 

 February and by late March had passed the one-third mark. Condition of newborn calves and lambs was excellent, with 

 losses below normal. At the beginning of April, temperatures were nearly ideal for survival of newborn calves and 

 lambs. Due to a mild winter, as well as a near-record hay crop in 1967, no hay shortages were reported. Growth of 

 range grasses was somewhat slow in the spring due to cool and windy days, and low nighttime temperatures. During the 

 week April 12-19, 60 percent of the range livestock were receiving supplemental feed. 



Movement of range livestock to summer ranges started about May 1 and was virtually completed at mid-June. 

 Calving and lambing were completed about the same time. Livestock were in good condition during the summer, and 

 forage available for grazing was generally adequate. Rains received in August brightened the outlook for late summer 

 and fall grazing. Montana stockmen left livestock on summer ranges longer than usual in order to utilize the generous 

 fall regrowth of grass. September rains allowed extended use of summer ranges. Movement of range livestock from 

 summer ranges began the first week of September and at the end of the month was about 35 percent complete. On 

 November 1 , 85 percent of the range livestock had been moved to winter ranges or to market. Supplies of hay and 

 forage for feeding were adequate. 



Montana's stockmen had 2,984,000 cattle and calves including dairy stock on hand January 1 , 1969. This was the 

 first time in six years that Montana's cattle numbers did not increase over the previous year. 



Stock sheep and lambs totaled 1.225,000 head on January 1, 1969, 4 percent fewer than the previous year's 

 inventory. 



