State of Jlloittana 



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TIM BABCOCK 



Governor 



October 21, 1968 



TO THE PEOPLE OF 

 THE STATE OF MONTANA 



Any modern business must necessarily have authentic 

 factual information upon which to predicate decisions. 

 Montana agriculture, our most basic industry, certainly 

 must be classed as a modern business. 



This volume of Agricultural Statistics containing 

 authentic facts and figures on the production and 

 marketing of Montana crops and livestock is compiled 

 and published through the joint efforts of our own 

 Montana Department of Agriculture and the United States 

 Department of Agriculture Statistical Reporting Service. 

 Figures contained herein are most valuable to the many 

 people in private, governmental and trade organizational 

 sectors of our economy in formulating plans for the con- 

 tinued growth of our agricultural and general economy. 

 These authentic figures are the basic facts upon which 

 farmers, legislators, agri-business people, farm organ- 

 izations, state and federal agencies, and many others 

 can and do make intelligent decisions that benefit our 

 entire economy. 



I know you join me in saluting the many dedicated people 

 who are responsible for the compilation and publishing of 

 this most useful volume. 



