AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 



FOREWORD 



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

 payments totaled 557.1 million in 1967. Montana farms and ranches provided employment of 61 ,000 

 persons, and related enterprises furnished employment for many more. 



Montana's agriculture is undergoing constant change. Average farm size is expanding. Investment 

 in the farm enterprise continues to rise. Yields are being pushed to new highs. The relative importance 

 of a single farm unit to the economy of the Community, State, and Nation is increasing. 



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

 organization, whether farm unit, private business, corporation or State government. The statistics in 

 this buUetin provide the basic information about Montana's foremost industry. 



The data in this publication were assembled with the cooperation of public-spirited Montana 

 people who voluntarily provided information concerning their own operations. 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 

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

 furnished extensive record 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 Statistical Reporting Service in making data available. Funds for the 

 printing of this publication 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 Statistical 

 Reporting Service, United States Department of Agriculture, under the direction of Frasier T. 

 Galloway, Agricultural Statistician-in -Charge. Staff members who contributed significantly in the 

 preparation of this issue were John E. Cochrane, Olav Rogness, L. Max Cain, E.N. (Swede) Severson, 

 Robert G. Prongua, Agricultural Statisticians; Jerry G. Thorson and Charles R. Meyer, Statistical 

 Student Trainees; Grace A. Cross, Statistical Assistant; and clerks Ellen M. Carkulis, Edith A. Coe, 

 Donna R. Doggett, Rita Rae East, Jean M. Eickmeyer, Anita M. Engstrom, Charlotte A. Hagen, Roy 

 D. Jones, Rose M. Miller, Ollie K. Mires, Lois C. Rigler, and Eleanor A. Teigen. 



Offices of the Statistical Reporting Service are located in Room 208, McGaffick Steamboat 

 Block, 616 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana. Estimates published by this agency are available to 

 anyone without charge by writing to the Agricultural Statistician, Post Office Box 1726, Helena 

 Montana 59601. 



