STATE OF MONTANA 7 



MONTANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK- 1967 



Seeding of winter wheat began in late August and was completed by mid-October at about the usual dates. 

 Moisture was adequate for germinating the seed. Practically all seedings had emerged by early November, but stands 

 were uneven in many areas because of lack of moisture. In early December, the condition of winter wheat was ra ed 

 good except in the central district where it was only fair. The crop was intermittently covered by snow durmg the 

 winter High winds caused some damage from soil blowing, mainly in north central and central areas. Winter wheat 

 remained dormant until late March, when it began greening in favored areas. Growth and development was retarded by 

 cold and wet weather, but stands were good with Uttle winterkill. By mid-June, development of the crop was about a 

 week later than the average of the four previous seasons. However, condition of the crop was good to excellent. 



Soil moisture supplies in early April were rated adequate with the exception of a few southeastern counties. 

 SubsoQ moisture was mostly adequate throughout the State. Two heavy snowstorms in April and early May improved 

 soil moisture supplies, but retarded field tillage work. Several areas had little or no spring grain planted until the latter 

 part of May. The central part of the State received heavy rains in June which resulted in flooding along the Musselshell 

 River. The damage in Musselshell and Golden Valley counties amounted to one million dollars, according to State 

 Disaster Committee reports, but the damage in Petroleum and Rosebud counties was not as great. The floods ruined 

 many hay fields. Water stood in the low spots and drowned out some alfalfa. In some cases, the river cut new channels 

 through existing fields. Irrigation ditches were washed out and bridges and roads were damaged. 



An area of soil moisture shortage developed in July in the northern counties from Liberty County east to the 

 North Dakota border. Many localities in that area recorded very little rainfall during that period. Shortages also 

 developed in many localities west of the Divide. Rainfall in July, August, and the first two weeks of September was 

 much lower than average. However, generous rains fell in most areas east of the Divide around mid-September. It was 

 the end of September before significant rainfall was received west of the Divide. 



Winter ranges were generally open but provided only a limited amount of grazing. Moderate to heavy snowfall in 

 March, April, and early May of 1967, improved early summer range conditions but caused above normal calf and lamb 

 losses. Feed supplies were depleted. Thereafter, range grass condition was about normal and livestock finished the year 

 in good condition. 



CROPS: In 1967, Montana farmers and ranchers produced above average crops of wheat, potatoes, sugarbeets, 

 hay, and corn for grain. This was accomplished despite a late spring with flooding in some areas followed by droughty 

 conditions, especially in northern counties in Julv and August. Compared with the previous year, the 1967 output was 

 larger for winter wheat, potatoes, sugarbeets, hay, and corn for grain, but smaller for all other crops. 



Statewide, acreage of all crops harvested totaled 8,627,100 acres in 1967, 7 percent more than in the previous 

 year. 



Production of all wheat totaled a record 119,136,000 bushels, 20 percent more than the 99,694,000 bushels 

 produced in 1966. The crop exceeded the previous high of 1 14,232,000 bushels produced in 1963 on 5.969,000 acres. 

 Acreage harvested in 1967 at 4,734,000, was up 26 percent from 1966. It was the largest wheat acreage harvested since 

 1956. Winter wheat totaled 84,210,000 bushels, 31 percent more than in 1966. The crop was harvested from 2.8 

 million acres, which was 31 percent more than in 1966. Yield per acre, at 30.0 bushels, tied 1966 for highest on record. 

 Spring wheat (other than Durum) yielded 18.0 bushels per acre, 4 bushels less than in the previous year. This more than 

 offset a 17 percent increase in acreage harvested and resulted in production of 30,366,000 bushels, 4 percent below 

 1966. Durum wheat production at 4,560,000 bushels was 24 percent larger than the previous year's crop. 



Reduced acreage as a result of larger wheat allotments, coupled with late spring planting and below normal 

 precipitation during July and August, resulted in the lowest production of barley and oats since 1961. Montana's 1967 

 barley crop, estimated at 37,022,000 bushels, was 42 percent smaller than in 1966. Yield at 29.5 bushels per acre was 

 9.0 bushels less than the previous year. Oats totaled nearly 5.2 million bushels compared with 7.5 million bushels in 

 1966. 



Flaxseed production, at 48,000 bushels, was well below the 147,000 bushels produced in 1966. Rye at 95,000 

 bushels was 25 percent below the previous year. A late fall boosted the output of sugarbeets. At 1,007,000 tons, it was 

 the second largest crop on record-a yield of 1 7.6 tons per acre was exceeded only by the 1 7.8 tons realized in 1963. 



The potato crop, at 1,476,000 cwt., was 9 percent more than the previous year-a yield of 180 cwt. per acre 

 compares with 170 a year earlier. The estimated production of 144,000 bags of dry beans was 43 percent less than in 

 1966. 



Alfalfa seed production at 3,060,000 pounds compares with 4,000,000 pounds in 1966. The red clover seed crop, 

 at 140,000 pounds, was 23 percent below the previous year or less than half the average. 



Montana farmers and ranchers harvested a record 3,864,000 tons of hay in 1967 from 2,370,000 acres. Alfalfa 

 hay totaled a record 2,404,000 tons and 614,000 tons of wild hay were harvested. The sweet cherry output of 2,780 

 tons was a record high. 



LIVESTOCK: Montana farmers and ranchers had 2,984,000 cattle and calves, including airy stock, on hand 

 January 1, 1968. This was 4 percent above the 2,869,000 head on hand at the beginning of 1967, established a new 

 high, and marked the sixth consecutive year of increase in the cattle population. 



The number of stock sheep on farms and ranches on January 1, 1968 was 1,165,000 head, 5 percent less than at 

 the beginning of 1967. 



Hogs and pigs on farms on January 1 , 1 968 were estimated at 149,000 head, 6 percent less than the 1 59,000 head 

 a year earlier. 



