8 MONTANA FARM REVIEW 



the districts where livestock is important, southwestern, south-central and central 

 districts a decline in returns from beef cattle was more than offset by increased 

 income from crops and from sheep and wool in those districts. 



A further analysis of income by counties is shown in table II following and in 

 graphs of county income on pages 6 and 7- In the graphs 1923 values are 

 shown by white bars and 1924 income by black bars. 1923 rank of counties is used 

 in both graphs and it is interesting to note the changes in rank for 1924. Sheridan 

 county, in total cash income in 1924, ranks next to Fergus, displacing Yellowstone 

 to third place. Roosevelt, Richland, Valley and Blaine, come up next in order and 

 displace Beaverhead, Cascade, Judith Basin and Gallatin. In general, most of the 

 changes in rank resulted in sections of the state where wheat and flax crops are 

 important. 



Monthly Distribntioii Farm Income. 



The peak of marketings of farm crops comes in the fall months September to 

 November, and usually in the month of October, Likewise cattle shipments reach 

 their peak in this same period. Farm income, therefore, will follow this distribution, 

 rising sharply with the early market movement in August, and reaching a peak 

 some time in October or November, from which point it will fall off to a minimum 

 in July, the end of the crop season. 



A hypothetical monthly distribution of income from crops sold and to be sold 

 from 1924 production is shown in figure V and is based on the assumption that 

 monthly marketings of all crops have conformed to the average of eight principal 

 crops in the past five years. The difference between this distribution and the actual 

 would probably be that of a little sharper peak in October and a slightly lower close- 

 of-season minimum, since shipment data available at this date, indicate that farmers 

 have disposed of somewhat more of their grain crops than usual during the fall 

 months. In the grap'h is indicated the large ratio of income from wheat to that 

 from all crops. 



Income from livestock and total crop and livestock income in a general way 

 would follow this graph, since marketings of livestock follow closely the peaks and 

 low points for crops. 



Figure V. 

 (his ^ep Oct ^ov Dec T^n .F^b Mar ePt W44 Time Jii»v^ 



f9U CROPS 



WHETAT 



16 





S',— 



Distribution of farm income from crops sold and to be sold from 1924 production. 



