MONTANA FARM REVIEW 



Table I shows the distribution of income from various sources included under 

 the main headings of crops and livestock. Figure I shows comparative distribution 

 of income from principal sources in both years. From these data it will be seen that 

 in the case of crops the bulk of the increase comes in the greatly improved return 

 from wheat, although all crops with the principal exceptions of potatoes and apples, 

 also show increases. Among the less important crops, flax stands out as more 

 than trebling its 1923 income, due both to a better price and a greatly increased pro- 

 duction. 



In the livestock group, meat cattle fell off in their contribution to the 1924 total, 

 although this decline was more than offset by increased returns from sheep and 

 lambs, wool, hogs, and milk and dairy products. Returns from all poultry and 

 eggs were practically the same as last year. Income from horses marketed and 

 value of colts raised also indicated an improvement over last year as a result ol 

 an increase in numbers marketed. 



Considering the farmer, the cattleman and the sheepman as three importam 

 units of the state's agricultural industry, it will be noted that two of these units, the 

 farmer and the sheepman, have enjoyed a relatively prosperous year, their present 

 favorable position resulting largely from improvement in market prices of their com- 

 modities. On the other hand the cattleman is still struggling along with relatively 

 low prices for beef compared with production costs, the same dilemma out of which 

 the farmer and the sheepman have escaped, the former for the time being at least, 

 and the latter somewhat more permanently. During the past year the general 

 prospect of the beef grower has recorded a slight improvement and there is some 

 consolation in the general belief that this improvement will continue. 



Figure I. 



192,3 _ ^ S7,&5^ 000 



FARM INCOME FROM CROPS AND LIVESTOCK SOLD 

 (ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF EACH CROP SOLO TiMES AVERAGE FARM PRICE) 



1924 » 128,181.000 



Income 1924 Compared Tvlth 1923 by Districts and Counties. 



Figure II shows a distribution of total crop and livestock income by crop districts 

 of the state, with relative income from 1923 and 1924 crops and livestock, and per- 

 centage of change. The distribution of the increased income in 1924 was such as to 

 give practically all districts in the state a better showing than In 1923, but the 

 marked Improvement came where it was most needed, throughout the wheat growing 

 areas and particularly in the north-central, north-eastern and eastern districts. In 



