MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



6 STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE 



MONTANA CROP AND LIVESTOCK REPORTING SERVICE 



^ 



P.O. BOX 4369 - HELENA. MONTANA 59604 

 (406) 449-5303 



FOREWORD 



The purpose of this publication Is to provide a comprehensive 

 summary of both state and county agricultural statistics for Montana. 

 Past year and historic production data are presented along with weath- 

 er, income, price, and export information. Foreign and out-of-state 

 buyers are heavy users of the bul letin to determine what products are 

 produced In Montana, production volume and major producing areas. 

 Farmers and ranchers use historic production cycles and price data to 

 help make production and marketing decisions. 



The bulletin also includes special statistical data, wheat utlli- 

 zation, and grain movement. This information would not be available 

 without the funding support from the Montana Wheat Research and Mar- 

 keting Committee. 



Recent years have been tough for Montana farmers and ranchers. 

 Widespread drouth has resulted in sharp reductions In livestock num- 

 bers and the poorest grain crops in years. Montana's agricultural In- 

 dustry is responsible for over 30 percent of the state's gross Income 

 and 20 percent of the jobs. Loss of agricultural Income and a drop in 

 farmland values has depressed the state's economy and created a farm 

 c red It crisis. 



These unusual years have also contributed to an unprecedented in- 

 terest and demand for agricultural statistics. That's why we espec- 

 ial ly appreciate the excel lent cooperation we have received from our 

 producers and agr I -b us i nessmen who voluntarily provided the raw data. 



We owe a sincere thanks to our staff of statisticians, support 

 personnel, and field and telephone enumerators who are responsible for 

 the col lection and summarization of this information. A special thanks 

 to Carol Jean Smith who had overa I I responsibi I ity for bul letin layout, 

 charts, and computer processing. 



e H. Pratt, 

 State Statistician 



