4 FOREWORD 



1990 MONTANA AGRICULTURAL STATIgnCS 



NOTES FROM 

 THE STATE 

 STATISTICIAN 



This twenty-seventh edition of Montana 

 Agricuhural Statistics provides data users with 

 unbiased statistics about the state's agricuhural 

 industry. 



Agricuhure, Montana's largest industry, 

 contributed a record 1.9 billion dollars to the 

 state's economy in 1989. The largest enterprise 

 was cattle and calf production followed by the 

 wheat and barley crops. 



What's ahead as we enter the 1990's? We see new challenges to agriculture's traditional use of 

 land, water and other valuable resources. Agriculture will be required to justify it's claim to 

 those resources with facts and figures. The future of agriculture in America will depend on 

 agriculture's ability to influence public perception. Facts to emphasize the importance of crop 

 and livestock production will be needed to counter erroneous perceptions about grazing, animal 

 welfare, and pesticide use. 



We see rapid expansion of genetic engineering and other biotechnology to solve pest and 

 disease problems. Unbiased statistics will be needed to measure and evaluate change. 

 Accurate and reliable facts and figures depend on the continued support of producers. A big 

 "thank you" to our farmers, ranchers, and agri-businessmen who voluntarily answer survey 

 questionnaires to provide input to this and other reports. Thanks also to our staff of 

 statisticians, technicians, and enumerators who are dedicated to providing you with high quality, 

 timely information. A special thank you to Wendy Bruski, who had overall responsibility for 

 layout, design, and production of this report. 



■puxtC 



:yle H. Pratt 

 State Statistician 



