GEAIN STORAGE 



19 



AVERAGE YIELDS PER ACRE OF PRINCIPAL CROPS ON IRRIGATED LAND — 1922. 

 (With State and United States averages for comparison.) 



CROPS MONTANA I7NITED STATES 



Average yields on Average yields for Average 

 irrigated land* entire state yields 



Winter Wheat — bushels 27.0 16.5 13.9 



Spring Wheat — bushels 26.0 14.7 14.1 



Oats — bushels 48.0 32.0 29.9 



Barley — bushels 37.0 25.0 26.2 



Rye — bushels 20.0 14.5 15.4 



Flax — bushels 11.0 7.0 9.4 



Corn — bushels 33.0 25.0 28.2 



Potatoes — bushels 179.0 126.0 104.2 



All tame hay — tons 2.20 1.90 1.58 



Wild hay — tons 1.27 .90 1.02 



Alfalfa hay — tons 3.10 2.23 



Seed peas — bushels 22.0 



Sugar beets — tons 10.8 9.76 



NOTE: *These averages were computed for the entire irrigated area of the state and should 

 not be confused with maximum yields. In making comparisons with Montana's 

 average yields per acre on irrigated land it should be borne in mind that much of 

 the state's irrigated area is in the pioneer stage of development, and has not ap- 

 proached its potential production capacity. This is shown by the higher average 

 yields obtained in the older and more intensively cultivated irrigated sections, where 

 scientific application of water is combined with good farming methods. 



The gross value per acre of all crops grown on irrigated land in Montana in 1919 

 was $35.03. while for the entire state the average gross value per acre of all crops was 

 $18.30. U. S. Census 1920.) 



GRAIN STORAGE 



There are 659 grain elevators with a combined capacity of 20,242,000 bushels in 

 Montana. Elevators are found in all but eight counties, and three of these raise con- 

 siderable grain but are without rail transportation. The largest elevator capacity is in 

 the central portion of the state. 



These elevators are bonded by and under supervision of the Montana Department 

 of Agriculture, which is vested with broad powers for the protection of owners of 

 stored grain. The owner of the grain, and not the elevator, has the option of receiving 

 his grain back at the point of first delivery or at a terminal selected by him. The 

 storage of grain is a bailment and not a sale; and the sale of stored grain by an elevator 

 and the use of the proceeds in the business is prohibited. 



Since the last crop season, a farm warehouse storage law has been enacted, under 

 which negotiable warehouse certificates will be issued upon the grain stored on the 

 farm. One of the objects of the law is to give the owner of farm-stored grain a 

 better opportunity to secure an advance on wheat he desires to hold. 



