FLOUR AND CEREAL MILLS 



Milling is one of the most important state industries from the standpoint of 

 agriculture. Montana mills have at their doors the finest milling wheat in the world, 

 and they have expanded rapidly with the increased production of wheat during the past 

 twelve years. 



On January 1, 1923, there were 66 flour mills in operation in the state, having 

 a total aggregate rated capacity of 11,778 barrels of flour per day. More than 16 per 

 cent of the 1921 wheat crop of Montana, or about 5,584,000 bushels, was milled in these 

 establishments, from which 1,263,096 barrels of flour were made. It is estimated that 

 about 8 per cent of this amount of wheat was taken by the mills in exchange for flour. 



During the year ending June 30, 1922, it required 4.43 bushels of wheat to produce 

 a barrel of flour in the Montana mills; whereas the latest availai)le data (1919) on 

 flour extraction for the United States as a whole gives 4.62 bushels to produce a barrel 

 of flour, which shows the distinct superiority of Montana wheats in flour extraction. 



It has been estimated that about 75 per cent of the flour milled in the state is 

 shipped to out-of-state markets, which includes Atlantic and Pacific coast and inter- 

 mediate points, as well as foreign ports. The high quality of the Montana product is 

 widely recognized. 



Besides the flour mills, there are two large cereal mills in operation within the 

 state, which manufacture rolled oats, wheat flakes, farina, pearl barley, and other cereal 

 products. These mills afford a market for large quantities of oats grown in the state, 

 as well as barley and wheat. The well-filled and heavy-weighing oats grown in the 

 state are particularly adapted for the manufacture of rolled oats. 



FLOUR MILL, CEREAL AND GRIST MILL PRODUCTS. 



(1) Data for 1922 furnished by the Montana Trade Commission, and for the flour mills 



covers operations for the year ending June 30, 1922. 



(2) Data from U, S. Bureau of the Census. 



(3) Number in operation on January 1, 1923. 



(4) Does not include feeds produced by one large cereal mill. 



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