4 MONTANA FARM REVIEW 



A steady and healthy expansion in apiculture is in progress. The 1920 census 

 showed t^bout 12,000 colonies then in the state, and the estimated number of colonies for 

 1923 is 17,000. The estimated income from honey and wax in 1923 was $170,000. 



Horses liittle intere§t was manifest in the raising of horses during 1923, due 



to very slow demand and low values. Only about enough breeding 

 was done to maintain numbers ; but for light losses on the ranges, there probably would 

 have been a substantial decrease in numbers. 



Poultry Montana farmers are raising more poultry than ever before. The 



last census showed that about three and one-quarter million chickens 

 were raised in the state in 1919, and more than eleven and four-fifths million dozen of 

 eggs produced. The receipts from the sales of chickens and eggs in 1919 amounted to 

 $2,160,209. In 1923 about 3,500,000 chickens were raised, and over sixteen million dozen 

 of eggs produced. The receipts from sales of chickens and eggs for this year are esti- 

 mated to be $2,591,000. 



Prices received for poultry and eggs have generally been unsatisfactory during 1923. 

 Local demands are easily satisfied. More attention is being given to the marketing side 

 of the enterprise, and the State Department of Agriculture has recently established grades 

 for eggs, and, in cooperation with the Extension Department of the State College, 

 has devised a workable plan for producers to have their eggs officially graded at shipping 

 point. The application of such a system should aid in eliminating from market channels 

 many eggs of inferior quality, greatly improve the average quality of eggs marketed, and 

 insure better prices to the producer. 



Turkey raising expanded greatly in 1923, most of the increase taking place in the 

 counties east of the Divide. The climatic conditions of Montana and the feeds grown 

 here are important factors favoring the production of turkeys. Much progress was made 

 in marketing the turkey crop, through demonstrations in dressing and grading turkeys, 

 conducted over the state by the State College Extension Service, by the market news 

 service handled by the State Department, and by the functioning of several cooperative 

 marketing associations. Prices received for turkeys were mostly very unsatisfactory. 

 The estimated gross farm income from turkeys in 1923 was $473,000. 



MUk Cows Commercial dairying in Montana has received great impetus within 



and the last two years. From 1919 to 1922 inclusive, the increase in the 



Dairying output of dairy products within the state was not so rapid. The 



increase in 1922 over 1919 was about 40% in creamery butter, the 

 output of cheese decreased, and ice cream remained nearly stationary. The year 1923 

 showed an increase of over 50% in the output of creamery butter over any previous year. 

 Reports from most of the creameries for the first three months of 1924 show an increase 

 of about 10%' over the same period of 1923 in the production of creamery butter. There 

 are si3d;y-five creameries now in oi)eration in Montana, or fifteen more than in 1919. 

 Four county cow-testing associations are reported as organized and functioning on April 1, 

 1924. Considerable advance registry work is being done by the owners of purebred 

 herds of the Guernst^y, Jersey, Holstein and Brown Swiss breeds. Many dairy cattle 

 are being brought into Montana from outside of the state and a constantly increasing 

 number of farmers are turning to dairying as the principal part of their agricultural 

 operations. A much larger number, however, are limiting their dairy operations, milking 

 enough cows to furnish a sufficient in<'orae for current expenses in the home, and 

 making it a part of their plan for diversification of their agricultural activities. 



Best estimates obtainable for the producti(m of dairy products in 1924 would 

 indicate an increase of at least 25% in the production of creamery butter over 1923 

 with a substantial increase in the production of cheese, and the production of ice cream 

 remaining about stationary. It seems at this time, from best sources of information 

 obtainable, that prices for creamery butter will hardly remain at the level of 1923. 



