

OP 



Moniana Siare L^^!'a'•, 



3 0864 1004 8450 3 



ONTANA 

 GRICULTURAL 

 STATISTICS SERVICE 



rf>RODUCTION -r. ooc«„ courcri 



301 South Park 



P.O. Box 4369 

 Helena, MT 59604 

 Phone: (406)441-1240 

 (800)835-2612 



Annual Summary 1995 



Released: March 1, 1996 



^f\^ 1 1996 



tAQ mmA STATE L.H .M.v 



iP»"./- b '^ '^ Ave. 



HELENA, MONTANA 59620 



Montana All Wheat 



Montana Barley 



Million Bushels 



.Million Acres 



Million Bushels 



100 



Million , 



1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

 Production Harvested Acres 



1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

 Production Harvested Acres 



MONTANA 1995 CROP PRODUCTION SECOND LARGEST ON RECORD 



Montana farmers produced the second largest wheat crop on record in 1995. The spring started out wet and cool, 

 causing some apprehension among farmers for the lateness of the crop. Sufficient moisture and heat were able to 

 produce above average yields by the end of the summer. The eastern portion of the state did suffer some heat damage 

 which lowered potential yields. Winter wheat seedings totaled 1.5 million acres, the smallest seeding since 1951. The 

 dry fall of 1994 caused many farmers to switch to spring wheat for the 95 crop year. Fanners har\ested 1 .37 million 

 acres with a average yield of 40 bushels per acre, the second highest yield on record. Total production was estimated at 

 54.8 million bushels, down 15% from last year. 



The decrease in winter wheat acreage was made up by a large increase in other spring wheat. Farmers planted 

 the largest other spring wheat acreage since 1953 when durum and other spring wheat were combined. There were 3.95 

 million acres planted with 3.8 million acres harvested. Yields average 35 bushels to the acre, also the second highest 

 yield, only behind 1993's record. The increase in acreage and good yield produced the largest spring wheat crop ever. 

 Better prices resulted in a large increase in durum wheat acreage planted. Farmers seeded 270,000 acres in 1995 

 compared with 180.000 in 1994. Yields averaged 30 bushels to the acre on the 265.000 acres har\ested. Yields, in the 

 northeast where most of the durum is grown, were hurt by prolonged heat stress. Total production of durum was 

 estimated at 7.95 million bushels, up 49% from the previous year. 



Barley growers planted 1.3 million acres and harvested 1.2 million acres this year, both unchanged from 1994. 

 Producers realized a yield of 52 bushels per acre, which tied with the second highest yield on record. Total production 

 was 62.4 million bushels, up 18% from a year ago. 





Oat production totaled 4.72 million bushels, up 31% from 1994. Producers harvested 80,000 acres with an 

 average yield of 59 bushels per acre. Farmers also realized a record year for all hay production at 5.36 million tons. 

 Yields average 2.23 tons per acre on 2.4 million acres. Alfalfa harvested acreage accounted for 1.6 million acres of the 

 tal with a yield of 2.5 tons per acre for a record production of 4.0 million tons. Other hay harvested acreage was 

 00,000 acres with a yield of 1 .7 tons per acre which ties the highest other hay yield record. 



"••^. 



I 





