UTILIZATION OF CORN ACREAGE IN MONTANA 



(Based on averages supplied by crop reporters for their localities) 



For Forage Cut 

 For Feed or 

 For Grain For Silage Hogged Off 



Year % % % 



1928 53.0 2.0 45.0 



1924 35.0 4.0 61.0 



1925 30.1 2.9 67.9 



1926 23.0 3.0 74.0 



1927 34.0 4.0 62.0 



POTATOES 



Production of potatoes in Montana in 1929 fell below that of 1928 by 

 about 53 per cent, while there was only a decrease of 11 per cent in the acreage. 

 The 1929 crop as finally estimated was 1,980,000 bushels which were produced 

 from 33,000 acres with an average acre yield of 60 bushels. The 1928 crop was 

 4,255,000 bushels which were produced from 37,000 acres making the average 

 acre yield 115 bushels. 



The season started very favorably but the severe drought conditions that 

 began in the early part of the summer caught the plants before the tubers had 

 set and the potatoes on non-irrigated land generally gave a very low yield. Since 

 67 per cent of the state potato crop is grown on dry land the average yield was 

 about half that of 1928. Potatoes under irrigation yielded almost as heavily as 

 in 1928. 



The December 1, average price to growers for their 1929 potatoes was $1.70 

 per bushel compared with an average of 55 cents per bushel on December 1, 1928. 

 Due to the higher price the value of the 1929 crop exceeded that of the 1928 crop 

 by $1,026,000, or a total value of $3,336,000 for the 1929 crop against the value 

 of $2,340,000 for the 1928 crop. 



SUMMARY OF POTATO RAIL SHIPMENTS BY CROP YEARS 



Total Number Per cent of Price 



Crop Production Cars Total Crop December 



(bushels) Shipped Shipped First 



1923 3,960,000 757 11.4 $0.65 



1924 2,992,000 420 8.4 0.87 



1925 3,780,000 1,509 23.9 1.60 



1926 2,975,000 886 17.8 1.20 



1927 4,860,000 1,376 19.8 0.65 



1928 4,255,000 756 10.7 0.55 



1929 1,980,000 316* 1.70 



♦Movement to April 22. 1930. 

 Shipping season August 1 to June 30. 



Unfavorable market conditions, which came about as a result of the con- 

 tinued increase in acreage and yield from 1925 to 1928 caused the percentage of 

 total crop shipped in that year to fall to 10.7 compared with 19.8 per cent in 

 1927 and the 5-year average of 15.3 per cent. Total shipments of the 1929 crop 

 will be reduced compared with the 1928 crop but the percentage of the crop that 

 is shipped will be materially increased, due tb prevailing high prices and favor- 

 able market conditions. 



NATIONAL POTATO SITUATION 



During the 10 years preceding 1925 the potato acreage in the United States 

 showed a downward trend. However, a steady increase in yields more than offset 

 this decrease in acreage so that the total production increased each year while 

 prices showed a downward trend. The 1925 acreage was smaller than any in the 

 preceding 10 years and the average farm price was higher than at any time 

 during that period. From 1925 to 1928 the acreage was increased each year, yield 

 and production were increased and prices were lower each year until the low 

 level of 1928 was reached. Stocks of old potatoes on hand always have an im- 

 portant bearing on the outlook for the early potatoes of the coming crop season 



