Page 8, 

 (continued.) 



WHEAT RESEARCH AND MARKETING COMMISSION 



ANALYSIS OF PROGRAMS 



Services Provided - The purpose of the Montana Wheat Research and 

 Marketing Committee is to sponsor intensive scientific and practical 

 research in all phases of wheat culture and production marketing and 

 use, and in the development of markets for wheat grown in Montana. 



Objectives - Obtaining more equitable freight rates for Montana 

 wheat producers is one of the prime objectives of the Montana VVheat 

 Research and Marketing Committee. As a direct result of information 

 obtained from this study, the Montana Lines Committee has proposed a 

 no-frill rate on wheat shipped by rail from eastern Montana to Duluth, 

 Superior and Minneapolis. The proposal is pending at this time and if 

 initiated a savings in freight of $300,000 to $500,000 is possible. 



We are the third (3) largest wheat producing state in the nation. 

 Among the ten (10) western states we are receiving the least amount 

 of revenue to carry out our program. Our objective is to Revise Sec- 

 tion II of Chapter 29, R.C.M, 191+7. 



Another objective of Montana State University is the work conducted 

 by Dr. J. Allen Taylor. As a result of this project several promising 

 winter wheat varieties are now being evaluated. However, before any new 

 varieties are released from the Montana State University Experiment 

 Station they must undergo intensive quality, yield, disease resistance 

 and other tests. 



Fertilizer sales in Montana have shown a tremendous increase in the 

 last 5 years. In 1965, 80,000 tons of commercial fertilizers were 

 applied in Montema. By 1967 this figure had increased to 164-,000 tons. 

 Because of this increased interest in fertilizer use it became apparent 

 to the Montana IVheat Research and Marketing Committee that more accu- 

 rate predictions of crop response to applied fertilizers was needed. 

 The committee is interested in furthering research along these lines 

 and has funded $16,000 to help develop a more reliable soils test for 

 the state. The work under the direction of Dr. J. B. Sims at Montana 

 State University. 



Target Groups - The Montana Wheat Research and Marketing Committee 

 was host to three groups of foreign visitors during the period covered 

 by this report. 



Six representatives from flour mills in Japan and the same number 

 from mills in Taiwan visited Montana. The groups visited grain stor- 

 age both farm and commercial, wheat harvesting and handling methods 

 and bakeries in Montana. The members of these teams were highly in- 

 pressed with the amount and quality of wheat from our state. They were 

 provided an opportunity to visit with wheat producers , elevator mana- 

 gers and grain merchants. 



Visits were made to the State Grain Lab in Great Falls, Montana. 

 Here they were shown the technical aspects of sampling, grading and 

 testing. The members of the teams were made aware of the quality of 

 Montana wheats. 



Two members of the Japan Food Agency visited Montana during 1968-69. 

 While here the officials spent time with members of the Montana Wheat 

 Research and Marketing Committee. They learned the production, market- 

 ing and transportation aspects of Montana wheats. 



