STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE 



MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



na 



MONTANA CROP AND LIVESTOCK REPORTING SERVICE 



P.O. BOX 4369 - HELENA. MONTANA 59604 

 (406) 449-5303 



FOREWORD 



Montana Agricultural Statistics 1983 is the continuation 

 of a data series dating back to 1946. Sam C. Ford, the Governor 

 at that time said, "This bulletin offers the most complete summary 

 of the State's progress in its fundamental business of farming, 

 presented comprehensively by counties and given additional clarity 

 through the liberal use of tables, illustrative maps and charts." 

 This 1983 issue attempts to maintain the same high standards of 

 presentation and quality that were established thirty-seven years 

 ago. 



Agriculture is the most important industry in Montana. 

 Farm and ranch assets alone totaled more than 19 billion dollars 

 in 1982. Sales of products from Montana's 24,000 farms contributed 

 over 1.6 billion dollars to the State's economy. 



The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information about 

 Montana's agricultural industry. Information is the lubricant that 

 keeps the wheels of agriculture running smoothly. It aids in pro- 

 duction planning and is vital to orderly marketing. Information is 

 a key element in all agriculturel research which has helped U.S. 

 farmers achieve the highest production efficiency in the world. 

 It dispels rumors and reduces speculation. Sometimes the news is 

 good, sometimes bad, but it is always useful to help make informed, 

 accurate decisions. 



The bulletin includes special statistical data on wheat 

 varieties, stocks by class, wheat utilization, wheat and barley by 

 cropping practice, grain production forecasts by crop reporting dis- 

 trict, and grain movement. These statistics were funded by the 

 MONTANA WHEAT RESEARCH AND MARKETING COMMITTEE. Data on barley var- 

 ieties were funded by the AMERICAN MALTING BARLEY ASSOCIATION, INC. 



We owe a sincere thanks to all the farmers, ranchers and 

 agri-businessmen who voluntarily contributed their time to answer 

 the questionnaires that provide the basic information summarized 

 in this bulletin. A special thanks also goes to our staff of stat- 

 isticians, support personnel, and field and telephone enumerators 

 who are responsible for the collection and summarization of this in- 

 formation. 



^TaJJOCT^ 



Lyl^ H. Pratt, 

 State Statistician 



,IS s^- 



