SEED AND CANNING PEAS 



OWER prices for both seed and canning 

 peas in 1926 have tended somewhat to cur- 

 tail production compared with 1925. In 

 case of seed peas production fell off to 

 520,000 bushels in 1926 compared with 

 560,000 in 1925, while in case of canned 

 peas, the 1926 pack was 316,000 cases, 

 compared with 332,000 cases in 1925 with 

 one more factory operating in 1926 than in 

 the preceding year. 



TOTAL VALUE 



Total value to Montana of the pea grow- 

 ing industry in 1926 was $1,862,000. Of 

 this total $1,040,000 is the value of the 

 production of seed peas largely grown un- 

 der contract for canners and seed houses, 

 '.^-^^^.i'.. ^^^^N^HHHHi^ni while green peas canned at three IVjontana 



factories were worth $822,000. 



INDUSTRY GROWING 



The pea industry in Montana has had a remarkable growth during the 

 past five years. In 1922 the seed pea crop was worth about $200,000 and by 

 1924 its value was more than four times this amount; reaching $945,000 that 

 year; $1,176,000 in 1925 and dropping off slightly to $1,040,000 in 1926. 



The canning pea industry has likewise developed to a place among Mon- 

 tana's important special crops. A new factory at Red Lodge in 1926 has added 

 to the potential production of canned peas in the state. 



OUTLOOK FOR INDUSTRY 



Quality and favorable yields are factors in Montana seed pea production 

 that enable the state to compete with the older seed production areas. In 

 manufacture of canned peas, Montana is somewhat handicapped by geographic 

 factors, such as lack of close markets and freight rates. Both ends of the 

 industry in Montana are dependent upon the general condition of the industry 

 throughout the United States. Some adjustment nationally is to be expected 

 in both seed production and canning as a result of declining prices during the 

 past three years. 



SEED PEAS FOR 1925 AND 1926 BY COUNTIES 



1925 REVISED 1926 (DEC. EST.) 



TH<?trif.t and ^.cre Produc- Acre Produc- 



Count? Acreage Yield tion Acreage Yield tion 



^*^ ^ (Bu.) (Bu.) (Bu.) (Bu.) 



NORTHWESTERN 



Flathead 150 21 3,150 200 20 4,000 



Lake 2,400 II 26,400 2,100 21 44,100 



WEST CENTRAL 



Granite 100 16 1,600 150 20 3,000 



Missoula 550 18 9,900 850 19 17,000 



Powell 200 18 3,600 150 20 3,000 



Ravalli 1,250 17 21,250 1,300 22 28,600 



CENTRAL 



Broadwater 200 i5 3,000 150 21 3,150 



Cascade 150 12 1,650 120 21 2,520 



Fergus 260 10 2,600 150 20 3,000 



Jefferson 600 15 9,000 500 20 10,000 



Lewis and Clark 350 15 5,250 630 21 13,230 



Wheatland 200 17 3,400 200 21 4 200 



EAST CENTRAL 



Richland 250 16 4,000 300 21 6.300 



SOUTHWESTERN 



Beaverhead 1,200 22 26,400 1,100 22 24 200 



Madison 400 25 10,000 400 20 sioOO 



SOUTH CENTRAL 



Carbon 4,800 26 124,000 5,000 27 135,000 



Gallatin 13,200 20 264,000 10,900 16 174,400 



Park 1,300 24 31,200 1,500 20 30,000 



Stillwater 400 20 8,800 300 21 6,300 



STATE TOTALS 28,000 20.0 560,000 26,000 ^OjO 520.000 



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