4 Foreword 



Montana Agricultural Statistics 1993 



NOTES FROM 

 THE STATE 

 STATISTICIAN 



This year's edition of Montana Agricultural 

 Statistics marks the thirtieth year that we have 

 issued this publication for use by Montana's 

 agricultural community. A big thank you is 

 owed all of Montana's farmers, ranchers and 

 agri-businessmen for their willingness to 

 provide the basic information that is the 

 foundation of all of these estimates. Without 

 their continued support this publication would 

 not be possible. 



This has been a difficult year for us and for the producers of the Treasure State. The 1993 

 legislature came to Helena with the difficult task of eliminating a 200 million dollar shortfall 

 in our general fund account. Our office willingly accepted a 25 percent reduction in our state 

 staff, but we balked when the legislature proposed the elimination of this publication. Thanks 

 to the efforts of many of the farm and ranch organizations within Montana, funding for this 

 year's bulletin was restored by the Senate. 



Montana's farmers and ranchers have battled against Mother Nature all year. Nineteen ninety- 

 three will go down as one of the wettest and coolest years on record. Planting season began 

 very slowly as cool, wet conditions kept producers out of their fields. This weather pattern 

 persisted all the way through harvest. As we prepare to go to press with this publication, 

 harvest of Montana's small grain crops are a month to six weeks behind normal progress. The 

 extra moisture we received has given us the potential of harvesting our biggest wheat crop 

 ever. However, our producers have paid a price for this new record as protein levels are 

 generally below normal and disease has reduced the quality of our crops. 



Please feel free to pass on your comments and suggestions as you look over this report. Again, 

 we want to thank all of you for your continued support. Thanks also to our staff of 

 statisticians, technicians, and enumerators who are dedicated to providing Montana's number 

 one industry, agriculture, with high quality statistics. A special thank you to Wendy Bruski 

 who had overall responsibility for the layout, design, and production of this publication. 



James K. Sands 

 State Statistician 



