4 Foreword 



Montana Agricultural Statistics 199^ 



NOTES FROM THE 

 STATE STATISTICIAN 



This year's edition of Montana Agricultural 

 Statistics marks the thirty-first 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 these estimates. 

 Without their continued support this 

 publication would not be possible. 



Reinventing government has been a hot topic both at the national and state level during this 

 past year. This publication is an example of the partnership of federal, state, and private 

 interests that many governmental agencies are just begirming to think about. The Montana 

 Agricultural Statistics Service has worked in cooperation v^dth the Montana Department of 

 Agriculture, the Montana Wheat & Barley Committee, the Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee, 

 Montana State University, and several other producer organizations to carry out its mission of 

 providing the basic information needed by agriculture. Because of this partnership we are able 

 to carry out a very wide-ranging survey program at a lesser cost than if each of the 

 organizations involved tried to do it on their own. 



Montana's farmers and ranchers again had to battle Mother Nature this year as drought 

 returned to the Treasure State. Planting season began with high hopes and great expectations 

 but quickly deteriorated as precipitation disappeared. Despite the hot, dry conditions spring 

 wheat set another record high production mark, primarily because of a large increase in 

 planted acres. Problems in other parts of the U.S. and around the world have helped grain 

 prices. Livestock producers did not fare as well as prices dropped early in the year and 

 generally have stayed lower than they were last year. 



As you look through and use this report, please feel free to pass on your comments and 

 suggestions. 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, v^ath 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 



