s l\ .^ ■^- Montana Farm Review Vol 1 SEP 4 1995 3 0864 1004 5712 9 c a» c •■2 ?•? UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Bureau of Agricultural Economics and MONTANA STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Division of Labor and Publicity Co-Operating MONTANA FARM REVIEW VOLUME ONE Issued by THE MONTANA CO-OPERATIVE CROP REPORTING SERVICE CHESTER C. DAVIS H. C. TAYLOR Commissioner of Agriculture Chief of Bureau Helena, Montana JOINT BULLETIN State Capitol MONTANA STATISTICAL HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE ANNUAL CROP AND LIVESTOCK REVIEW FOR 1922 By GEORGE A. SCOTT Agricultural Statistician Assisted by CHARLES D. GREENFIELD, JR. Chief, Division of Publicity, State Department of Agriculture This Publication is Issued and Circulated by Authority of the State of Montana FOREWORD In this, Volume I of the Montana Farm Review, the first publication of its kind relating to Montana Agriculture, an effort has been made to group under one cover in convenient form for ready reference all available accurate information properly embodied in such a booklet In some cases historical data are incomplete, and it is not feasible to make such a publication altogether inclusive. Such statistics as are presented in this volume are not only interesting in themselves, but reflect the development of the various phases of agriculture, the changes which have taken place, the trend of activities, and form a basis upon which to lay plans for future developments of agriculture and other industries of the state. It is planned to make this an annual publication, subsequent issues to include only reports for the current year, with comparative data. Records of the past and a knowledge of present conditions are necessary to all forms of business enterprises. This applies particularly to the business of farming, the largest of the nation's industries. Facts relative to acreage and production of crops, to live stock and live stock products, to the supply and demand for these commodities, to prices, markets, and other factors affecting general conditions, both past and present, should be available to farmers and their leaders, to assist them in determining proper and profitable courses to follow in the complex scheme of production of food and clothing. This booklet relates only to the production side of the problem in Montana. Bases All figures in this volume are official estimates of the Division of of the ^^^P ^^^ ^^^^ Stock Estimates (formerly Bureau of Statistics and . Bureau of Crop Estimates) of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics s ima es ^^ ^^^ United States Department of Agriculture, except where other- wise noted. The bases for such estimates are the decennial Federal Census and the annual state farm census collected by county assessors, supplemented by various forms of checks and by monthly information furnished by a corps of more than 3.000 voluntary crop and live stock reporters within the state. It will be noted that some material has been taken from the statistics of the Federal Census Bureau. This has been done be- cause the Census furnishes the most recent and reliable information available upon certain subjects. The publication of estimates by counties of Montana is attempted for the first time in this volume. Immediately following the taking of each Federal Census, crop acreages and production by counties are available, but some other reliable sources of information must supply the information needed for making county estimates between the census years. This is made possible through the co-operation of the county assessors under the law providing for the collection of certain agricultural information at the time the annual assessments are taken. The value to the public of the county tables is in no small degree due to the good work of the county assessor in practically every comity in the state. The material collected by the assessors and their deputies is forwarded to the Commissioner of Agriculture. It is edited, tabulated, totaled, and analyzed, in the office of the Agricultural Statistican. County data has been found to be of much value to farmers and others in states where the information has been published for some time. It is hoped that the accuracy and detail of the county figures for Montana will be im- proved in the future by more generally complete returns from all counties through the assessors, and to this end farmers and others are urged to co-operate. The regular reports rendered by the voluntary Crop and Live Stock Reporters within the state are also indispensable in making county facts available. — 3-^ 4 MONTANA FARM REVIEW The Montana Sixty years ago Congress appropriated funds for the establishment and Co-Operative maintenance of a Federal Crop-reporting Service. This has grown Crop and Live "^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^® recognized as the most efficient organization of its St k Re rt- ^"^^ ^^ ^^® world. Formerly the work was carried on in each state e • independent of state organizations, but now most of the states work inff oervice. with the Federal Department under co-operative agreements. In Mcm- tana the State Department of Agriculture and the Extension Service What It Doe*. ^^ ^^ g^^^^ College co-operate with the Federal Bureau of Agricultural Economics in this work, which is in charge of a statistican employed by the Federal Department. Under such arrangement, this office is known as the Montana Co-opera- tive Crop and Live Stock Reporting Service. Monthly reports on crops and live stock are issued, and from time to time special reports. Through this Service, besides data relating to the state, information concerning agricultural conditions over the entire country is made available to all who desire it. While the Federal Census and the county assessors' farm census returns form the bases of estimates of this service, the monthly reports made by a corps of more than 3,000 active reporters are the principal sources of information by which seasonal reports are issued. The work of these voluntary reporters is done without pay, and the services that they render merit state-wide recognition and credit, for they are serving in a most worthy manner their state, country, and the farming and related industries. More than ninety per cent of the reporters are farmers and stockmen, but bankers, managers of co-operative concerns and elevators, dealers, and others are represented. As a majority of them are veterans at the work, their judgment is highly respected. Reports from them are received at the office of the statistican, where they are grouped according to districts and counties, edited, tabulated, averaged, weighted and analyzed. Coming from all sections of the state, reports upon varying conditions in different lo'calities tend to balance one another, but distinctly show the trend of condi- tions. In effect, this system is a pooling of information by reporters, which is sum- marized by this office into reports for the entire state. By this method most of the so-called "guess-work" is eliminated. The consolidated state report goes to make up its part of the report for the whole United States. In accordance with established system, all estimates of crop production for 1922 are subject to final revision in December, 1923. Livestock numbers are revised foi? previous year annually in January. Acknowled e- "^^^ author is indebted to F. W. Beier, Jr., formerly Agricultural ments Statistican for Montana, who outlined the scope of this volume, and assisted in the preliminary preparation of part of the material. Thanks are due Mr. C. C. Davis, Commissioner of Agriculture, for his valued suggestions and guidance in the organization and assemblage of the subject matter. Mr. Chas. D. Greenfield, Jr., prepared the historical sketch, a large part of the matter pertaining to lands, the forest and timber data, and assisted with some other chapters. He also had charge of the details of publication. Entire credit should be given to William T. Lathrop, of the Weather Bureau, for the well presented section on Montana climate and rainfall. The Crop and Live Stock Reporters of the state deserve full recognition for their services, upon which reliable estimates depend. Miss Rose A. Lacey, Miss Agatha Schulten, and Anna I. Seller, of this and associated offices, are to be conunended for their assiduous work in the preparation of tabular and other matter contained herein. GEO. A. SCOTT, Agricultural Statistican for Montana. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF AGRICULTURE IN MOINTANA Though agriculture had its beginning in Montana seventy-eight years ago, it is only now slowly emerging from the formative period, fixing those types of farming best adapted to the various parts of the state. The comparatively little farming in the state prior to 1890 was subsidiary to the livestock industry. From that year to 1905 the ex- pansion in the farm areas was chiefly on irrigated lands. Since 1905 the exi)ansion has been on the non-irrigated lands. This has been a period of land acquisition rather than of farm-making. The present broad and growing interest in mixed farming, in hogs, dairy cattle, and cultivated crops, signalizes that the era of permanent agriculture has come. Significant of the new order is the marked growth of the acreage successfully devoted to corn. While wheat will probably continue to be the state's chief crop for some time to come, the frontiers of the northern corn belt already have been extended to include the eastern half of Montana. Live stock in several forms has from the beginning played a prominent part in agriculture in Montana, and is covered more fully in a following section devoted to the live stock industry. The half century of live stock production has spanned the ebb and flow of the range cattle and sheep industry, and the commencement of the swell toward even greater production as a result of increased numbers of stock on fenced farms and ranges. Montana's Father De Smet, a Catholic missionary to the Indians, was Montana's Pj^^^ first husbandman. In 1845 he seeded a patch of ground to grains and vegetables at St. Mary's Mission in the Bitter Root Valley, near the us an man pj-gg^^^ town of Stevensville. A few farms were established in the same valley in the next two decades. The first considerable influx of people to Montana Territory was precipitated by the Alder Gulch gold discovery in 1863. A few turned to agriculture. In 1864 there were a few farms on the eastern slope of the Rockies, and a few in the Bitter Root valley. The first homestead entry in Montana was made by David D. Carpenter on an application to the Helena land office, filed August 1, 1868. Patent was issued February 10, 1871 for 150.55 acres. Part of this tract is now embraced in the grounds of the Lewis and Clark County hospital. The first official mention of farm and live stock wealth for the state, is found in the first report of the territorial auditor, "up to December 4, 1865". In the counties of Madison, Edgerton (now Lewis and Clark), Beaverhead, and Gallatin, a total of 82,706 acres were "claimed". Improvements were valued at $128,369. These four counties returned for assess- ment purposes 4,325 head of oxen, 1,207 horses, 464 mules and asses, 1896 cows and calves, 1769 sheep and 249 head of swine. No returns were received from the counties of Jefferson, Deer Lodge, Missoula, Chouteau and Big Horn (later changed to Custer). Mining By 1870 there were 851 farms in the territory, according to the federal Stimulates census. They contained 139,537 acres of which 84,674 acres were re- . ported improved. Only one-tenth of one per cent of the state's total gricu ure ^^^^ ^^^^ devoted to agricultural purposes. This small fraction was divided among a few districts, most of them in close proximity to the mining camps. One was in the Bitter Root, another near Missoula, one near the Madison and another near the Beaverhead county mining camps. Farming had started in the Prickly Pear valley near Helena and on the Sun River near Fort Shaw. There were four farms in Chouteau county, near Fort Benton, and, according to the census returns, there was one lone farmer in Custer county which comprised at that time the eastern half of the 6 MONTANA FARM REVIEW territory. He lived under the walls of Fort Peck where the Poplar river empties into the Missouri. The agricultural possibilities of the Gallatin were the first to be generally appreciated, in 1870 that county leading in the number of farms — 178 — as well as in the total value of farm products. Jefferson had 141 farms, Lewis and Clark 106, Deer Lodge 105 and Madison 102. Deer Lodge led in improved acreage, closely followed by Lewis and Clark and Meagher counties. Then came Jefferson, Missoula and Gallatin. In the cash value of farms, I^ewis and Clark ranked first, followed by Deer Lodge and then Gallatin. Nearly half the total wheat and oat production of the territory iu 1870 was from Gallatin county. There were three flour mills in that county, three in Missoula and one in Madison county. During the next ten years the number of farms or more properly, ranches, in the territory more than doubled, the principal increases being in Madison, Missoula, Custer, Chouteau, Meagher and Lewis and Clark counties. The Fort Peck farmer abandoned operations, there was a net decline of three farms in Gallatin county in this decade and a pronounced decline in Jefferson county. The Meagher expansion was in the Judith Basin and the Custer along the Yellowstone. The production of ranch butter declined, probably because of the wane of the mining districts and the growth of transportation facilities. Wheat, which was the chief crop in 1870, was superseded by oats in 1880, the stage lines and military posts affording a home market for it. Railroads These ranch settlements were devoted chiefly to livestock raising, g ,. although the crop production of the territory was sufficient for the . needs of the sparse population. Reports of the territorial governors oc ising ^^^ ^^ ^^^ United States surveyor-generals mention the big agricul- tural possibilities of the territory but dwell upon the necessity of rail transportation to provide a market outlet before these possibilities could be realized upon. Farming remained at a standstill but stockraising developed. The building and operation of the Utah Northern from Ogden, Utah to Garrison in 1880 gave stock growing an impetus in the western part of the state, as did the construction in 1883 of the Northern Pacific to the industry in the eastern part of the state. Prior to the building of the Northern Pacific, marauding Indians made stock growing in eastern Montana a hazard- ous undertaking. In the decade from 1880 to 1890 rural settlements spread out along the Yellowstone as far east as Glendive, through the Big Horn and Powder River regions, in two districts in the Milk River valley, and in the Flathead country around Kalispell. One of the material factors in the development of the eastern part of the territory in this decade was the elimination of approximately 20,000,000 acres from Indian reser- vations. This acreage — a little less than one-fourth of the total for Montana — was added to the public domain. Stockmen seized the opportunity. Ranges were extensively stocked with cattle, and later, with sheep. It was a period of inflation when eastern and foreign capital was poured into the range herds. Bottom lands along the streams were acquired by big cattle concerns. As early as 1883 registers and receivers of U. S. Land offices in the state called attention to the practice by cattle companies of having their riders and friends file upon such lands under the desert land act. The company put the water upon the land, the entryman proved up, received his patent and then transferred the tract to the company. The desert land act was passed in 1877 and in the next four years there were 370 desert claim filings made in the territory of Montana, covering 122,461 acres. In the same period there were 608 homestead entries but cover- ing only 93,671 acres. By 1890 most of the romance and much of the capital invested in the livestock business had been lost, and it was stabilized on a firm basis with fewer persons engaged in it. In the decade from 1890 to 1900 there was a decline of population in the livestock districts of eastern Montana, but the number of cattle marketed yearly held fairly uniform. HISTOEICAL SKETCH OF AGKICULTUEE 7 The The number of farms increased from 851 in 1870 to 1,519 in 1880, to Non-Irrigated ^'^^^ "^ ^^^ ^"^ ^^ 13 370 in 1909. In the next decade tne number of farms nearly doubled, and from 1910 to 1920 they more than doubled, armer omes ^^^ federal census for 1920 showing 57,677 farms. In 1880 there were 262,611 acres of improved farm land in the state which had increased to 915,517 acres in 1890, of which two-fifths were irrigated. In 1900 there were 1,736,701 acres of improved farm land, more than one-half of which was irrigated. During the course of the next ten years the non-irrigated farmer made his appearance, and of 3,640,309 acres of im- proved farm land, a trifle less than one-half was irrigated. By 1920 the federal census reported 11,007,278 acres of improved farm land in the state of which only fifteen per cent was under irrigation ditches. In 1900 there was little farming done in Montana east of Yellowstone county, ex- cept for a narrow strip in the lower Yellowstone valley. There was practically no farming in northern Montana except in the Milk River valley. By 1910 the non-irri- gated table lands back of the main valleys were being farmed. In the next ten years every county in the state, east of Flathead, Lewis and Clark, Broadwater and Park, with the exception of Cascade, showed an increase in rural population of 50 per cent or over. That year 37.5 per cent of the state's total area was devoted to farms, com- pared with one-tenth of one per cent in 1870. Original homestead entries made in Montana reflect the development of agri- culture. The number of entries by years and the total acreage covered by them are shown in tabular form in the section devoted to "Lands." It will be noted that filings increased following each new railroad built into or through the state, but the lands taken up were not confined to territory close to the rails. The year 1910 holds the record for homestead filings in the state, when 21,982 filings were recorded, covering 4,732,806 acres. Filings for the next seven years continued to be very large, but be- ginning with 1918, the number of filings markedly decreased. Land Nearly all of the total acreage filed upon in the state for agricultural Filines in Purposes has been taken up under the general homestead laws, and but little under the desert land act and the stockraising homestead Montana ^^^ ^^^ March 3, 1877 to June 30, 1922 only 14,495 final entries were allowed under the desert land act, covering 2,731,937 acres. From the passage of the stockraising homestead act to June 30, 1922, 10,835 original entries were made, cover- ing 3,666,836 acres. Under the Homestead Act, 221,259 entries covering 47,882,838 acres have been made, all told, in Montana. ^ The earliest estimate available on agricultural production in Montana was made by the United States Surveyor General for the year 1869, and included the following: wheat, $900,000; barley and oats, $500,000; potatoes, $1,000,000; hay, $200,000; vege- tables, $75,000; poultry and eggs, $100,000; dairy products, $400,000; total, $3,175,000. The estimates of acreage and production made by the United States Department of Agriculture are available back as far as 1882. The acreage, average yield, total pro- duction, and farm value of the important crops for each year are given in the tables in the following i>ages. A brief study of them will show the expansion of the acreages of the various crops. MM X- This increase has accompanied a gradual shaping of men and methods to fit conditions that attend farming in Montana. The agricultural history of the state is a record of advance out of successive periods of Learned trial. Experience must be gained to make new land yield a safe living to families who farm the soil. Sometimes the evolution toward stable agriculture is a costly process, but the men and women who achieve success by proving their adapt- ability to their environment have all contributed toward the store of experience that makes farming less hazardous to those who join them or come after. Montana is better off in 1923 than in 1913, because of the lessons learned after the vast expansion that took place early in the decade. MONTANA FARM REVIEW THE LANDS OF MONTANA Montana, third in area of the states, is perhaps more diversified physically and topographically than even might be expected within its broad limits. The state averages 275 miles in width from north to south, and 535 miles in length. It contains 94,078,080 acres of which 589,440 acres are water surface, leaving a land area of 93,568,640 acres. Within the limits of Montana are the headwaters of three great drainage basins. The drainage of the western part of the state reaches the Pacific ocean through the Clark Fork of the Columbia river; the drainage of a portion of the northwestern part is into Hudson Bay through St. Mary's river; and the drainage of the central, southern, and eastern districts is into the Gulf of Mexico through the Missouri river and its tribu- taries. The western two-fifths of the state is covered with numerous mountain ranges, with rather abrupt drops between into foot-hills and valleys, the altitude of the latter ranging, for the most part, between 2,000 and 5,000 feet. The eastern three-fifths of the state may be described as a rolling plain, with a general and gradual slope from the higher mountain altitudes to below 2,000 feet in places near the eastern border. But this plain is broken here and there by several groups of mountains and hills, and in the southern part by spurs from the main range of the Rockies, where, along the southern line some peaks reach an elevation in excess of 12,000 feet. In still other sections the plain is rough, and chiefly suitable for grazing purposes. Altitude According to the Thirteenth Annual Report of the U. S. Geological c Survey, Part II, the average altitude in Montana is 3,400 feet; while one-half of the state lies at an altitude of less than 3,000 feet, and ontana three-fourths at less than 4,000 feet. Montana's average altitude is much lower than that of the other western states in the Rocky Mountain region, which largely offsets its disadvantage of being farther north, so that climatic conditions for agricultural purposes are more favorable in Montana than in many districts of the states to the south. The land of the state has been roughly classified as follows : Farming land, 30,000,000 acres ; mountain and forest lands, 26,000,000 acres ; and grazing land, 37,000,- 000 acres. Of the 67,000,000 acres thus classified as farm and grazing land, the records of the State Board of Equalization, on the 1922 returns, show that 49,152,321 acres were assessed under such classifications at an average value of $11.62 per acre or a total valuation of $570,940,104. This is exclusive of the value of improvements, but the figures include some timbered areas that were returned and assessed as grazing lands. Assessments on irrigated land in Montana in 1922 averaged $51.38 an acre; on non-irrigated farming land, $13.48 per acre; and on good grazing land, $6.51 an acre. Because the classifications of lands were not imiformly adhered to in levying assess- ments, accurate data are lacking as to the acreage in the several different classes. The areas in crops in this state for the past three years were : 6,702,000 acres in 1920; 6,399,000 acres in 1921; 6,872,000 acres in 1922. Data covering the utilization and ownership of lands within the state, the number of farms by counties, with their total acreage and values, and other data, are shown in the tables in the following pages. Irrigated lands are taken up in a separate section. 10 MONTANA FAEM EEVIEW Sofl Very few definite and reliable data covering the soils of Montana are Survey Data to be had. However, a reconnaissance soil survey of the state was begun in 1921 by the U. S. Bureau of Soils in co-operation with the State Experiment Station. More than eleven million acres have been surveyed to the present time. The work in Sheridan, Daniels, Roosevelt and Valley counties and about one-third of Phillips county, has been completed. Reports for the first three of above will shortly be available for distribution, while that for Valley county will not appear until 1924, according to announcements. The reports will show the topography, soil character and classifications, areas under cultivation, and the county classification of lands, combined with topographical maps. A detailed soil survey of the Bitter Root Valley was made in 1917 by the U. S. Bureau of Soils. Many types of soil are found in the state, variations being common in the same localities. The soils differ in mechanical composition, texture, source and method of formation. Yet all of these soils have been found to contain a rich store of the elements necessary for the proper growth of the crops which are adapted to the climatic condi- tions of the state. HOW TITLE TO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN HAS PASSED IN MONTANA (Total area land surface, 93,568,640 acres.) Land grants to the state 5,869,618 acres Original grants to Northern Pacific Ry. Co.. 17,576,672 acres Original homestead entries from 1869 to 1922 inclusive. Number 221,259 47,882,838 acres Final desert land entries from March 3, 1877, to June 30, 1922, inclusive. Number 14,495 2,731,937 acres Timber and stone entries from June 3, 1878, to June 30. 1922, inclusive. Number 5,190 663,392 acres Original stockraising homestead entries from time of passage of act to June 30, 1922, inclusive. Number 10,835 3,666,836 acres Coal land entries from March 3, 1873, to June 30, 1922, inclusive. Number- 505 64,718 acres Applications filed under the mineral leasing act of February 25, 1920, from date of passage to June 30, 1922, inclusive 3,707 acres Total segregations of Carey lands June 30, 1922. (For irrigation under state control) 99,322 acres Carey lands patented from August 18, 1894, to June 30, 1922 66,266 acres Grand total entered under the various land laws (does not include total of Carey lands segregated but only those patented, which issues only after reclamation) 78,411,646 acres State lands sold 1909 to 1922, inclusive 1,102,412 acres State lands remaining unsold 4,514,698 acres State lands under lease for grazing or agricultural purposes 2,453,597 acres State lands under lease for oil drilling 211,136 acres Original Northern Pacific land grants 17,576,672 acres Total acreage now owned by Northern Pacific 3,687,385 acres Total acreage lands offered for sale by Northern Pacific, January, 1923 1,354,296 acres Total acreage private lands assessed, 1922 51,990,875 acres Total acreage under Federal control, January, 1922 38,679,096 acres MONTANA LANDS UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL* Public lands, June, 1922, unreserved and open to filing 5,659,879 acres (17. S. General Land Office Report, June, 1922.) National forests, net area, June, 1922 (U. S. Forest Service) 15,933,889 acres Indian reservations, area under federal control, June, 1921 3,543,353 acres (U. S. Statistical Abstract, 1921.) National Park and Monument reservations (National Park Service) 1,108,640 acres Military reservations, area under federal control, Nov., 1922 57,901 acres (U. S. War Department.) Federal Bird reserves. Willow Creek, Pishkun, Nine-Pipe and Pablo Area unknown National Bison range (Congressional report) 18,000 acres Oil land withdrawals outstanding, June 30, 1922 (cover both surface and mineral) 1,345,151 acres Phosphate land withdrawals outstanding, June 30, 1922 287,883 acres Power site reserves 145,785 acres Public water reserves 7,278 acres Reservoir site reserves 9.080 acres Well drilling reservoir reserves 40 acres (U. S. General Land Office Report, June, 1922.) ^_^ Total area of lands In Montana over which federal control of surface and mineral rights Is exclusively exercised 28,116,879 acres Coal land withdrawals outstanding, June 30, 1922 (in most Instances the mineral rights only are reserved) 10,562,217 acres (IT. S. General Land Office Report, June, 1922.) Orand total of acreage In Montana under federal control .. 38,679,096 acres THE LANDS OF MONTANA ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN MONTANA 11 No. of Original Acreage of Acreage Public Public Domain Acreage Year Homestead Original Home- Lands Disposed Entries stead Entries 1 of or Patented 1869 48 7,624 ' 1 86,887,316 1870 213 33,458 1871 309 48,338 1872 265 41,366 67,568 1873 49 5,303 25,894 1874 22 2,760 21,368 1875 38 5,286 19,839 1876 86 12,179 28,068 1877 52 6,597 12,688 1878 134 29,494 10,076 1879 140 18,093 1880 (1) 282 39,139 108,593 1881 392 1638 entries 56,361 249,637 ac. 109,579 1882 1883 (2) 1884 1885 1886 1887 (3) 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 445 569 548 460 455 437 509 564 559 -T9r 1,663 1,571 1,155 1,212 1,399 1,239 1,502 1,652 2,230 4938 682 213 821 591 633 461 697 407 246 entries 119, 248, 237, 167, 177, 211, 187, 223, 240, 328, 2Tr 279 248 358 892 473 148 541 512 437 7S§,il^ ac. 2,901 14,418 entries 413,373 2,141,103 ac. 2,829 408,034 1 2,691 388,554 2,492 362,882 2,386 341,931 3,398 503,789 3,347 489,985 5,328 777,455 7,484 1,159,486 21,982 4,732,806 15,399 ^4,83 8 ents. 4,257,302 9,578, 295 ac. 12,597 17.844 20,662 16,146 14,486 15,197 9,429 5,462 7,802 5,433 4,970 3,600, 3,996, 4,429, 3,500, 3,318, 3,471, 2,124, 1,314 2,095; 1,573 1,441, 260 358 616 268 450 286 092 235 510 149 175 186,463 443,324 625.292 1,112,140 911,574 2,536,037 282,597 462,428 481,816 522,980 587,262 631,868 326,114 418,302 683,617 341,229 699,318 889,894 1,158,294 1,359,696 1,354,222 1,533,205 1,052,994 1,086,290 1,782,279 1,218,780 1,494,052 2,460,905 6,616,734 1,187,312 742,230 2,342,923 3,485,067 3,994,418 2,815,378 3,817,933 3,564,300 3,446,336 3,401,399 2,387,625 2,521,788 74,635,925 72,765,307 72,327,101 71,762,087 71,432,917 67,963.057 65,803,307 61,439,514 57,885,663 56,455,435 55,748,400 51.398,631 49,799,514 46,532,440 42,900.229 36,015,943 32,030,646 29,053,995 21,542,853 22,237,660 19,065,121 16,649,725 11,818,414 8,201,019 7,133,594 5,973,741 5,720,125 5.659.879 Grand total 145,427 .221,259 entries 35,175,691 47.882,838 acres (1) The Utah Northern R. R. was built into Montana in this year. (2) The Northern Pacific R. R. was completed across the state in this year. (3) The Great Northern R. R. completed as far as Great Falls in this year. ♦Lands embraced in U. S. Reclamation projects are not included. Under regulations of the Federal Government, most of above lands are used for agricul- tural and commercial purposes, and for public enjoyment. The state also receives a share of the earnings from the National Forests, Public land filings, oil and mineral leases, etc. FLOUR AND CEREAL MILLS Milling is one of the most important state industries from the standpoint of agriculture. Montana mills have at their doors the finest milling wheat in the world, and they have expanded rapidly with the increased production of wheat during the past twelve years. On January 1, 1923, there were 66 flour mills in operation in the state, having a total aggregate rated capacity of 11,778 barrels of flour per day. More than 16 per cent of the 1921 wheat crop of Montana, or about 5,584,000 bushels, was milled in these establishments, from which 1,263,096 barrels of flour were made. It is estimated that about 8 per cent of this amount of wheat was taken by the mills in exchange for flour. During the year ending June 30, 1922, it required 4.43 bushels of wheat to produce a barrel of flour in the Montana mills; whereas the latest availai)le data (1919) on flour extraction for the United States as a whole gives 4.62 bushels to produce a barrel of flour, which shows the distinct superiority of Montana wheats in flour extraction. It has been estimated that about 75 per cent of the flour milled in the state is shipped to out-of-state markets, which includes Atlantic and Pacific coast and inter- mediate points, as well as foreign ports. The high quality of the Montana product is widely recognized. Besides the flour mills, there are two large cereal mills in operation within the state, which manufacture rolled oats, wheat flakes, farina, pearl barley, and other cereal products. These mills afford a market for large quantities of oats grown in the state, as well as barley and wheat. The well-filled and heavy-weighing oats grown in the state are particularly adapted for the manufacture of rolled oats. FLOUR MILL, CEREAL AND GRIST MILL PRODUCTS. • 1922 (1) 1919 (2) 1914 (2) 1909 (2) Number of Mills 66 (3) 1,263,096 no data 2,957.196 47,015 (4) 69 1,271,861 138 8,862,946 53,629 33 871,918 799 940,648 43,314 12 Wheat flour produced, bbls. (196#) Rye flour — barrels Oat meal, Rolled Oats, and other Cereal foods, (pounds) 375,440 856 Feeds, Including bran, middlings, etc. (tons) - 14,036 (1) Data for 1922 furnished by the Montana Trade Commission, and for the flour mills covers operations for the year ending June 30, 1922. (2) Data from U, S. Bureau of the Census. (3) Number in operation on January 1, 1923. (4) Does not include feeds produced by one large cereal mill. — 12 — FORESTS AND TIMBER IN MONTANA ♦Montana's timber stand is estimated to aggregate 59,509 million feet, and the current annual growth for all species on the productive commercial timber land is roughly estimated at 790 million feet. The average annual lumber cut for the six year period of 1916-1921 inclusive was 329,682,000 feet. The total annual cut for the state, inclusive of lumber, round timbers for the mines, cordwood, hewn ties, posts, pilings, shingles and lath, averages 600,000,000 feet or 190,000,000 feet less than the current annual growth. The lumber cut of Montana in 1921 was 47.7 per cent less than the 1920 cut and was the smallest in Montana since 1905. "Unsettled business conditions throughout the country, high freight rates and the cessation of demand temporarily checked the natural trend toward increased production in the state," reports the U. S. Forest Service. Approximately two-thirds of the state's timber resources are under the jurisdiction of the federal government, while the state owns approximately four per cent, and private interests about twenty-nine per cent of the timber resources. The estimated stand by ownership is as follows: National Forests 35,250 million feet National Parks 2,006 million feet Public Domain 27 million feet Indian Reservations 2,425 million feet Total Federal 39,708 million feet State 2,300 million feet Private 17,501 million feet Total 59,509 million feet Timber acreages are incomplete. The net area of national forests in Montana, June 30, 1922 was 15,933,889 acres. The state owns 500,000 acres of timber land. Approximately 1,000,000 acres of timber land are listed by assessors. The Forest Service estimates the stands of timber on the national forests by species as follows: Species Million feet Lodg-epole pine 14,599 Douglas fir 7,3 66 Western larch 4,364 Western Yellow pine 3,427 Engelmann spruce 2,749 Miscellaneous 1,188 Western white pine 630 White bark pine 416 Alpine and white fir : 396 Cedar 115 Nine-tenths of the 1921 lumber cut was sawed from three species, western-pine, larch and Douglas fir. Nearly one-half of the cut was western pine, two-fifths of it was larch, and about one-fifth Douglas fir. Of the total cut of 213,857,000 feet, 77,065,000 feet were cut in Missoula county, 57,027,000 feet in Flathead, 45,406,000 in Lincoln, 16,459,000 feet in Ravalli, and 7,388,000 in Sanders. The only other counties in which the cut was more than a million feet that year were Mineral, Gallatin and Granite. Some lumber was cut in 1921 in 33 of the 54 counties of the state. That year 142 saw- mills were active and 89 were idle. The forest service estimates that 40,240,000 feet of the 1921 lumber cut was on national forests. The cut in 1921 on state lands is esti- mated at 28.000,000 feet. Deducting these from the total cut, shows that 145,617,000 feet of lumber was cut that year from privately owned lands. NOTE: *Data furnished by the U. S. Forest Service. — 13 — 14 MONTANA FARM REVIEW The output of poles, piling, posts, hewn ties and round mining timbers was much below normal in 1921. Some companies specializing in that business did not operate at all. A census made by the U. S. Forest Service shows there were 2,575 wage earners engaged in the production of lumber and timber products in 1921. Total expenditures that year for salaries and wages, contract work and materials were $5,857,104. In the value of products of industries in Montana, lumber and timber ranked as the second largest industry, according to the 1919 census. The Forest Service has not completed the compilation of data for the 1922 lumber cut in the state. The following data for 1922 is taken from a report of the Montana Lumber Manufacturer's Association : Total lumber cut, 236,739,778 feet. Total shipments for the year were 9,667 cars, or 255,378,460 feet, which was 18,000,000 feet in excess of the year's production. In 1921 according to the figures of the association the cut exceeded shipments by 53,687,333 feet. Of the lumber shipped in 1922, Montana consumed 89,636.275 feet. Illinois was the second best market, taking 863 cars, Iowa 737 cars, Minnesota 718 cars, Wisconsin 414 cars, North Dakota 310 cars, Colorado 300 cars, Nebraska 374 cars, Michigan 296 cars and Missouri 252 cars. A total of 1,306 cars went to Atlantic coast states and 167 cars to other eastern states. The lumber cut of M;ontaua as far back as 1870 is given in Bulletin No. 1119, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, as follows: 1870 12,571,000 1911 .'. 228,416,000 1880 21,420,000 1912 - 272,174,000 1890 89,511,000 1913 357,974,000 1899 255,685,000 1914 317,842,000 1904 236,430,000 1915 328,000,000 1905 189,291,000 1916 383,900,000 1906 328,727,000 1917 350,000,000 1907 343,814,000 1918 340,000,000 1908 311,533,000 1919 287,378,000 1909 308,582,000 1920 410,000,000 1910 319,089,000 *1921 213,857,000 •U. S. Forest Service. IRRIGATION IN MONTANA Irrigation antedates the discovery of gold in Montana. Father De Smet, in 1845, in the Bitter Root valley, was its first exponent, and a small irrigated settlement grew lip around St. Mary's mission. The expansion of irrigation, between 1860 and 1870, was simultaneous with that of agriculture, some of the men disappointed in gold mining turning to farming in the rich grass-covered valleys. At first only crude ditches carried part of the direct flow of a few of the mountain streams to the land. It was natural that in the following years the lands which could be most easily and cheaply watered were taken up and irrigated first, leaving for later years the development of projects which required more expensive ditch construction, diversion and storage dams, and pumping plants. Now Montana has nearly 3,000,000 acres of irrigated land, and, according to the U. S. Census figures for 1920, its irrigation works served 10.5 per cent of all irrigated lands in the country. In irrigated lands Montana ranked fourth, being exceeded only by California, Colorado and Idaho. The same source of information shows that the estimated final cost per acre of all existing enterprises was $16.19, which is a lower average with a single exception, than for any other western state. About 90 per cent of the lands irrigated in 1919 in the state were watered under gravity systems from streams. The Montana Irrigation Commission on a survey made in 1920, reported 2,136,974 acres actually irrigated, with an additional 885,543 acres to be watered soon under plans or works completed at that time. It estimated 2,266,000 acres more were feasible of irrigation. The Montana Experiment Station in Bulletin 103, says of the water supply: "Montana is much better supplied with streams than many of the western states, as there is no part of it which can be classed as desert, all portions yielding at least some run-off. The greater portion of the discharge of the main streams comes from the higher portions of the state along the Rocky Mountains and their spur ranges. * * * Because of the narrowness of the valleys and the height of the bordering slopes, the diversions practical from the lower portions of the main streams are limited to less than the available supply, and the Yellowstone, Missouri, and Clark Fork of the Colum- bia will always carry from the state water which would be of great value if its use for irrigation were feasible. "The amount will be continually reduced, however, by the extension of irrigated areas on headwater streams and tributaries. On these the direct flow during the low water period has been largely appropriated." The irrigated area is being steadily enlarged by new projects, and by the extension and improvement of many older ones. Several comparatively small projects are under construction, many more contemplated, and preliminary arrangements and surveys have been made for the construction of several larger projects covering many thousands of acres. The enormous water power resources and developments within the state have a direct bearing upon irrigation, in that the cheap power admits of pumping water at moderate costs to irrigate relatively high lands. This form of irrigation is already in successful operation upon a number of projects and its further utilization is contemplated in various sections of the state. Besides these, many farmers in the non-irrigated areas are constructing earthern dams across coulees to hold the spring run-off for irrigating part of their land, and the growth of this practice promises to add materially to the part-season irrigated area. — 15 — 16 MONTANA FARM REVIEW IRRIGATION IN MONTANA 17 The growth, area, location, and relative producing capacity of Montana's irrigated lands are shown more in detail in the following tables and by the accompanying map. Drainage Practically all of Montana's lands, including the areas under irriga- tion, are provided with excellent natural drainage, and very little artificial drainage is or will be required. The Census report of 1920 shows that 164,439 acres of land in farms in Montana have or need drainage, which is less than one per cent of the total area in farms. Drainage east of the mountains is almost entirely needed to relieve water-logged or seeped land as a result of irrigation; while west of the Divide most drainage is required to relieve or to protect lands which are swampy or subject to overflow. On January 1, 1920, the Census Bureau found there were 17 drainage enterprises in operation in Montana, which covered a gross area of 168,682 acres. Of this amount, 19,630 acres were reported as being swampy, subject to overflow, seeped, or alkali land. The estimated cost per acre to complete the drainage under these enterprises was $5.02. Yellowstone, Stillwater and Big Horn counties have the largest areas included within drainage enterprises east of the mountains, while Richland and Gallatin counties have smaller areas in this class. In the western part of the state, Flathead, Lincoln, Ravalli and Powell counties contain most of the areas within drainage enterprises. In several other counties throughout the state there are small tracts which are provided with artificial drainage, or where additional drainage is contemplated. CAPITAL INVESTED, COST PER ACRE, AND COST OF MAINTENANCE OF IRRIGATION WORKS. (U. S. Bureau of the Census — 1920.) 1 Montana U.S. 1 Total Average Per Acre Average Per Acre Capital invested in irrigation works Estimated final cost of existing irrigation works Average cost per acre for opeiation and maintenance, 1919 $ 52,143,363 70,079,028 $ 18.94 16.19 1.26 ? 26.81 22.84 2.43 AREA AND PER CENT OF LAND IRRIGATED, AND CHARACTER OF IRRIGATION enterprises;. 1920 (1) 1919 (2) 1909 (2) Total acreage actually irrigated (6) 2,136,974 1,681,729 1,679,084 Character of Irrigation Enterprises: Individual and Partnership 976,645 Cooperative 393,257 333,926 Carey Act 100,000 54,771 9,648 Irrigation District 51,698 35,153 412 Commercial 34,115 62,544 U. S. Reclamation Service 145,000 (3) . 88,291 14,077 U. S. Indian Service 98,887 67,417 Other 1,839,576 (4) 640 (5) Acreage enterprises were capable of irrigating 3,022,517 2,753,498 2,205,155 Acreage included in enterprises 4,329,148 3,515,602 Number of farms irrigated 10,807 8,970 Per cent of farms irrigated 18.7 34.2 Per cent of land in farms irrigated 4.8 12.4 Per cent of improved land in farms irrigated 15.3 46.1 (1): Figures for 1920 from report of Montana Irrigation Commission Surveys made in 1920. (2): Data from U. S. Bureau of the Census. Much land covered by irrigation ditches, and ordinarily irrigated, was not irrigated in 1919, due to that year being the third succes- sive year with sub-normal precipitation, which reduced the supply of water in streams, especially those not originating in mountain distrcts, hence rather low acreage shown for 1919. (3): Includes both 17. S. R. S. and Indian Service irrigation. (4): The Commission did not segregate into same classes as the Census Bureau, hence this item composed chiefly of acreage under Individual Partnership and Cooperative. (5): These classifications not made in 1910 Census. (6): The U. S. Bureau of the Census shows that in Montana 951,154 acres were irrigated In 1900, and 350,582 acres were irrigated in 1890. 18 MONTANA FAEM REVIEW IRRrGATED ACREAGE BY COUNTIES — 1922* County Approxi- mate Acreage Irrigated —1922. Flathead 16,000 Lincoln 6,000 Blaine 63,000 Chouteau 7,500 Glacier 15,005 Hill 3,000 Liberty 800 Pondera 96,000 Teton 61,000 Toole 900 Daniels 1,200 Phillips 32,000 Roosevelt 1,600 Sheridan 2,000 Valley 23,000 Deer Lodge 32,000 Granite 36,000 Mineral 1,000 Missoula '. 92,000 Powell 65,000 Ravalli 111,000 Sanders 8,500 Broadwater 34,000 Cascade 32,000 Fergus 31,000 Golden Valley 3,500 Jefferson 27,000 County Approxi- mate Acreage Irrigated —1922. Judith Basin 18,000 Lewis & Clark 46,000 Meagher 31,000 Musselshell 3,300 Wheatland 20,000 Dawson 2,200 Garfield 400 McCone 500 Prairie 500 Richland 25,000 Wibaux 200 Beaverhead 340.000 Madison 117,000 Silver Bow 13,000 Carbon 114,000 Gallatin 135.000 Park 86,000 Stillwater 39,000 Sweet Grass 48,000 Yellowstone 119,000 Big Horn 51,000 Carter : 500 Custer 14,000 Fallon _ 400 Powder River 1,800 Rosebud 32,500 Treasure 23,500 •These are estimates based upon data from the Census of 1919, assessors' returns, Mon- tana Irrigation Commission, and from other sources, and should not be taken as absolutely accurate. They are presented here to show as nearly as possible the relative importance of irrigation in the different counties in 1922. PER CENT OF CROPS GROWN IN MONTANA ON IRRIGATED LAND — 1919. (U. S. Bureau of the Census.) Crop Per cent of total acreage on irrigated land. Crop Per cent of total acreage on irrigated land. Crop Per cent of total acreage on irrigated land. TOTAL, ALL CROPS 25.7 Corn 13.0 Oats 23.6 Winter wheat 7.3 Spring Wheat .... 10.5 Barley 35.1 Rye 1.8 Timothy 44.3 Timothy and clover 65.3 Clover 42.4 Alfalfia 58.9 Other tame grasses 52.0 Annual legumes for hay 12.1 Small grains for hay.... 5.4 Wild, salt, or prairie grasses 26.0 Silage crop 32.3 Potatoes 22.1 Apples 71.9 Cherries 72.5 Sugar beets for sugar.... 89.4 Clover and Alfalfa seed 34.6 Dry beans 44.5 Dry peas 81.2 Flaxseed 2.9 NOTE: Above percentages were based upon the harvested acreages In 1919. Extreme drouth In that year caused much acreage on non-Irrigated lands to be abandoned for harvest, hence the percentages shown as irrigated above are higher than usual for most crops, especially the cereals. GEAIN STORAGE 19 AVERAGE YIELDS PER ACRE OF PRINCIPAL CROPS ON IRRIGATED LAND — 1922. (With State and United States averages for comparison.) CROPS MONTANA I7NITED STATES Average yields on Average yields for Average irrigated land* entire state yields Winter Wheat — bushels 27.0 16.5 13.9 Spring Wheat — bushels 26.0 14.7 14.1 Oats — bushels 48.0 32.0 29.9 Barley — bushels 37.0 25.0 26.2 Rye — bushels 20.0 14.5 15.4 Flax — bushels 11.0 7.0 9.4 Corn — bushels 33.0 25.0 28.2 Potatoes — bushels 179.0 126.0 104.2 All tame hay — tons 2.20 1.90 1.58 Wild hay — tons 1.27 .90 1.02 Alfalfa hay — tons 3.10 2.23 Seed peas — bushels 22.0 Sugar beets — tons 10.8 9.76 NOTE: *These averages were computed for the entire irrigated area of the state and should not be confused with maximum yields. In making comparisons with Montana's average yields per acre on irrigated land it should be borne in mind that much of the state's irrigated area is in the pioneer stage of development, and has not ap- proached its potential production capacity. This is shown by the higher average yields obtained in the older and more intensively cultivated irrigated sections, where scientific application of water is combined with good farming methods. The gross value per acre of all crops grown on irrigated land in Montana in 1919 was $35.03. while for the entire state the average gross value per acre of all crops was $18.30. U. S. Census 1920.) GRAIN STORAGE There are 659 grain elevators with a combined capacity of 20,242,000 bushels in Montana. Elevators are found in all but eight counties, and three of these raise con- siderable grain but are without rail transportation. The largest elevator capacity is in the central portion of the state. These elevators are bonded by and under supervision of the Montana Department of Agriculture, which is vested with broad powers for the protection of owners of stored grain. The owner of the grain, and not the elevator, has the option of receiving his grain back at the point of first delivery or at a terminal selected by him. The storage of grain is a bailment and not a sale; and the sale of stored grain by an elevator and the use of the proceeds in the business is prohibited. Since the last crop season, a farm warehouse storage law has been enacted, under which negotiable warehouse certificates will be issued upon the grain stored on the farm. One of the objects of the law is to give the owner of farm-stored grain a better opportunity to secure an advance on wheat he desires to hold. 20 MONTANA FARM REVIEW GRAIN ELEVATORS. January — 1922. District and County Number Capacity (Bushels) Northwestern District Flathiead 8 14 43 5 28 12 21 !? 14 12 26 34 18 "3 1*6 2 6 4 4 31 55 13 1 31 5 3 11 11 11 i I'l 1 9 562.000 Lincoln Northcentral District Blaine 338,000 Chouteau 1,009.000 138,000 Glacier Hill . . 703 000 Liberty 302,000 545,000 Pondera Teton 634,000 Toole 396,000 Northeastern District Daniels 374,000 Phillips 321,000 Roosevelt . . 720,000 Sheridan 924,000 Valley 462,000 Westcentral District Deer Lodge Granite 75,000 Mineral . Missoula . . 635,000 Powell 38,000 Ravalli 1 150,000 Sanders . 75,000 Central District Broadwater 220,000 Cascade 1,639,000 Fergus 1,479,000 Golden Valley 325,000 Jefferson 32,000 Judith Basin 833,000 Lewis & Clark 117,000 Meagher 45,000 Musselshell 248,000 Wheatland 570,000 Eastcentral District Dawson 1 465,000 Garfield * McCone Prairie 155,000 Richland - . - - 542,000 Wibaux 297.000 Southeastern District Beaverhead Madison Silver Bow Southcentral District Carbon Gallatin Park Stillwat*»r Swpiet Grass Yellowstone Southeastern District Big Horn Carter Custer X.. Fallon Powder River Rosebud Treasure I 20 I 27 I 11 I 18 I 3 I 25 1 I Total Number Elevators In the State Total Combined Capacity — bushels 659 20.242,000 MONTANA LIVESTOCK Cattle were introduced into Montana as early as 1832 by fur traders who wanted the luxuries of beef and butter at their posts, but John Grant is credited with estab- lishing the first beef herd here in 1853. According to the first report of the territorial auditor there were 4,325 head of oxen and 1,896 cows and calves returned for assess- ment purposes in 1865. In 1868 the first market shipment was made by J. D. Hogan of Augusta of cattle owned by Patrick Largey of Butte. They went to Salt Lake City. The first Texas drive to Montana was made in 1869 and the last in the late eighties. The first shipment by rail was made in 1874 by Conrad Kohrs, who trailed the beef overland from Sun River to Ogden, whence they went by rail. After 1876 many shipments were trailed from Montana to Cheyenne and thence over the Union Pacific to Chicago. The completion of the Northern Pacific in 1883 markedly stimulated the industry. That year the Eastern Montana Stockgrowers' Association was organized at Miles City, which two years later was absorbed by the Montana Stockgrowers' Associa- tion that still enjoys a virile existence. In 1885, the first year for which figures are available, 79,089 head of cattle were shipped to market. In 1891 the number increased to 250,000 head, and shipments aggregated more than 200,000 head a year up to 1912, except in 1900 and 1901. Shipments declined in the next four years and then sharply increased to the peak of 1919 when 641,337 head were shipped out, followed by another downward swing. The ^^ ^^s i^ *^® ^i^^t decade of this century that encroachments of the lanirinff homcstcaders began to be felt by the stockmen. Prior to then the industry had been conducted on a range basis. As the steady influx '' **" of homesteaders continued, many old time outfits gave up the range. Others, desiring to continue in the business and recognizing the changed order, acquired large land holdings for grazing and hay purposes. Still others moved from their original holdings to hay ranches adjacent to the National Forests. From 1910 to 1915 many stock outfits that only a few years before had purchased large tracts of lands, took ad- vantage of the many times enhanced values the agricultural development had placed upon their holdings and sold them out in smaller tracts. The drouth of 1919, with the ensuing hard winter, and the deflation of 1920, constituted a series of hard blows to Montana stockmen from which they have not yet recovered. Ranges in many parts of the state are understocked, at least compared with former years, but this understocking insures range recuperation. The next big development in the livestock industry of this state will be the gradual stocking of the smaller farms. When this is accomplished it is felt certain that Montana will annually market more cattle and of better quality than it did in the palmiest days of the range. The While Thomas Harris is credited with bringing, in 1857, the first Sh D sheep to Montana, to the Bitter Root valley, a man named Dobbins is said to have introduced into the Deer Lodge valley the first flock of n ««try breeding sheep. In 1865 the territorial auditor listed 1,769 head of sheep for assessment purposes, which had increased to 4,212 head by 1870 and to 249,978 head in 1880. Before the Northern Pacific reached Montana in 1883 large quantities of wool were shipped on flat-bottomed boats down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans and thence by steamboat to Boston. In 1890 there were 1,990,000 sheep reported in the state and in 1900 6,170,000 head. The wool clip that year of 26,020,120 pounds was the largest of any state. The peak in numbers was attained in 1901 when 6,417,000 head of sheep were listed and the high wool clip of 1904 when it amounted to 37,773,000 pounds. The same forces that operated against the range cattlemen affected the sheepmen. From 1901 to 1914 inclusive the Montana clip averaged in excess — 21 — 22 MONTANA FARM REVIEW of 30,000,000 pounds annually ; in the next four years it dropped from 27,000,000 pounds to 18,685,000 pounds, in 1920 to 16,000,000 pounds and in 1922 it was 16,700,000 pounds, ranking fourth in the list of states. It is claimed by some that range conditions in Montana are better adapted to the merino, or fine wool type, than are the cross breds, and that under the same condi- tions a better quality of merino wool can be produced than of cross bred wool. Twenty per cent of Montana's clip is classified as fine wool and 80 per cent as medium. Over a period of 22 years the average weight of a Montana fleece varied from 6.75 pounds to 8.3 pounds. Over the same period the shrinkage of the scoured over the unscoured wool ranged from 61 to 66 per cent. The sharp increase in wool and lamb prices in 1922 has stimulated interest in sheep raising. Many sheepmen are planning more extensive operations. Horses '^^^ range horse has played an important part in the live stock history , of the state. The heavy demand for these horses during the Boer War marked the beginning of the greatest expansion in the production es ^^ them. Between the years of 1895 and 1918 the sales of range horses provided a large share of the state's income from live stock. Miles City became the central trading point for horses, and was one of the most important horse markets in the world, and buyers from all over the country came there, and drew heavily on Montana for its horses. This market enjoyed the most prominence between 1910 and 1915. Warring governments during the past 30 years have purchased many thousands of these horses. Most of these range horses carried more or less of Thoroughbred or Standardbred blood, and through their dams traced back to the descendants of the old Spanish horses of the Southwest. Such breeding, together with the conditions under which they were raised, produced animals of high spirit, great courage, vigor and stamina, for which characteristics they became noted. Most of these horses were raised upon the open range, and received little or no feed aside from the abundant and nutri- tious grasses of the range. During the ascendancy of this industry, the use of sires of the draft or "cold-blooded" type became more general, with the result that average size was increased somewhat. With the exception of the passing demands of the Allied Powers during the recent war, the demand for this kind of horse has rapidly diminished since about 1914, due chiefly to increased production of horses over the country as a whole, and to the more general use of tractors, trucks, and autos. The interest in and production of range horses within the state has become less with the narrowing outlet, and the occupation of much of the former oi)en range by settlers has reduced the possibilities for production along this line. At present there is a surplus of horses in Montana, particularly of the range type, and there is not only little interest in raising them, but in many parts of the state they are recognized as a nuisance on the ranges. There is a growing interest in pro- ducing the farm chunk type of horse, and heavy drafters. In raising the former, the range can still be utilized to advantage, provided proper attention is given to the selection of breeding stock, and feed is supplied when needed. Records of shipments have been compiled for only the past four years, and these show that approximately the following numbers of horses and mules were shipped out of the state during that period : 1922 9,200 1921 10,000 1920 29,000 1919 56,000 Comparatively few mules are raised or used in Montana, but they are slowly and steadily increasing in numbers within the state. The ease with which range horses have been produced seems largely to account for the small number of mules. MONTANA LIVESTOCK 23 Swine Swine production is increasing in the state more rapidly than any other pi.- branch of the live stock industry at the present time. Fluctuations in volume are easily brought about by low or high prices, or other factors, although a general tendency to increase is expected to continue with the growth of population and of western industries. Production of swine grew quite in proportion to the state's population up to 1916, followed by a distinct reduction for about five years. Since 1921 greater production has been stimulated by diversification tendencies and corn-raising in greater volume. The making of excellent market hogs has been shown to be a profitable enterprise in Montana, using the extensive alfalfa and other legume pastures, and corn, barley, rye, skim milk, and other available feeds. At present the local and western markets absorb practically all the surplus hogs from the state, and this demand is expected to keep pace with a reasonable increasing supply. Milk Cows This branch of the state's live stock industry has enjoyed and still is ^ 1 making a steady growth, as a study of the sub-joined tables will show. . . This is due to other factors as well as to the increase in population. airying Climatic conditions are favorable for handling milk and its products the year round, and are conducive to healthfulness of stock as evidenced by the very low percentage of tubercular cattle in Montana, and by freedom from other diseases. The enormous production of alfalfa hay as well as other nutritious tame and wild hays, and of feed crops such as corn, barley, oats, rye, root crops, and sun-flowers, insure an abundance of the best of dairy feeds in most parts of the state. The conversion of these feeds into dairy products permits the shipment of them in concentrated form, which largely overcomes the disadvantage of being distant from heavy consuming centers. More recently the tendency toward safer farming through diversification, combined with the effect of steadier and comparatively higher prices received for dairy products, has stimulated this industry. The rapid extension of corn production in the state can be regarded as both a cause and result of increased use of dairy cows. The recent advance is marked more by the introduction of many bulls and cows of the dairy type, and by more general improvement in care and feeding of dairy cows, than by increased numbers. Indications point to a continuance of the growth of dairying in the state, in the number of dairy cows as well as in the improvement of average production and in quality of products. The United States Bureau of the Census gives the following value for dairy products, produced in Montana in 1909 and 1919: 1909 $2,093,594 1919 7,534,413 These amounts represent the total farm value of dairy products, excluding milk and cream consumed as such on farms where produced. * p 1 Poultry production in Montana ranks as one of the major farm en- terprises. A comparison of the census data on poultry since- 1880 reveals the fact that this industry has made a most remarkable growth. Improvement in the quality of the poultry, and in the methods of production has more than kept pace with the grovrth in the size of the industry, as is evidenced by the rapidly increasing number of flocks of standard-bred fowls, and by the more general employment of modern methods of housing, care and management. Montana climatic conditions are extremely favorable to the raising of poultry. This has been thoroughly demonstrated by members of the State College and Extension Service staffs, and by farmers and poultry raisers over the state, as well as the fact that winter egg production is not difficult in any section of the state. Large quantities of eggs and poultry are now imported into the state, which, with 24 MONTANA FARM REVIEW the increasing industrial activities over Montana, indicate possibilities of good future local markets for poultry and eggs produced in the state. Turkey raising is rapidly increasing in importance. Montana climatic conditions, the range conditions, natural range feeds, and the feeds raised locally, have proved to be especially favorable factors toward economical production of turkeys. Well matured birds can be produced in time for the Thanksgiving markets, and shipments of dressed turkeys to central markets are fast assuming large proportions. Available statistics on poultry production in the state are confined chiefly to the data collected by the U. S. Census Bureau. The following tables indicate the extent and growth of the poultry industry in Montana. Bees and While Montana farmers have displayed less interest in the honey Honey industry than in other diversified lines, apiculture has made a steady growth. Statistics of the United States Bureau of the Census show that bees are kept on 1,918 farms in 35 counties. The first ten counties according to their rank in honey productions in 1919 were: Yellowstone, Carbon, Ravalli, Big Horn,- Sweet Grass, Cascade, Rosebud, Stillwater, Custer and Madison. Montana ranks near the top in the production of surplus honey per hive. In 1920 Wyoming ranked first, while Montana and California were tied for second place. Mon- tana ranked first for the four year period of 1916-1919 with an average surplus of 86 pounds per hive. Wyoming was second. Apiculture is especially adapted to irrigated regions. Indirect benefits from bee- keeping are probably of greater value than the surplus honey produced. These indirect benefits are gained through the fertilization of plants by the pollen carried by the bees from flower to flower. This work of the bee is not only important to the production of fruits, but no less so to the attainment of full seed and fruit production in a number of forage and grain plants. MONTANA WOOL PRODUCTION (1880-1922.) Year Production (Pounds) Year Production (Pounds) 1880 1,000,000 c 1904 37,773,000 n 1886 5,031,000 • 1905 37,700,000 n 1887 5,283,000 * 1906 35,815,000 n 1888 unknown 1907 30,820,000 n 1889 9,740,000 * 1908 32,200,000 n 1890 13,929,000 * 1909 35,000,000 n 1891 14,471,000 • 1910 33,600,000 n 1892 15,670,000 * 1911 34,875,000 n 1893 .' 17,697,000 * 1912 31,175.000 n 1894 17,642,000 ♦ 1913 31,500.000 n 1896 19.032,000 n 1914 30,177,000 u 1896.... 21.530.000 n 1915 26.950,000 u 1897 20,110,000 n 1916 24,570,000 u 1898 20,935,000 n 1917 23,342,000 u 1899 30,438,000 • 1918 18.685,000 u 1900 26,020.000 • 1919 18.267.000 u 1901 30,554,000 ♦ 1920 16,000,000 u 1902 35,567,000 n 1921 16,400.000 u 1908 30,600,000 n 1922 16,700,000 a-u c — Based upon Census data. • Estimates of S. N. D. North, Bureau of Statistics, U. S. Treasury Department. n — Estimates of National Association of Wool Manufacturers, u — Estimates U. S. Department of Agriculture. a — Tentative Revision. MONTANA LIVESTOCK 25 NUMBERS OF LIVESTOCK. (1870 to 1923.) Year Milk Cows Other Cattle All Cattle Horses Sheep Swine Mules 1870 12,400* 24,000* 36,400 5,300* 2,000* 2,600* 500* 1880 11,500* 162,000* 173,500 36,000* 185,000* 10,500* 900* 1883 14.000 590,000 604,000 39,900 405,000 17,000 900 1884 14.200 672,600 686,800 45,900 466,000 17,500 1,000 1885 23.000 615.000 638,000 105,000 625,000 19,000 2,800 1886 25.300 725,700 751,000 120,700 719,000 19,000 8,900 1887 29,000 812,800 841,800 129,000 755,000 20,000 9,200 1888 31.000 934,500 965,500 187.000 1,265,000 22,000 5.500 1889 31,400 962,500 993,900 200,000 1,391,000 23,000 5,300 1890 33,000 981.800 1,014,800 216,000 1,990,000 29,000 2.400 1891 34.000 932,700 966,700 152,000 2,089,000 35,000 1,800 1892 35.700 1,026,000 1,061,700 197,000 2,089,000 35,000 1,200 1893 36,400 1,036,000 1,072,400 207,000 2,528,000 o9,000 1,200 1894 36,400 1,057,000 1,093,400 197,000 2,781,000 39,000 900 1895 39,000 1,078,000 1,117,000 198,000 2,809,000 46,000 900 1896 42,000 1,154,000 1,196,0U0 183,000 3,061,000 52,000 900 1897 43,000 1,177,000 1,220,000 175,000 3,123,000 51,000 900 1898 42,700 1,082,000 1,510,000 171,800 3,248,000 47,000 900 1899 44,000 953,000 997,000 165,000 3,378,000 42.300 1,000 1900 48,500* 926,500* 975,000 347,000* 6,170,000* 50,000* 2,800* 1901 49,400 960.200 1,009.600 302,000 6,417,000 47,000 3,400 1902 50,000 998,000 1,048\000 275,000 5,081,000 49,000 3,400 1903 52,400 1,048,600 1,101,000 246,600 5,120,000 51,700 3,400 1904 53,900 1,059,000 1,112,900 244,000 5,270,000 54,800 3,400 1905 55,000 1,048,000 1,103,000 236,800 5,639,000 57,600 3,400 1906 61,600 965,000 1,026,600 239.000 5.752,000 59,900 3,600 1907 66,000 916,300 982,300 292,000 5,637,000 62,900 4.000 1908 69,000 879,000 948,000 292,000 5,524,000 66,000 4.000 1909 75,000 905,000 980,000 304,000 5,634,000 68,000 5,000 1910 80,000 842,000 922,000 319,000 5,747,000 75,000 5,000 1911 80,000** 818,000** 898,000 344,000 5,230,000** 124,000 4.500** 1912 91,000 732,000 823,000 350,000** 4,926,000** 145,000** 5.000** 1913 95,000 750,000** 845,000 385,000** 1 4,675,000** 168,000** 5,500** 1914 104,000 826,000** 930,000 440,000** 3,850,000** 187,000** 6.000** 1915 114,000 836,000** 950,000 485,000** 3,340.000** 245,000** 6.500** 1916 125,000** 1,0^5,000** 1,170,000 520,000** 3,020,000** 270,000** 7,000** 1917 140,000** 1,114,000** 1,254,000 580,000** 2,670,000** 260,000** 7,500** 1918 150,000** 1,310,000** 1,460,000 640,000** 2,380,000** 202,000** 8,500** 1919 163,000** 1,447,000** 1,610,000 720.000** 2,530,000** 180,000** 9,000** 1920 153,000 1,116,000 1,269,000 669,000 2,083,000 167,000 9,000 1921 156,000 1,080,000 1,236,000 669,000 1,973,000 160,000 9,000 1922 160,000 1,260,000 1,420,000 670,000 1 2,270.000 180,000 9,500 1923 165,000 1,235,000 1,400,000 643.000 1 2,315,000 198,000 ! 10,000 Note: Many earlier estimates were made to exact figures. These have been rounded to even thousands or hundreds in above table. *Based upon Census Data. **Tentative Revision. All others are United States Department of Agriculture Estimates. CATTLE SHIPMENTS FROM MONTANA (1885-1922.) The Livestock Commission of Montana through its system of brand inspection secures an accurate check upon all cattle shipped out of the state. The following table, taken from the secretary's report for 1921. shows the total number of all cattle sent out each year since 1885: Year Output 1885 79.089 1886 119,620 1887 82,134 1888 167,602 1889 123,880 1890 174,035 1891 250.000 1892 203,000 1893 279,158 1894 302,655 1895 206.460 1896 254,864 Year Output 1897 252,162 1898 232,225 1899 203,499 1900 160,055 1901 151,986 1902 230,000 1903 210,573 1904 288,775 1905 267,966 1906 276.722 1907 , 214.642 1908 241.320 Year Output 1909 255,178 1910 243,662 1911 205,873 1912 188,675 1913 172,299 1914 158,623 1915 173,936 1916 227,828 1917 333,056 1918 406,415 1919 641,337 1920 211,242 1921 ...147,413 1922 246.378 26 MONTANA FARM REVIEW TOTAL NUMBERS OF CATTLE, HORSES, SHEEP AND SWINE BY COUNTIES. (As shown by Assessors — March, 1922.) District and County. Northwestern IWstrlct | Flathead | Lincoln I Northcentral Blaine ... Chouteau Glacier Hill Liberty . Pondera Teton — Toole — District Northeastern District Daniels Phillips Roosevelt Sheridan Valley Westcentral District Deer Lodge Granite Mineral Missoula Powell Ravalli Sanders Central District Broadwater Cascade Fergus Golden Valley Jefferson Judith Basin Lewis & Clark. Meagher , Musselshell Wheatland Eastcentral District Dawson Garfield McCone Prairie Richland Wibaux Southwestern District Beaverhead Madison Silver Bow Southcentral District Carbon Gallatin Park Stillwater Sweetgrass Yellowstone Southeastern District Big Horn Carter Custer .... Fallon Powder River Rosebud Treasure State Total Number as estimated by U, S. I Dep't. of Agriculture, Jan. 1, | 1922 1 All Cattle 14,053 2,937 36,549 25,890 19,062 12,863 4,814 12,510 16,331 5,637 10,293 24,626 13,331 16,738 24,680 3,877 11,679 872 11,671 15,366 20,044 9,800 13,753 29,594 57,711 12,769 13,883 27,346 29,786 21,654 14,509 24,542 1.084.220 Horses 7.228 1.883 17.832 17,693 5,859 14,032 4.194 9,186 9,038 5,918 10,582 20.065 9,887 13.782 25,921 1,415 3,496 580 5,452 4,479 5,896 3,046 4,661 10,608 27,610 6,417 3,975 9,036 5,734 5,028 7,372 6,036 4,651 7 6 105,642 39,856 22,687 10.552 6,387 13.110 25.834 26,987 3,862 58.901 626 5,049 59,983 6,206 10,754 69 3.532 94,217 22,817 3.424 28,324 75,159 62,883 • 8,884 3.285 30,645 58,138 123,652 9,853 56.059 ■ 19,656 15,234 12,236 2,214 22,145 15,413 68,569 1,460 16,475 17,297 27,132 1.676 14,258 10,156 23,560 999 20,974 16.799 1,607 3.978 9.116 6.575 2,713 1.899 65,219 12.208 158,724 2,558 36.992 9,392 127,717 7,111 5,136 2,003 9,002 1,375 18,672 8,961 27,709 8,707 22.636 11,194 18,028 11,504 24.142 7.249 46.577 6,402 21,889 9,526 26.195 5,381 22,425 5,740 53,104 3.669** 20,375 12,475 30,045 9,566 43.573 7.427 13.180 2,885 23.280 10,854 75.957 1.004 25,779 11,926 27.820 1.947 13.703 8,974 7,362 1,363 45,725 12.401 26,112 1.961 25,066 9.256 87.738 3.368 7,815 I 2,800 13.843 1,196 I 507,783 I I 1,867,094 1.420.000 I 670.000 I 2.270.000 167,060 180.000 •Assessments in 1922 were made on basis of weight. Figures for swine taken from Census data — 1920. ♦•Estimates based on changes In counties since census was taken. MONTANA LIVESTOCK 27 NUMBERS AND VALUES OF LIVE STOCK. (1920-1923.) Montana Live Stock on Farms and Ranges Total Number Average Value Per Head Total Value HORSES Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. 1923 1922 1921 1920 643,000 670,000 669,000 669,000 1 38.00 41.00 50.00 61.00 S 24,434,000 27,470,000 33,450,000 40,809,000 MULES Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. 1923 1922 1921 1920 10,000 9,500 9,000 9,000 60.00 69.00 87.00 92.00 600,000 656,000 783,000 828,000 MILK COWS Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. 1923 1922 1921 1920 165,000 160,000 156,000 153,000 55.00 58.00 75.00 83,00 9,075,000 9,280,000 11,700,000 12,799,000 OTHER CATTLE Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. 1923 1922 1921 1920 1,235,000 1,260,000 1,080,000 1,116,000 30.90 27.20 35.40 46.80 38,161,000 34,272,000 38,232,000 54,288,000 ALL CATTLE Jan. Jan, Jan. Jan. 1, 1923 1, 1922 1, 1921 1, 1920 1,400,000 1,420,000 l,236,00a 1,269,000 SHEEP Jan. Jan. Jan, Jan. 1, 1923 1, 1922 1, 1921 1, 1920 SWINE Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. 1, 1923 1, 1922 1, 1921 1, 1920 33.73 30.60 44.78 52.85 TOTAL VALUE OF ALL LIVE STOCK IN MONTANA Jan. 1, 1923 | 95,024,000 Jan. 1, 1922 84,705,000 Jan. 1, 1921 98,248,000 Jan. 1, 1920 133,727,000 47,236,000 43,552,000 49,932,000 67,087,000 2,315,000 8.70 20,140.000 2,270,000 4.70 10,669,000 1,973,000 5.80 11,443,000 2,080,000 10.40 21,663,000 198,000 13.20 2,614,000 180,000 13.10 2,358,000 160,000 16.50 2,640,000 167,000 20.00 3,340,000 GRAZING ON NATIONAL FORESTS IN MONTANA. (Data from the U. S. Forest Service, for the year 1922.) Number of Number Length of Grazing Fees — ^Per Head Permits Granted Grazed Seasons (days) Per Season National Cattle & Cattle & Cattle & Forest Horses Sheep Horses ! Sheep Horses Sheep Cattle Horses Sheep Missoula 113 5 7,250 5,425 184 122 $ .60 ? .75 ? .10 Absaroka 159 52 7,027 64,395 153 77 .50 .62 .07 Beartooth 92 38 5,020 36,974 153 92 .50 .62 .08% Beaverhead* 221 46 26,410 84,340 153 92 .50 .62 .08% .12% Bitter Root 80 13 2,334 19,039 199 153 .65 .81 Blackfeet 6 1 178 325 168 92 .44 .55 .06% Cabinet 41 15 827 16,661 184 107 .48 .60 .07% Custer 332 6 24,627 4,137 229 Entire 184 .90 1.12 .18 Custer Year 1.20 1.50 Deer Lodge 293 21 16,144 31,772 184 107 .60 .75 .09% Flathead 10 205 168 92 .44 .55 .06% Gallatin 168 30 6,099 41,845 184 92 .72 .90 .10 Helena 325 34 15,798 53,358 184 92 .60 .75 .08% Jefferson 355 76 20,292 109,883 153 92 .50 .62 .08% Kootenai 20 413 153 137 .40 .50 .09 Lewis & Clark 111 16 8,145 37,050 137 92 .45 .56 .08% Lolo 15 10 249 21,900 214 137 .56 .70 .08 Madison 275 60 24,489 116,925 168 122 .66 .82 .12 TOTAL 2,616 423 165,147 644,029 Note: Grazing seasons begin and end at various dates on the different National Forests. The grazing period for cattle and horses begins as early as April 16 on one Forest Range, and ends as late as November 30 on two others. The grazing period for sheep begins as early as May 1 on only one Forest Range, and extends to October 31 on two. Seasons vary also on the same Forests, as do the fees. The above figrures represent the most common seasons and fees In force for 1922. ♦Data for 1921 season. 28 MONTANA FARM REVIEW RELATIVE VALUES OF MONTANA LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS FOR 1922 ESTIMATED AGGREGATE VALUES LIVESTOCK AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS. Montana United States Montana's Rank with Other States Value of Live Stock, Jan. 1, 1923 Value of all animal Products for 1922. $95,024,000 61.300,000 15,111,000,000 5,349,200,000 19th 24th PERCENTAGES OF LIVESTOCK THAT ARE PURE-BRED U.S. Horses Beef Cattle. Dairy Cattle. All Cattle ... Sheep Swine 0.6% 3.0% 2.9% 2.9% 1.3% 3.5% BEES ON FARMS, HONEY AND WAX PRODUCED, WITH VALUES 1909 AND 1919. (Data from U. S. Bureau of the Census). BEES HONEY WAX Tear No. of Farms No. of Hives Lbs. Produced Value Lbs. Produced Value 1909 1 796 1919 1 1.199 6,313 1 163,510 11.918 1 630,608 $ 21.802 157.656 394 7.682 1 133 2,614 MONTANA LIVESTOCK 29 PURE-BRED LIVESTOCK (Data from U. S. Bureau of the Census.) Relative Importance of Different Breeds. Classes and Breeds No. of Purebreds Classes and Breeds No. of Purebreds CATTLE 19,543 10,699 5,621 1,291 927 198 27 780 3,451 2,453 560 176 54 13 195 3,585 2,427 412 270 101 97 93 185 SHEEP, total 24,208 17,041 2,356 1,690 1,039 286 Beef breeds, total Ramboulllet Hereford . . . Hampshire Shorthorn Shropshire Polled Durham Oxford Aberdeen Angus Merino Galloway 195 Devon ♦All other 1,601 ♦All other SWINE, total 5,351 2,111 1,941 483 Dairy breeds, total Duroc Jersey Holstein Poland China Jersey Chester White Guernsey Hampshire 390 Brown Swiss Berkshire 296 Ayrshire Tamworth 22 •All other •All other 108 HORSES, total Percheron Belgian Shire French Draft Standard Bred ♦All other DAIRY COWS. (Estimated Number by Counties — January 1, 1923). Number of Dairy County Cows Flathead 6,100 Lincoln 1,100 Blaine 3,600 Chouteau 5,200 Glacier 500 Hill 4,600 Liberty 1,000 Pondera 2,900 Teton 3,000 Toole 1,200 Daniels 2,700 Phillips 3,900 Roosevelt 3,200 Sheridan 5,600 Valley 1,400 Deer Lodge 1,100 Granite 1,800 Mineral 400 Missoula 5,500 Powell 2,900 Ravalli 7,500 Sanders 1,700 Broadwater 1,800 Cascade * 5,200 Fergus 8,300 Golden Valley 2,500 Jefferson 3,200 Total for State Number of Dairy County Cows Judith Basin 3,800 Lewis & Clark 3,400 Meagher 1,400 Musselshell 3,600 Wheatland 2,300 Dawson 2,100 Garfield 1,600 McCone 1,100 Prairie 1,600 Richland 4,400 Wibaux 2,600 Beaverhead 1,800 Madison 3,700 Silver Bow 2,600 Carbon 4,400 Gallatin 7,300 Park 3,800 Stillwater 4,000 Sweet Grass 2,400 Yellowstone 7,800 Big Horn 1,700 Carter 800 Custer 2,300 Fallon 2,500 Powder River 600 Rosebud 2,500 Treasure 1,000 165,000 'Includes animals reported as pure-bred, with breed not specified. 30 MONTANA FAEM EEVIEW MANUFACTURED DAIRY PRODUCTS. (Includes production of creameries and cheese factories only), Number of Creameries . Butter Made (Pounds) Number of Cheese Factories C^heese Made (Pounds) Ice Cream (Gallons) 1918* 1919** 1920** 1921** 1922** 42 50 52 63 1 57 4,680,920 5,584,311 6,086,347 7,464,679 1 6,779,786t 6 7 8 5 5 484,864 403,378 266.973 158,559 166.831 427,279 743,311 660.387 481,160 336,531t •Reported by Bureau of Markets, U. S. Department of Agriculture. •♦Reported by State Dairj- Commissioner's Office. Reports for 1919 and 1920 cover period ending November 30th each year. JReports not complete. POULTRY ON FARMS AND EGGS PRODUCED. (Data from U. S. Bureau of the Census). Year Chickens on Farms Other Fowls on Farms Eggs Produced (dozens) 1880 .... ... 58,244 233,660 531,774 966,690 2,055,120 2,160 9,992 24,900 44,150 72,734 208.794 834,166 1890 1900 3 002,890 1910 6,004,051 1920 11,858,042 CHICKENS RAISED, EGGS PRODUCED, WITH VALUES, 1909 AND 1919. (Data from U. S. Bureau of the Census). CHICKENS EGOS (Doz.) Year No. Raised Value Produced Value Total Value 1909 1919 1,432,741 3,247.090 $ 797,450 2.272.963 6,004,051 1^^,858.042 $1,610,766 4,624,636 $2,408,216 6.897,599 MONTANA LIVESTOCK 31 ESTIMATED FARM VALUE OF ALL LIVESTOCK, JAN. (In millions of dollars) 1, 1923— BY COUNTIES 3eayerheac/ Msdisor Cascade Pocoder f?iver /yfeagher P/7////f>S 3/^ //orn Chouf-eac Park Rosebud Lewis Sr C/ark Carf-er Jc/d//^/} 3dsm 0arf/e/d 5Lveef- Grass Ga//af-/n Ye/Zowsfone yfheaf/and Cusf-er f?ai/a//i Poive// Sf/J/ivaf-er ^tch/and /rr^Cone F/o/-/7ead Sheridan I?aujaon Carborr Tef-or? Hi// Prairie (5/ac/er Pondera Roose^e/t Sroadtuafer Danie/s /)7/ssou/a fa/Zon /yfusse/s/ie// Too/e 6o/den Va/Zey Jefferson Oranife Treasure Zanders ^//yer Soco L/ber/y ^eer JLod^e J./nco/n /If/nerd/ 32 MONTANA FARM REVIEW TOTAL. ESTIMATED COMBINED VALU^ OF CROPS AND LIVESTOCK— BY COUNTIES (In millions of dollars) lZ3^5e769 /'erft/3 3/a/ne /yJac//lson Ye//oiu3/-one Cascade Juc^i^ Bas/n Park JPara///' ChouZ-esa Vanie/s JPoosave//- Sosehat:/ Carbon Dau/son ^fwder Piyer Afeagher Garffe/i^ Jjfw/s ^ C/ark '3weef (jrass pf-f7/coaf-er 'r/atheacf I Ponc/era M^Cone Poioe/^ ///// h/heaHand Carter Tefon Cusf-er ra//af7 Pratrie M/'saou/a jy/bacfx Broadwater /)fasse/y/je// {So/den ya//ey (j/itc/er Granite Je//erson Too/e Treasure Sanders J-iberty ^Veeri.odffe %5/7ver Boiv L/nco/n Mineral lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilliiiiiiliiliiiiiiiil||j llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiij ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■iimii iHrnHmnHmnHmmill iiiiiiiiii iiiiimii iiiiiiiiii ■■■IIIIII^IMIIII FAEMS AND CROPS 33 ESTIMATED TOTAL FARM VALUE OF ALL CROPS FOR 1922 — ^BY COUNTIES (In millions of dollars) 12 3 JJgn/e/s /a//ey Carbon Uawson Jc/if/ffy ^as/'n Pondera 3/a/ne Phi//if>s Park F/afheac/ 3/ff ^om Fa//orr /r/^Cone mbaux Sfi//u/afffr C/70i/feau Tefan Poufe// Sii/eet Grass (Sarf/e/d Wheaf-fancf Leu//s &• C/ark Prair/e Sroadu/af'er eoidffn /a//ey Granite Powder P/t/er Musse/she// Custer Carter Je/ferson ^^/yjeagher Treasure G/ac/er Sanders Liberty Deer Lod^e Lj/7co/n Too/e S//yer 3ow M/nersi 34 MONTANA FARM REVIEW RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF MONTANA CROPS IN 1922 ACCORDING TO GROSS FARM VALUES v*«v^oo RELATIVE CROP ACREAGES IN MONTANA, 1922 FARMS AND CROPS Montana farmers, who in numbers constitute less than one per cent of the total in the United States, in 1922 on 1.75 per cent of the total crop acreage of the country, produced 1.03 per cent of the nation's total crop value. The percentages show the Montana farmer handles more acreage than the average for the country. The number of farmers in Montana is based on figures of the United States Bureau of the Census for 1919. There is little doubt but that there has been a marked decline in the number of farmers since the census listed 57,677 in this state. In 1922 Montana farmers cropped 6,872,000 acres and produced a total crop value of $92,932,090. In acreage, Montana ranked twenty-fourth, and in total crop value, thirty-first. The total crop value of the United States in 1922 was $8,501,395,000 and the total crop acreage 370,472,000. Significant of the changing conditions in Montana is the relative standing, in total crop value, of the ten counties that lead in crop production. Six of the ten lie in eastern Montana, and in three of these six non-irrigated farming is exclusively followed, and in the other three is at least equal to, if not of greater importance, than irrigated farming. No less significant, however, is the standing of the counties in the total estimated combined value of crops and live stock, as shown by a graph which appears in this book. Five of the ten leading counties lie in eastern Montana, but in only one of them is non-irrigated farming followed exclusively. In years past these non-irrigated regions were big livestock producers, and it is predicted that diversified farming will re-stock them. The sub-joined tables and graphs tell the story of farm numbers, acreages and values; of crop production, distribution, and values in Montana. LAND VALUES. Value of Plow Lands Per Acre Tear Average of Average of Average of Poor Plow Lands Good Plow Lands All Plow Lands Montana Iowa United Montana Iowa ^^"^^^^ Montana Iowa ^^^^^f 1923 $14 $115 $45 $31 $181 $85 $22 $153 $67 1922 15 119 47 35 193 89 23 163 70 1921 19 145 57 41 238 106 30 200 84 1920 21 157 61 48 257 113 36 219 90 1919 21 129 51 45 196 92 34 169 74 Assessed Valuations — 1922, Montana: Irrigated lands $51.38 per acre. Non-Irrigated agriculturaj lands 13.48 per acre. Grazing lands 6.51 per acre. Census of 1920 — Average value per acre of all land in farms in Montana (without im- provements) $19.73 Average sale price of all state lands — 1909-1922 $15.37 — 35 36 MONTANA FARM REVIEW NUMBER OF FARMS, LAND IN FARMS, VALUE OF ALL FARM PROPERTY, AND AVERAGE VALUE PER ACRE OF ALL LANDS IN FARMS — 1920 — BY COUNTIES. (Data from the U. S. Census Bureau). Counties and Districts NORTHWESTERN Flathead Lincoln NORTHCENTRAL. Blaine Chouteau Glacier Hill Liberty Pondera Teton Toole NORTHEASTERN Daniels** Phillips Roosevelt Sheridan** Valley** WESTCENTRAL Deer Lodge Granite Mineral Missoula Powell Ravalli Sanders CENTRAL Broadwater Cascade** Fergus** Golden Valley** Jefferson Judith Basin**.... Lewis & Clark.... Meagher Musselshell** Wheatland EASTCENTRAL Dawson Garfield McCone Prairie Richland Wibaux SOUTHWESTERN Beaverhead Madison Silver Bow SOUTHCENTRAL Carbon Gallatin Park Stillwater Sweet Grass** .. Yellowstone No. of Farms Land in Farms Acres 1,923 341 1,761 2,573 372 2.257 515 1,060 1,135 933 1,914 1,215 2,408 2,169 202 354 95 1,323 476 1,231 667 466 1,703 4,226 "55'5 '"'855 447 1,604 I 688 1 1.195 I 1,530 I 1,284 I 673 I 1,577 530 I I 642 I 901 I 331 I I 1,353 I 1,349 I 756 I 1,370 I 863 I 2,211 I 446, 783, 613. 660. 645, 1.067, Percent of Total Land Area in Farms 470,283 65,050 1.159.056 1.508,898 545,256 1,107,399 310.742 629.995 613,506 570.163 1,084,725 I 673,936 I 1,155,859 1,126.872 58,484 254,148 20,209 388,408 520,065 245,965 175.088 304,483 1,252,282 2.573.981 ""2"8"l,"4"9"4 ""7"5"4'a'35 801.801 999,389 589.827 747,993 874.129 668,686 548,989 812,194 336,167 637.009 564.516 I 100.170 I 386 189 597 996 120 425 Value of Farm Property all 12.0 2.8 42.8 56.0 28.6 59.8 33.5 59.4 46.9 45.5 32.7 44.8 67.2 32.3 12.3 23.1 2.6 19.1 34.9 16.1 39.4 57.4 56.3 27.0 34.2 52.9 53,8 65.3 49.5 28.2 39.5 49.2 60.3 59.5 17.6 24.4 21.6 33.9 48.8 36.0 58.1 51.2 63.9 Average Value of Land Alone Per Acre* 121,733,687 2.457,141 23.075.070 42,007,453 8,241,389 27.095,425 7,557,616 20.538.958 20,255,634 13,170.890 21,530,404 17.371,181 30,884,323 22,527.381 2,505,808 9.268.303 718.129 17.706.193 16,614.125 19,020,095 6,669,487 11.088,070 49,913,704 93,916.182 '8."7257480 1 '77858. '2 2 2 15,115.201 28.866,004 18,493,898 16,362,146 13,694,567 I 11,739,330 i 10,301,314 I 20,983,029 I 9,355,969 I I 26,426,581 | 22,176,226 | 2,912,490 I 909,703 856.691 592.108 526,639 286,221 422,986 ^32.44 24.20 13.14 20.68 9.20 17.71 17.40 25.27 24.54 16.52 12.43 17.69 17.52 12.79 27.47 26.22 22.14 32.11 22.42 51.84 27.74 25.42 30.84 28.27 2'o!6"d I'e.'so 12.68 21.64 23.20 15.25 8.99 10.94 13.25 17.09 20.15 24 15 25.59 16.51 30.58 42.81 24.86 24.53 21.68 24.60 SOUTHEASTERN Big Horn Carter Custer Fallon ....1 791 ....1 855 ....1 941 758 748,749 557,495 997,169 576,754 597,056 1,608,235 237,133 23.6 25.8 41.6 56.0 28.0 50.3 38.6 1 18,152,414 1 9,220,487 1 15,190,663 1 11,139.922 11,467,810 1 23,646,283 1 4,672,276 1 1 15.21 10.10 10.02 13.52 Powder River Rosebud ...1 833 ....1 1,136 10.22 9.85 Treasure ... 1 330 1 14.20 STATE TOTAL ...J 57,677 1 86,070,656 87.5 1 1985,961.808 119.73 *Average value of land alone, I. e., not Including value of Improvements or other property. ♦*SInce the 1920 census was taken, Daniels county has been created out of Sheridan and Valley counties; Judith Basin county created from Fergus and Cascade counties; and Golden Valley from Musselshell and Sweet Grass counties. FAEMS AND CROPS 37. GENERAL SUMMARY MONTANA CROPS Acreage, Production and Farm Value, 1922, 1921, 1920 and 1919. Crop Flax Rye Year Winter Wheeat Spring Corn . Wheat 1 j Oats 1 Barley Tame Hay Wild Hay Potatoes 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 1922 1921 1920 1919 Apples 1922 1921 1920 1919 Acres 386,000 425,000 410,000 538,000 2,713,000 2,290,000 2,377,000 3,083,000 219,000 190,000 184,000 133,000 600,000 618,000 533,000 579,000 77,000 75,000 64,000 75,000 127,000 110.000 407,000 370,000 126,000 116,000 59,000 76,000 1,045,000 I 1,045,000 I 1,105,000 I 1,158,000 692,000 657,000 652,000 451.000 46,000 41,000 40,000 38,000 Yield Per Acre Production 16.5 14.0 12.0 5.2 14.7 12.0 10.0 2.3 25.0 20.0 12.1 4.0 32.0 24.0 22.0 6.0 25.0 20.5 18.0 5.6 7.0 5.0 2.6 1.3 14.5 11.2 8.0 3.0 1.90 1.80 1.80 1.00 126.0 115.0 110.0 60.0 Farm Value Dec. 1 Per Unit 6,369,000 Bus. 5,950,000 " 4,920,000 " 2,798.000 " 39,881,000 27,480,000 23,770,000 7.091.000 5,475,000 3,800,000 2,226,000 532.000 I 19,200,000 14,832,000 11,726,000 3,474,000 1,925,000 1,538,000 I 1,152,000 420,000 889,000 550,000 1,058,000 481,000 1,827,000 1,299,000 I 472,000 I 228,000 1,986,000 Tons 1,881,000 " 1,989,000 " 1,158,000 " 623,000 526,000 619,000 158,000 5,796,000 Bus. 4,715,000 " 4,400,000 " 2,280,000 " 610,000 975,000 825,000 850,000 Total .89 .85 1.28 2.35 .85 1.28 2.35 .53 .67 .80 1.65 .37 .34 .51 .91 .50 .60 •.65 1.40 1.97 1.40 1.75 4.40 .54 .53 1.08 1.85 9.00 8.70 12.00 23.00 8.00 I 8.60 9.00 22.50 $ 5,668.000 5,058,000 6,298,000 6,575,000 35,506,090 23,358,000 30,426,000 16.664.000 2.902,000 2,546,000 1,789,000 879,000 7,104,000 5,043,000 5,980,000 3,161,000 .40 .80 1.05 1.60 1.00 1.50 1.80 1.75 962,000 923,000 749,000 588.000 1,751,000 770,000 1,851,000 2.116,000 987,000 688,000 510,000 422,000 17,874,000 16,365.000 23,868,000 26,634,000 4,984,000 4,524,000 5,571,000 3,550,000 2,318,000 3,772,000 4,620,000 3,648,000 610,000 1,465,000 1,485.000 1,488,000 FARM VALUES OF OTHER CROPS 1922 $12,278,000 1921 10,498,000 1920 -■ 13,527,000 1919 : 9,917,000 TOTAL VALUE ALL CROPS 1922 $92,932,090 1921 75,010,000 1920 96,674,000 1919 69,975,000 38 MONTANA FARM BEVIEW WHEAT Wheat is the most important crop raised in Montana, both in point of acreage and total value, a position it has maintained since 1914, when it superseded hay. A general steady increase in the wheat acreage from year to year was noted until 1910, after which the acreage doubled in two years. The 1914 acreage of nearly 1,600,000 acres was more than doubled in the following four years. In 1919 there were 3,621,000 acres of wheat, the high point to date. The series of extremely dry years following 1917 caused the abandonment of considerable areas of marginal lands, and a consequent re- duction of the wheat acreage. In 1922 there were 3,099,000 acres in wheat In total production of spring wheat in 1922, Montana ranked second among all the states, and in total wheat (spring and winter) it ranked fifth. The quality of the spring wheat grown in Montana is superior to that grown in any other state. The bulk of it is classed as Hard Red Spring, which is recognized as the strongest milling wheat known. As to grades, 84.0 per cent of the crop of 1922 was officially estimated to grade No. 1, compared to 52.1 per cent for the total spring wheat in the United States. Taking the three year period from 1920 to 1922 inclusive, 74.4 per cent of Montana's spring wheat fell into the No. 1 grade, compared to a cor- responding figure of 59.4 for Wyoming, its nearest competitor in this respect, and to 33.4 per cent for the entire United States. Further than this, nearly all of the 1922 spring wheat crop of the state sold for a premium over the posted prices for No. 1 Dark Northern, the trade using an unofficial grade known as "fancy" to apply to this wheat. This premium ranged mostly between 6 and 20 cents per bushel, and was based upon the percentage and quality of the gluten contained in the wheat. About 75 per cent of the spring wheat grown in the state in 1922 was of the Marquis variety, and 11.9 per cent of it were durum varieties. The acreage seeded to durum wheats has decreased for the two years just passed, due to comparatively lower prices caused mainly by curtailment in export demand. Spring wheat is grown extensively in all sections of the state, but the extreme northeast counties are the heaviest producers, areas considered. The durum varieties are chiefly grown in the eastern counties, but their production extends to a small de- gree over all districts, particularly east of the mountains. Most of the spring wheat is grown on non-irrigated lands. The peak of the winter wheat acreage in Montana was reached in 1918, when 682,000 acres were harvested, since which time it has registered a heavy decline. This has been partially due to heavy losses from winter-killing in some of the more northern counties, which has discouraged its general adoption in affected localities. It is mostly grown in the central, south central and northwestern sections of the state. The most important varieties grown are Turkey Red, Kharkov, Kanred, and Montana 36. The hard red winter wheat produced in the state is of excellent milling quality. Little trouble is had in Montana from diseases affecting wheat, as the climatic conditions are very unfavorable for their spread. Some black rust has affected fields along the eastern border, but its damage to the entire crop has been very small. Smut is controlled by treating the seed, but cut worms, army worms, and grasshoppers have been at times serious damaging factors to wheat as well as to other crops. Data showing the acreage, yield and production by counties are presented in the tables which follow. FARMS AND CROPS 39 SPRING WHEAT BY YEARS 1890-1922 Year Acreage 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 87,550 92,803 41,051 42,693 44,066 43,625 44,498 69,792 71,188 69,764 72,555 88,807 90,583 98,735 108,608 119,469 137,389 139,000 153,000 131,000 245,000* 380,000* 580,000* 820,000* 1,115,000* 1,575,000* 1,890,000* 2,279,000* 2,803,000* 3,083,000 2,377,000 2,290,000 2,713,000 Yield Per Acre (Bushels) Production (Bushels) 17.0 20.0 21.5 21.5 24.8 23.9 26.5 32.5 29.5 25.7 26.6 26.5 26.0 28.2 23.9 23.8 24.0 28.8 24.2 23.2 21.0* 20.2* 18.5* 18.0* 15.0* 15.5* 13.8* 6.0* I 9.3* I 2.3 10.0 12.0 14.7 1,488,350 1,856,060 882,597 917,900 1,092,837 1,042,638 1,179,197 2,268,240 2,100,046 1,792,935 1,929,963 2,353,386 2,355,158 2,784,327 2,596,731 2,843,362 3,297,336 4,003,200 3,703,000 3,039,000 5,145,000 7,676,000 10,730,000 14,760,000 16,720,000 23,413,000 26,082,000 13,674,000 26,068,000 7,091,000 23,770,000 27,480,000 39,881,000 Farm Price Per Bushel Dec. 1 Total Farm Value . Dec. 1 .80 .84 .69 .60 .54 .73 .58 .61 .61 .67 .62 .66 .89 .71 .64 .81 .86 .87 .86 .77 .64 .66 .91 .78 1.61 1.92 1.94 2.35 1.28 .85 .89 I 1,190,680 1,559.090 608,992 550,740 590,132 761,126 778,270 1,542,403 1,218,027 1,093,690 1,177,277 1,576,769 1,460,198 1,837,656 2,311,091 2,018,787 2,110,295 3,242,592 3,185,000 2,644,000 4,425,000 5,911,000 6,867,000 9,742,000 15,215,000 18,262,000 41,992,000 26,254,000 50,572,000 16,664,000 30,426,000 23,358,000 35,506,090 ly/sr/p/o^r/ff/v sy cou/^r/£s of sp/?ing -yHS/ir f/?ooacrioN //v /a?^. fsc/f e^c/- rxooacr/oM ra/z statu. o J 0 o u t f , , 0 r "^ V-.'- 'm0 Wm .;:" Lll-S r^ ■ • ^.H-" Li , L, r .. IC nouTiAu C N C W S ^-M^-^-. •^;:^^i:X\v':-^-- fP^ P • < WMUriAIIO uiiATm r Vy* ' • ^^^''^ 0 . \ o" i ' *. ° * /><■/> c/o/- rf^ resen/-a e,000 ifua/rt/a. * Tentative Kevisioiia. FARMS AND CROPS 55 FLAX Flax, considered primarily a sod crop, stepped into rank as one of the important crops of the state about 1910, expanding with the taking up of much new land by home- steaders. The largest area in flax was 583,000 acres in 1917. A general heavy decrease took place afterwards, until in 1922 there were only 127,000 acres. Most of the flax is raised in the eastern one-fourth of the state, but some is produced in all sections east of the main mountain ranges. Practically all of the crop is produced on non-irrigated lands. There is evidence indicating that more flax will be raised in the immediate future than has been for the past two years. rar/iL /szs fsooucr/oM Aoje jr^re, aes.ooo aas/^fc-s. /^acA c^o/- re/3reser?^s /,cao iuj/re/s. FLAX BY YEARS. 1902-1922. Yield Farm Price Total Farm Year Acreage Per Acre Production Per Bushel Value (Bushels) (Bushels) Dec. 1. Dec. 1. 1902 12,500 9.0 112,500 % .68 % 76,500 1903 12,625 14.0 176,750 .60 106,050 1904 9,334 8.0 74,672 .95 70,938 1905 16,570 10.0 165,700 .82 135.874 1906 24,855 12.0 298.260 1.00 298.260 1907 34,000 13.0 436,000 .81 353.000 1908 9,000 11.5 104,000 1.00 104,000 1909 38,000 11.9 447,000 1.60 715.000 1910 300,000 7.0 2,100,000 2.40 5,040,006 1911 425,000 7.7 3,272,000 1.80 5,890,000 1912 460,000 12.0 5,520,000 1.12 6.182,000 1913 400,000 9.0 3,600,000 1.15 4.140.000 1914 300,000 8.0 2,400,000 1.20 2.880.000 1915 250,000 10.5 2,625,000 1.70 4,462,000 1916 325,000 9.5 3,088,000 2.48 7.658,000 1917 583,000 3.0 1,749,000 2.95 5,160,000 1918 547,000 3.0 1,641,000 3.38 5.547,000 1919 370,000 1.3 481,000 4.40 2,116,000 1920 407,000 2.6 1.058,000 1.75 1.851.000 1291 110,000 5.0 550.000 1.40 770,000 1922 127,000 7.0 889,000 1.97 1,751.000 56 MONTANA FARM BEVIEW FLAX BY COUNTIES— 1922. STATE TOTAL. Acreage Average Yield Per Acre (Bushels) Production (Bushels) Northcentral District Blaine 4.800 1,800 3.000 3.500 600 2.400 3,000 1,000 12,000 5,000 7,000 13,300 14,000 900 2,100 1,700 400 700 400 400 800 1,100 8,200 5,700 5,500 2,600 6,000 3,600 1,200 1,600 1,100 400 2,100 1,500 2,700 700 1,600 2,600 4.8 3.1 6.9 4.9 4.7 7.5 6.7 4.7 6.2 5.3 7.9 8.3 5.2 7.8 7.3 6.2 6.0 6.9 6.0 6.7 8.6 7.0 8.4 ^ 7.7 8.2 7.3 7.5 7.5 . 7.0 7.5 9.1 8.7 9.8 9.0 9.4 7.9 7.7 6.5 1 23,000 5,500 20.600 17.000 2.800 18.000 20.000 4.700 74.300 26.500 56,700 111.000 73.000 7.000 15.400 10,500 2,400 4,800 2,400 2.700 6,900 7.700 69,000 Chouteau Glacier Hill Liberty Pondera Teton Toole Northeastern District Daniels Phillips Roosevelt Sheridan Valley Central District Cascade Fergus Golden Valley Jefferson Judith Basin Lewis & Clark Meagher Musselshell Wheatland Eastcentral District Dawson .• Garfield 44,000 45 000 McCone Prairie 19,000 Richland 45,000 Wibaux Southcentral District Stillwater : 27,000 8,400 Sweet Grass. , Yellowstone Southeastern District Big Horn Carter Custer Fallon 12,000 10,000 3,500 20,500 13,500 25,300 Powder River Rosebud 5,500 12,400 ALL OTHER COUNTIES TOTAL 1 17,000 127.000 7.0 889,000 CORN Com has made the most rapid proportional increase of all the important crops. With 1,600 acres in 1900, the following 22 years brought an expansion of the state's corn acreage up to 219,000 acres in 1922, and this remarkable growth will continue for at least another year. The factors causing this expansion are many, and include among others: the increasing demand for homegrown livestock feed and recognition of the importance in rotation of inter-tilled crops — both requirements arising out of the trend toward diversification, and both met by corn ; the demonstration by the Experiment Station that wheat on well-tilled corn ground yields practically as much as after summer fallow; the success with which certain varieties have been acclimated, so that they mature under Montana conditions; and the popularity of corn as a feed for all stock in many forms, as grain, silage, and roughage. Most of the corn is raised in the eastern one-third of the state, but it is rapidly assuming an important position in nearly all sections east of the mountains. Very little is grown in districts with altitudes of more than 3,500 feet, although in the milder climate west of the Divide its success has been demonstrated, and its acreage is extend- ing (here. FAEMS AND CEOPS 57 The biggest share of the crop is cut for forage, and is fed as fodder and stover, while increasing amounts are being hogged off and put into silos each year. Several varieties of dent, semi-dent, and flint types have been acclimated and proved to be excellent yielders of either forage or grain, or both. The average yields shown in the tables indicate how successful the crop has been, and show that it is not a "boom" crop, but that it merits the growth it is having. CORN BY COUNTIES — 1922 NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT Flathead NORTHCENTRAL, DISTRICT Blaine Chouteau Hill NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT Daniels Phillips Roosevelt Sheridan Valley WESTCENTRAL DISTRICT Sanders CENTRAL DISTRICT Cascade Fergus Golden Valley Musselshell Wheatland EASTCENTRAL DISTRICT Dawson Garfield McCone Prairie Richland Wibaux SOUTHCENTRAL DISTRICT Carbon Stillwater Sweet Grass Yellowstone SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT Big Horn Carter Custer , ■- Fallon ': Powder River Rosebud .*. Treasure Total All Other Counties. Acreage 800 2,000 3,000 2,000 2,000 8,000 10.000 5,000 6,000 700 1,700 11,000 4,000 7,000 1,400 12,000 14,000 9,000 7,000 16,000 5,500 3,000 3,000 900 17,000 4,000 7,000 12,000 8,000 9,000 18,000 5,000 4,000 Average Yield Per Acre (Bushels) 25.0 22.5 20.0 22.0 24.0 23.4 24.4 25.2 21.3 24.3 27.6 22.5 18.2 21.6 20.0 31.6 22.0 28.2 27.6 27.2 27.0 23.3 22.6 22.2 24.2 27.5 26.4 26.6 28.0 26.2 25.1 24.6 23.0 Production (Bushels) 20,000 45,000 60,000 44,000 48,000 li87,000 244,000 126,000 128,000 17,000 47,000 248,000 73,000 151,000 28,000 380,000 308,000 254,000 193,000 435,000 148,000 70,000 68,000 20,000 411,000 110,000 185,000 320,000 224,000 236,000 432,000 123,000 92,000 STATE TOTAL, 219,000 25.0 5,475,000 Note: Estimates on com are made upon the basis of all the crop being harvested for grain, and above figures should be considered accordingly. 58 MONTANA FARM REVIEW CORN BY YEARS. 1882-1922. Year Acreage Yield Per Acre (Bushels) Production (Bushels) Farm Price Per Bushel Dec. 1. Total Farm Value Dec. .1. 1882 492 502 830 880 890 908 l,b'80 1,102 1,157 1,331 1,331 1,065 1,598 1,582 1,598 3,095 3,714 3,788 3,902 3,941 3,980 4,000 4,000 10,000 16,000 20,000 24,000 28,000 50,000 70,000 74,000 81,000 100,000 133,000 184,000 190,000 219,000 1 36.6 20.0 24.9 25.0 24.7 27.5 19!4 27.5 32.7 25.0 26.0 18.0 28.0 23.0 15.0 25.0 22.0 24.1 22.2 19.4 23.4 22.5 23.4 28.8 23.0 26.5 25.5 31.5 28.0 28.0 25.0 12.5 21.0 4.0 12.1 20.0 25.0 18,000 10,040 20,700 22,000 22,000 25,000 ?1.05 .90 .75 .80 .65 .60 :.:.:: 768 .70 .82 .75 .60 .65 .66 .52 .59 .90 .72 .62 .68 .68 .65 .68 .90 .86 .95 .80 .70 .77 .76 " .69 .93 1.75 1.35 1.65 .80 .67 .53 $ 18.900 9,036 15,525 17,600 14,300 15,000 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888* 1889* 1890* 1891* 1892 1893 1894 1895 21,000 30,305 37,834 33,275 34,606 19,170 44,744 36,386 23,970 77,375 81,708 91,291 86,624 76,455 93,132 90,000 94,000 274,000 368,000 530,000 612,000 882,000 1,400,000 1,960,000 1,850,000 1,012,000 2,100,000 532,000 2,226,000 3,800,000 5,475,000 14,364 21,214 31,024 24,956 20,764 12,460 29,531 18,921 14,142 69,638 58,830 56,600 58,904 51,989 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 60,536 61,000 1907 1908 85,000 236,000 350,000 1909 1910 1911 424,000 1912 428,000 679,000 1913 1914 1,064,000 1,352,000 1915 1916 1,720,000 1917 1,771,000 2,835,000 1918 1919 - . - 879,000 1920 1,789,000 1921 2,546,000 1922 1 2,902,000 •No reliable data available for these years. FAKMS AND CROPS 59 POTATOES The climate and soils of Montana are extremely favorable to the production of large yields of potatoes of high quality, and the acreage has grown steadily until in 1922 there were 46,000 acres, the largest the state has had. Further increase is not expected in the immediate future, for the high cost of transporting such a bulky crop is a distinct limiting factor on net proceeds. Potatoes are raised over all the state on both irrigated and non-irrigated lands, but the most of the commercial production is on irrigated land, with the notable ex- ception of the region west of the Divide, and particularly Flathead county, where most of the potatoes are grown without irrigation. In the counties at the east end of the state potatoes are produced commercially without irrigation, as well as in scattered sections elsewhere. Flathead county leads in total acreage given to potatoes, with Ravalli and Richland the next two in this respect. Tor^i- /era ^/^ooucr/o/f /'o^ jr>tre, J,79t>,ooo eftys/fCL.'s POTATOES BY YEARS 1882-1922 Yield Production (Bushels) Farm Price Total Farm Year Acreage Per Acre (Bushels) Per Bus. Dec.l Value Dec. 1 1882 2,500 120 300 000 11.00 .70 $ 300,000 1883 2,575 2,781 3,198 105 270,375 292,000 262,000 451,000 189,263 1884 - 105 56 163,520 1885 . . . 82 .50 131,118 1886 4,253 4,466 106 .90 405,900 1887 110 491,000 .64 314,240 1888 . - 4,600 4,270 120 552 000 .50 276,000 1889 87 371,490 .65 241,468 1890 4,484 73 327,332 .80 261,866 1891 4,708 120 564,960 .41 231,634 1892 4,614 100 461,400 .60 276,840 1893 4,799 138 662,262 .69 456,961 1894 5,183 111 575,313 .48 276,150 1895 5,442 53 288,426 .48 138,444 1896 4,952 170 841,840 .32 269,389 1897 4,506 156 702,936 .40 281,174 60 MONTANA FABM EEVIEW POTATOES BY YEARS — (Continued) Year Acreage Yield Per Acre (Bushels) Production (Bushels) Farm Price Per Bus. Dec 1 Total Farm Value Dec. 1 1898 4,651 4,697 4,781 9,932 11,521 12,904 13,162 13,688 14,099 18,000 20,000 21,000 22,000 25,000* 30,000* 33,000* 33,000* 36,000* 37,000* 39,000* 37,000* 38,000 40,000 41,000 46,000 104 141 134 157 153 176 143 120 152 150 138 156 120 150 165 140 140 155 125 95 135 60 110 115 126 473,304 648,177 640,654 1,559,324 1,762,713 2,271,104 1,882,166 1,642,560 2,143,048 2,700,000 2,760,000 3,276,000 2,640,000 3,750,000 4,950,000 4,620,000 4,620,000 5,580,000 4,625,000 3,705,000 4,995,000 2,280,000 4,400,000 4,715,000 5,796,000 .65 .53 .53 .73 .50 .44 .61 .59 .61 .50 .70 .51 .85 .74 .40 .67 .64 .50 1.20 1.02 .80 1.60 1.05 .80 .40 260.317 1899 343,534 1900 339,547 1901 1,138,307 1902 881,356 1903 999,286 1904 1.148,121 1906 969,110 1906 .. - 1,307,259 1907 1,350,000 1908 1,932,000 1909 1,671,000 1910 2,244,000 1911 2,775,000 1912 1,980,000 1913 3,095,000 1914 2,957,000 1915 2,790,000 1916 5,550,000 1917 3,779,000 1918 3,996,000 1919 3,648,000 1920 4,620,000 1921 3,772,000 1922 2,318,000 1 POTATOES BY COUNTIES— 1922 Acreage Average Yield Per Acre (Bushels) Production (Bushels) NORTHWEST DISTRICT Flathead 4,800 800 680 560 300 450 100 550 480 150 250 700 600 460 800 950 250 150 1,600 1,700 3,500 700 400 1,300 1,700 350 1,300 400 1,900 500 400 350 700 750 600 260 2,500 600 131 112 97 99 116 94 90 115 109 94 108 114 116 107 105 148 132 134 103 144 150 105 135 120 83 86 151 87 153 104 95 95 110 96 103 108 140 120 629,000 90,000 66,000 55,000 35,000 42,000 NORTHCENTRAL DISTRiCT Blaine Chouteau Glacier Hill Liberty 9,000 Pondera 63,000 Teton 52,000 Toole 14,000 NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT Daniels ... 27,000 Phillips 80,000 Roosevelt 70,000 Sheridan 48,000 Valley WESTCENTRAL. DISTRICT Deer Lodge 84,000 140,000 33 000 Granite .. Mineral 20,000 Missoula 165,000 Powell 244 000 Ravalli 525,000 74,000 CENTRAL DISTRICT 54,000 156,000 Fergus 140,000 Golden Valley 30,000 .TpffprHnn 196,000 Judith Basin 35,000 290,000 Measrher 52,000 38,000 33,000 EASTCENTRAL DISTRICT Dawson — 77,000 Garfield .-..: 72.000 McCone 62,000 Prairie 27,000 Richland 330,000 Wibaux 60.000 ♦Tentative Revisions. FAEMS AND CROPS POTATOES BY COUNTIES — 1922 — (Continued) 61 Acreage Average Yield Per Acre (Bushels) Production (Bushels) SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT Beaverhead 650 1,700 150 1,700 850 600 450 500 1,800 550 280 750 500 300 550 250 142 178 80 127 153 150 147 140 134 121 107 114 116 106 113 108 92,000 302,000 Silver Bow 12,000 SOUTHCENTRAL. DISTRICT Carbon 216,000 Gallatin 130,000 Park 90,000 Stillwater 66,000 70,000 240,000 SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT 67,000 Carter 30,000 Custer 85,000 Fallon 58,000 32,000 62,000 Treasure 27,000 STATE TOTAL 46,000 126 5,796,000 APPLES AND OTHER FRUITS Apples form one of the major crops of the state, although production is mainly confined to only 18 counties. According to the 1920 Census figures, there are more than a million bearing apple trees in Montana. More than half of these are in Ravalli county, in the Bitter Root Valley. Flathead, Missoula, and Carbon counties also pro- duce apples in commercial quantities, ranking in the order named. Shipments of apples are by far the heaviest from Ravalli county. Commercial apples are chiefly of the Mcintosh Red variety, which develops to perfection under conditions here. Among the other orchard fruits, cherries lead in quantity. Pears, plums and prunes are also grovTn on limited acreages, chiefly west of the Divide. Small fruits are also successfully grown in various sections of the state, but commercial production is more general in the counties west of the Divide. Production of small fruits and of orchard fruits other than apples on a commer- cial scale is limited at present to comparatively few localities. The tables throw light upon the quantity of apples produced in Montana, the general distribution of the orchards by counties, and the size of the commercial crop. NUMBER OF APPLE TREES OF BEARING AGE IN MONTANA BY COUNTIES (As Reported by the U. S. Bureau of the Census for 1919) County Ravalli Flathead Missoula Carbon Yellowstone Sanders — . Madison — . Stillwater Lincoln No. Trees of Bearing Age 725,720 104,702 63,222 58,364 20,486 17,940 11,450 11,271 10,940 County Broadwater Park Gallatin Jefferson .— Mineral Sweet Grass Powell Granite Fergns No. Trees of Bearing Age 7,841 5,790 4,879 3,655 2,632 2,519 2,249 1,389 1,305 All Other Counties 2,844 Total for State 1,059,198 ORCHARD FRUITS — TREES OF BEARING AGE — MONTANA (1920 Census) Kind No. of Trees Apples 1,059,198 Pears 10,278 Plums and Prunes 24,501 Cherries 65,633 62 MONTANA FAKM REVIEW APPLES — MONTANA 1909-1922 Year Total Production (Bushels) Farm Value Dec. 1 Per Bushel Total Farm Val. of Crop Dec. 1 1909 567,000 420,000 900,000 900,000 840,000 900,000 1,041,000 768,000 1,044,000 792,000 850,000 825,000 975,000 610,000 1.20 1.15 1.03 \-7l .93 1.10 1.00 2.10 1.75 1.80 1.50 1.00 * 1910 504,000 1911 1,035,000 1912 927,000 1918 1,192,000 1914 - 684,000 1916 968.000 1916 845,000 1917 1,044,000 1918 1,663,000 1919 1,488,000 1920 1,485,000 1921 1,465,000 1922 610,000 •No data available. COMMERCIAL APPLE PRODUCTION — MONTANA Tear Total Crop* (Bushels Commercial Crop (Boxes)* Cars of Apples Shipped of This Crop Equivalent in Boxes Shipped 1919 850,000 1 420.000 444 443 687 340* 337,000 1920 825,000 975,000 610,000 384,000 521,000 300,000 335,000 1921 520,000 1922 260,000 ♦Estimated. SUGAR BEETS Sugar beets rank as one of the important crops grown in Montana. In 1922, there were 14,441 acres of beets harvested within the state, producing more than 153,000 tons of beets. Up to May 1, 1923, the growers have received $1,144,271 for the 1922 crop, and will probably receive considerably more, as they share in the profits realized from the sale of the sugar, according to terms of the contracts with the sugar companies. The factory of the Great Western Sugar Company at Billings is now the only one in the state, and it handles most of the beets raised in Montana. Beets grown in Big Horn county are shipped to the factory of the Holly Sugar Corporation at Sheridan, Wyoming. Beets for sugar are now grown principally in the following counties : Yellowstone, Carbon, Big Horn, Treasure, Rosebud, Custer, Stillwater, and Richland. Extension of acreage and construction of new factories are being contemplated. SUGAR BEETS 1919* 1909' Year 1922» Sugar beets harvested, acres , 14,441 Tons harvested 153,380 Average Yield Per Acre (tons) 10.62 Average sugar content of beets (sliced) per cent.... 16.75 Average Price per ton to grower $7.46' Total farm value of crop 11,144,271" »Data for 1919 ^nd 1909 from U. S. Census Bureau. "Factory reports. •Average rate and total amount paid up to May 1, 1923. Additional payments are con- templated. 8,600 8,710 3,824 108.776 8.58 12.48 15.922 $11.00 $5.00 $812,064 $543,478 FARMS AND CROPS 63 SEED CROPS No little share of the cash income of Montana farmers comes from the sale of various seed crops, chief of which are seed peas and alfalfa seed. The climatic condi- tions and soil of the state are extremely favorable for producing seed of the highest quality, from which grow plants of exceptional strength and vigor. For this reason Montana-grown seeds enjoy a wide demand. The production of certified and registered seeds is fostered by the Montana Pure Seed Growers Association, and this phase of crop production is rapidly increasing. Alfalfa Seed: In 1922 approximately 16,000 bushels of alfalfa seed were pro- duced in the state, of which about 115,000 pounds was Registered Grimm, and the rest common alfalfa, Grimm not registered, and a small i)ortion Cossack and other varieties. The out-of-state demand for Registered Grimm is strong, and this seed sells for about twice as much as common varieties, while the Grimm not registered finds a ready sale at higher figures than the common. The 1922 crop was valued at about $170,000. Much of the alfalfa seed is harvested from old fields which have very poor stands, hence the average yields are much lower than they should be. During the ten year period of 1912-21, the average yield for the state was 3.6 bushels per acre. Most of this crop is produced in Valley, Blaine, Rosebud, Big Horn, Yellowstone, Carbon, Richland, Powder River, Cascade, Fergus, and Garfield counties, although several other counties produce it in commercial quantities. Seed Peas: Seed peas are grown imder contract with seed companies chiefly in the irrigated sections in the southwest quarter of the state, and the excellent seed produced is leading to more extended operations. The 1922 crop was valued at more than $200,000. The counties which produce the bulk of this crop are Ravalli, Madison, Beaverhead, Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, and Missoula. Other counties will increase the acreage in seed peas in 1923, according to advance reports. Canning peas are raised in Ravalli and Gallatin counties where canneries operate, and acreage given to this crop is also being increased. Other Seed Crops: Many other seed crops are produced in commercial amounts, including mainly sugar beet seed, beans, clover, timothy, vegetables, potatoes, and all of the principal small grains. Localities are found where farmers profitably specialize on one or more of these crops for seed. 64 MONTANA FARM REVIEW NOTES ON THE CLIMATE OF MONTANA William T. Lathrop, Meteorologist, U, S. Weather Bureau. Marked influences upon its climate are exerted by topographic features of Mon- tana, especially the Rocky Mountains. The Continental Divide crosses the western part of the state and in the southwest determines a part of the Montana-Idaho boundary line. The south-central and western portions of the state are very largely mountainous, and the central part also has several important mountain ranges. Outlying ranges and groups of mountains and hills rise in other sections. The eastern portion of the state belongs to the Great Plains region, but the level expanses of the plains here are broken up by rolling hills and increasing roughness of surface as the Rocky Mountain country is approached. Rivers and streams in great numbers have their sources of first supply in the winter accumulations of snow in the mountain regions. The flow from the melting of these snow deposits in the spring and summer months is augmented by water absorbed by the soil and by the rains of those seasons. The Missouri River is formed by the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers in a well watered section of the southwestern part of the state. It proceeds in a generally northerly and then easterly direction into North Dakota. Its great tributary, the Yellowstone, takes the drainage of all of southern Montana from Yellowstone Park eastward, except the extreme south- eastern corner, and much of eastern Montana. The Missouri and another tributary, the Musselshell, receive all the drainage of the central part of the state. The Milk, Marias, and Poplar rivers are the principal streams bringing into the Missouri the waters of the north. To the westward of the Continental Divide the bulk of the drainage is carried out of the state to the Columbia River by the Clark Fork, while the Kootenai River, also of the Columbia system, drains Lincoln County, in the extreme northwest. Because of the agricultural importance of its valley, the Bitter Root River, just east of the Bitter Root Mountains, which flows into the Clark Fork, should also receive mention. Into Flathead Lake, in the northwest, flows the drainage of a considerable area of the west slope of the Main Range of the Rockies. The lowest parts of the state are in the northeast, where the Missouri and Yellow- stone flow into North Dakota at an elevation of a little less than 2,000 feet. Numerous peaks in the mountains exceed 10,000 feet in altitude, the highest named being Granite Peak, in the Beartooth Mountains in the south, elevation 12,850 feet. Long Its northern geographical location lengthens the growing days, and f> . the summer sun, not masked by too great cloudiness, encourages rapid growth of crops and native grasses. The winter days are correspond- *^* ingly short. The range of temperature is rather wide, but the annual mean temperature in Montana as a whole is 42.2°. The warmest part of the state, considering the annual averages, is the southeastern, especially the Yellowstone Valley and the neighboring section of the Musselshell in Musselshell County. Billings and Huntley, Yellowstone County, have the highest average temperatures for the year through this section, the former being 46.2°, and the latter, 46.0°. Hamilton, in the Bitter Root Valley, however, equals Billings, and these two places have the highest mean annual temperatures in the state. The northern tier of counties east of the Main Range, adjoining the international boundary line, taking in mountain slope sections in the west and exposed plains in the east, is the coldest large area, and has an average temi)erature slightly under 40°. The slope of the Main Range in Beaverhead and Madison counties, in the southwest, is — 65 — 66 MONTANA FAEM REVIEW colder than this. Records of four stations available here, Boweii, Brenner, Dell, and Hebgen Dam, average 35.6°. Bowen, the coldest station in the Montana group of records, shows 32.3° as its annual mean. The elevation of this place is over 6,000 feet. The general average of annual mean temperatures over the east slope region in the south, as well as in the north, is 41.6°. Roughly quartering the part of Montana east of the Main Range of the Rockies, the northeastern quarter has an average annual temperature of 41.1°, and the southeastern quarter, which has been mentioned as the warmest part of the state, 43.7°. That part of the Missouri Valley which extends from Three Forks northward into Chouteau County is one of the warmest sections of the state, and has temperature means approaching those of the Yellowstone Valley. The Bitter Root and the Clark Fork valleys, and the Mission Valley, extending southward from Flathead Lake, have annual means similar to these and placing them in the warmer sections. The counties west of the Continental Divide, over which region as a whole the annual mean temperature is 42.9°, average warmer than other parts of the state excepting the southeastern, though the higher stations mostly have annual mean temperatures near 40°. In the matter of temperatures climatic conditions in these western counties differ from those east of the Main Range principally in their being subject to less extremes and less persistency of cold. The winters are milder, the summers are cooler, than in the eastern part of the state, and summer months are frequently a little cooler than in the central sections. False T^® customary prominence which extremes or unusual occurrences I . naturally receive in press and conversation through the country has served to create rather a widespread false impression in regard to the o Mon ana severity of winter weather in Montana. It is not the purpose here to make invidious comparisons, but it is not fair to Montana that she should suffer by them. It is of record that this state has shown some very low minimum temperatures, and furthermore, that the lowest temperature recorded in the United States has occurred here. A fact which has not been given equal prominence, however, is of somewhat greater importance: the mean or average winter temperatures do not place any section of Montana within the area of coldest winters in the United States. Because of its cool summers rather than the cold of its winters, the strip on the Montana slope of the Main Range of the Rockies, along the Idaho line in the southwest, the mean annual temperature of which has previously been cited, is the coldest considerable area in the United States on yearly averages as the basis of comparison, but not, be it remembered, on winter averages. Over the eastern end of Montana the summers are hotter, generally speaking, than in other large sections, and the winters colder. Maximum temperatures of 100° or higher ordinarily are reached in June, July, August, and in about as many years as not in September. There is usually a large daily range of temperature, however, when such maxima are reached, and the early morning temperatures are often as much as or more than 30 degrees lower. The highest temperature ever recorded in Montana was 117° at Glendive on July 20, 1893. The low humidity greatly reduces the discomfort and danger from the high temperatures, and heat .prostration is seldom or never heard of as occurring in the state. The extreme minimum temperature record is -65°, reported from Ft. Keogh, near Miles City, in January, 1888. The average January temperature for northeastern Mon- tana is 11.0°, and the winter daily range is not as great as in the summer. Minimum temperatures east of the Main Range fall to 40 degrees below zero in most winters, and sometimes go lower. But such conditions are not as extensive or as frequent as is often thought, nor does extreme cold weather in most cases last more than a few days at a time. Owing to low humidity, and the usually light winds or near calms when such cold prevails, the severity of the weather is less than is imagined by persons who have not experienced it, but the activities of life must, of course, be sensibly goverened. Such THE CLIMATE OF MONTANA 67 reference to cold waves in Montana should also include at least mention of the chinooks which so frequently terminate or mitigate them with various degrees of decisiveness and abruptness. As a result of certain air pressure distribution and air movement, rapid rises of 20 to 50 degrees in temperature often occur in one section or another, of greatly varying local extent. A troublesome weather item in the summer months is the hot wind which occasionally arises and rapidly takes up the moisture from crops and soil and grass, leaving them dry and more or less parched, sometimes greatly reducing the grain yield in areas exposed to it and not favored with rain quickly thereafter. Precipitation ^he region of Montana's greatest total annual precipitation is that , adjoining Idaho in the northwest, particularly western portions of Sanders and Mineral counties. A record nine years long for Saltese, egions which is near the Idaho line, in a valley between the Bitter Roots and the Coeur d'Alenes, shows an average annual total of 34.25 inches. Farther north, between the Coeur d'Alenes and the Cabinet Mountains, a ten year record for Heron, a few miles from the Idaho line, gives an average of 31.90 inches. There may be scattered localities in the mountain valleys and passes, both east and west of the Continental Divide, where these amounts are exceeded, but in places where this may be suspected the records are too brief to establish the fact definitely. There is much variation in the west, through the section marked off by the Continental Divide. Here the precipitation averages 20.37 inches a year. In Glacier Park and the Flathead Valley are totals above 20 and 25 inches. Belton has 26.46 inches. Amounts with few excep- tions between 12 and 19 inches are irregularly distributed over the rest of this area, the least being 11.29 inches at Hamilton. From the feet of the Main Range eastward in the counties along the Canadian line, and including also Pondera, part of Teton, western and most of northern Chouteau, and Roosevelt, the average precipitation during the year is a little over 13 inches, the least being 8.27 inches, which is shown by the average for Rudyard. As the Rudyard record began as late as 1916, and the average is of only five years of observations and runs into the most notable drought in the weather history of the state, this figure does not by any means indicate the normal precipitation, and the average will most probably be raised as the record lengthens. Through the entire eastern part of the state there are but limited areas where the annual precipitation averages as much as 15 inches. In central and southwestern counties the distribution is very irregular. It is scant in the high lands of Beaverhead county, and varies mostly between 9 and 14 inches through the upper end of the Missouri Valley where the trend is north-south ; yet it averages 16.84 inches for the southwestern part of the state to eastward of the Continental Divide, while the section to northward, notwithstanding the light precipitation in the northern- most counties, averages 15.81 inches. Thus the roughest sections of Montana show the greatest local differences in the amount of precipitation and have the highest general averages, and the expanses less varied in topography receive, in general, somewhat less, but more evenly distributed, precipitation. May and June have the greatest monthly amounts for almost the whole of the state, a circumstance highly favorable for agricultural interests. There are, of course, wide local variations in the monthly amounts, but they range from about two inches to four inches, wiht few exceptions, in each of these months. July averages a smaller amount than May or June, but still sufficient for the needs of the growing crops. There is a distinct falling off in the rainfall in August, and a clearly marked increase over the August average in September. Near the Idaho line, in Mineral, Sanders, and Lincoln counties, and on the west slope in Glacier Park, this monthly distribution does not hold; while there are as a rule sufficiently ample amounts in the early summer, the precipitation maximum occurs in the winter, the colder months having a decidedly greater amount of precipitation than the warmer months. The fact points to a heavy snowfall for these sections, and this is shown by the records. This north- 68 MONTANA FARM REVIEW western corner of the state and somewhat smaller sections in the mountains of the central, south-central, and southwestern portions have the greatest annual totals of snowfall. The short record for Saltese averages 161.5 inches of snow for the year, Hebgen Dam averaged 150.3 inches in sixteen years. The EUiston average is 137.3 inches; Belton, 122.2 inches; Red Lodge, 106 inches; Pine Grove, in the Big Snowy Mountain district, 104.5 inches; Adel, at the northern end of the Big Belts, 98.3 inches. The lowest totals of snowfall, amounts between 20 and 30 inches, and at an occasional station less than 20 inches, are scattered through the east and north. Fallon, with 13.3 inches in a ten year record, represents the minimum. Light '^^^ broader range sections, it will be noted, have comparatively light Snowfall snowfall. The snow cover on the plains and the lower flats generally diminishes quickly, through melting, evaporation, and the action of "*" the sweeping winds, which carry the bulk of it into the coulees and draws, leaving the grazing grounds still largely available for livestock much of the time. Irrigation in many sections supplements the rainfall and carries into fields and pastures water to provide sufficiently for times when the natural supply is deficient. At stations where this factor has up to this time been determined more or less satisfactorily, the average number of days in the course of a year when precipitation amounting to at least .01 inch occurs (either rain or snow), varies from 38 at Fallon to 136 at Haugan, Mineral county. Summer produces a quota of atmospheric electrical disturbances which ordinarily is not large. The thunderstorms are occasionally heavy, and the accompanying winds may rise tempestuously for short times, with pouring rain. Sometimes destructive hail also is precipitated and crops are laid waste over considerable areas. Hail insurance is available to minimize the danger of financial loss from such a cause. It will be seen that Montana is a region of pronounced meteorological contrasts. Extreme temperature records range from -65 degrees to 117 degrees, while annual means of temperature range from 32.3 degrees in the mountains to 46.2 degrees in river valleys. The yearly snowfall varies from a low mark of 13.3 inches on the plains to a high mark of 161.5 inches in the mountains, and annual total precipitation is from less than nine inches in the dryest districts to more than thirty inches in the rough country where the yearly averages are greatest. THE CLIMATE OP MONTANA FROST DATA FOR MONTANA Stations — Counties Length of Record Years Average Date last killing frost in spring Average Date first killing frost in autumn Adel, Cascade 23 Agric. Col., Gallatin 28 Anaconda, Deer Lodge 21 Augusta, Lewis & Clark 22 Biddle, Powder River „ 14 Big Timber, Sweet Grass 15 Billings, Yellowstone 26 Bowen, Beaverhead 15 Brenner, Beaverhead 8 Browning, Glacier 12 Butte, Silver Bow 28 Cascade, Cascade 17 Chester, Liberty 17 Chinook, Blaine 25 Choteau, Teton 14 Circle, (near McCone 20 Crow Agency, Big Horn 40 Cut Bank, Glacier 13 Deer Lodge, Powell 16 Denton, Jbergus 13 Dillon, Beaverhead 23 Ekalaka, Carter 20 Findon, Meagher 9 Fort Benton, Chouteau 28 Fortine, Lincoln 15 Fort Shaw, Cascade 21 Glasgow, Valley 26 Glendive, Dawson 32 (Joldbutte, Toole 14 Great Falls, Cascade 29 Hamilton, Ravalli . 22 Harlowton, Wheatland 17 Haugan, Mineral 14 Havre, Hill 40 Hebgen Dam, Madison 18 Helena, Lewis & Clark 42 Heron, Sanders 10 Holter, Lewis & Clark 19 Jordan, Garfield ". 14 Kalispell, Flathead 23 Lewistown, Fergus ,.. 22 Libby, Lincoln 27 Livingston, Park 20 Malta, Phillips 15 Medicine Lake, Sheridan 11 Miles City, Custer 29 Missoula, Missoula 31 Ovando, Powell 22 Phillipsburg, Granite 17 Plevna. Fallon 9 Poison, Lake 15 Poplar, Roosevelt 36 Red Lodge, Carbon 22 Renova, Jefferson 24 Roundup, Musselshell 7 Saint Ignatius, Missoula 17 Shelby, Toole 10 Sidney, Richland 16 Snowbelt, (near) Garfield 7 Stevensville, Ravalli 11 Superior, Mineral 7 Thompson Falls, Sanders 11 Three Forks, Gallatin 19 Upper Yaak River, Lincoln 8 Utica, Judith Basin 28 Valentine, Fergus - 15 Valier, Pondera 10 Virginia City, Madison 18 White Sulphur Springs, Meagher 14 WTiite Water. Phillips 7 June 12 Sept. 1 May 22 Sept. 12 June 10 Sept. 11 June 4 Sept. 4 May 23 Sept. 18 May 23 Sept. 14 May 16 Sept. 26 «« «* June 14 Sept. 12 June 16 Sept. 2 May 29 Sept. 18 May 19 Sept. 17 May 25 Sept. 7 May 14 Sept. 18 May 25 Sept. 14 May 28 Sept. 16 May 14 Sept. 26 May 21 Sept. 13 June 11 Sept. 6 May 17 Sept. 23 June 1 Sept. 5 May 25 Sept. 22 May 28 Sept. 18 May 11 Sept. 23 June 13 Aug. 26 May 19 Sept. 18 May 21 Sept. 17 May 14 Sept. 22 May 29 Sept. 14 May 8 Sept. 24 May 17 Sept. 23 June 7 Sept. 4 June 14 Aug. 28 May 16 Sept. 19 July 3 Aug. 15 May 9 Sept. 28 May 29 Sept. 3 May 19 Sept. 17 May 19 Sept. 19 May 5 Oct. 2 May 29 Sept. 7 June 6 Sept. 6 May 18 Sept. 19 May 21 Sept. 25 May 23 Sept. 15 May 5 Oct. 2 May 23 Sept. 18 June 19 Aug. 16 June 14 Aug. 29 May 23 Sept. 26 May 13 Sept. 28 May 15 Sept. 16 June 8 Sept. 4 May 26 Sept. 9 May 17 Sept. 30 May 22 Sept. 20 May 27 Sept. 14 May 20 Sept. 22 May 16 Oct. 2 May 22 Sept. 21 June 7 Sept. 7 May 20 Sept. 22 June 1 Sept. 9 June 13 Aug. 29 May 26 Sept. 18 May 21 Sept. 16 May 21 Sept. 28 June 2 Sept. 19 June 2 Sept. 4 May 30 Sept. 15 •♦Freezing temperature often occurs every month. 70 MONTANA FARM REVIEW AVERAGE PRECIPITATION FOR MONTANA stations — County Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Adel, Cascade 1.32 Agricultural College, Gallatin 0.85 Anaconda, Deer Lodge 0.90 Augusta, Lewis & Clark 0.69 Biddle, Powder River 0.47 Big Timber, Sweet Grass 0.68 Billings, Yellowstone 0.68 Bowen, Beaverhead 0.90 Brenner Beaverhead 0.68 Browning, Glacier 0.75 Butte, Silver Bow 0.84 Cascade, Cascade 0.71 Chester, Liberty 0.60 Chinook, Blaine 0.63 Choteau, Teton 0.77 Circle (near) McCone 0.98 Crow Agency, Big Horn 0.78 Cut Bank, Glacier 0.50 Deer Lodge, Powell 0.70 Denton, Fergus 0.71 Dillon, Beaverhead 0.92 Ekalaka, Carter 0.39 Findon, Meagher 0.80 Fort Benton, Chouteau 0.74 Fortine, Lincoln 1.66 Fort Shaw, Cascade 0.52 Glasgow, Valley 0.61 Glendive, Dawson 0.64 Goldbutte, Toole 0.62 Great Falls, Cascade 0.68 Hamilton, Ravalli 0.87 Harlowton, Wheatland 0.78 Haugan, Mineral 4.26 Havre, Hill 0.78 Hebgen Dam, Madison 2.38 Helena, Lewis & Clark 0.94 Heron, Sanders 3.72 Holter, Lewis & Clark 0.69 Jordan, Garfield 0.74 Kalispell, Flathead 1.34 Lewistown, Fergus 0.80 Libby, Lincoln 2.61 Livingston, Park 0.60 Malta, Phillips 0.58 Medicine Lake, Sheridan 0.47 Miles City, Custer 0.65 Missoula, Missoula 1.35 Ovando, Powell 1.82 Philipsbuig, Granite 0.71 Plevna, Fallon 0.59 Poison, Lake 1.14 Poplar, Roosevelt 0.59 Red Lodge, Carbon 0.77 Renova, Jefferson 0.43 Roundup, Musselshell 0.94 St. Ignatius, Missoula 0.95 Shelby, Toole 0.38 Sidney, Richland 0.51 Snowbelt (near) Garfield 0.61 Stevensville, Ravalli 0.79 Superior, Mineral 1.38 Thompson Falls, Sanders 2.24 Three Forks, Gallatin ^ 0.25 Upper Yaak River, Lincoln 2.06 Utica, Judith Basin 0.65 Valentine, Fergus 0.46 Valier, Pondera 0.35 Virginia City, Madison 0.62 White Sulphur Spgs., Meagher 0.34 White Water, Phillips 0.37 Ann' 1.31 1.55 1.98 3.52 3.76 1.95 1.58 2.23 1.92 0.95 1.33 23.40 0.81 1.26 1.72 3.49 3.00 1.27 1.02 1.72 1.35 0.94 1.02 18.45 0.70 0.87 0.92 2.22 2.22 1.33 0.95 1.28 0.91 0.80 0.75 13.85 0.45 0.89 1.09 2.86 3.06 1.76 1.09 1.59 0.77 0.52 0.53 15.30 0.34 0.50 1.27 2.58 2.76 1.97 1.57 1.55 0.90 0.39 0.33 14.63 0.57 1.03 1.25 3.04 2.24 1.50 1.02 1.75 1.35 0.82 0.43 15.68 0.40 0.80 1.16 2.79 2.37 1.20 0.98 1.13 1.21 0.80 0.44 13.96 0.77 0.78 0.73 1.41 1.93 1.04 0.78 1.11 0.86 0.88 0.95 12.14 0.52 0.69 1.24 1.42 1.40 1.12 0.71 1.27 0.94 0.71 0.77 11.47 0.60 0.61 0.85 1.69 2.11 1.11 1.13 1.90 0.52 0.47 0.45 12.19 0.78 1.09 1.13 2.09 2.23 1.26 0.85 1.18 0.97 0.81 0.82 14.05 0.68 0.69 1.45 3.23 3.55 1.48 1.21 1.76 1.42 0.59 0.62 17.39 0.26 0.34 0.47 1.60 2.77 1.02 1.18 1.30 0.30 0.32 0.34 10.50 0.37 0.43 0.76 2.09 2.56 1.41 1.16 1.36 0.70 0.51 0.46 12.44 0.55 0.47 0.76 2.00 3.20 1.85 0.96 0.94 0.47 0.42 0.55 12.94 0.93 1.50 1.20 2.36 4.49 1.83 1.66 1.27 1.07 0.75 1.02 19.06 0.62 0.92 1.33 2.50 2.65 1.26 0.89 1.03 1.23 0.79 0.70 14.70 0.53 0.69 0.71 2.29 2.56 1.71 1.16 1.54 0.73 0.75 0.45 13.62 0.48 0.92 0.82 1.65 2.22 0.90 0.81 1.26 0.74 0.67 0.62 11.79 0.30 0.49 0.91 1.87 3.12 1.87 0.98 1.83 0.88 0.42 0.44 13.82 0.74 1.31 1.89 3.25 2.66 1.44 1.17 1.61 1.00 0.95 0.78 17.72 0.35 0.6G 0.91 2.26 2.48 1.70 1.58 1.36 0.73 0.28 0.30 13.00 0.64 0.75 1.39 2.87 3.18 2.46 1.44 1.98 0.91 0.82 0.64 17.88 0.45 0.57 1.15 2.67 2.44 1.59 1.00 1.10 0.64 0.54 0.55 13.44 1.23 1.37 1.02 1.81 2.43 1.52 1.51 1.56 1.10 1.62 1.27 18.10 0.44 0.41 0.65 1.92 2.24 1.31 0.95 0.97 0.67 0.35 0.47 ia.so 0.48 0.98 0.96 2.29 2.57 1.40 1.11 1.05 0.67 0.50 0.55 13.17 0.52 0.98 1.12 2.30 3.18 1.78 1.41 1.33 0.88 0.51 0.60 15.25 0.41 0.39 0.58 1.84 3.06 1.66 1.29 1.36 0.59 0.36 0.36 12.52 0.56 0.83 1.21 2.48 3.29 1.69 1.07 1.40 0.89 0.74 0.62 15.46 0.67 0.72 0.97 1.68 1.66 0.68 0.64 1.11 0.93 0.87 0.49 11.29 0.68 0.80 0.95 2.22 2.31 1.51 0.71 1.28 0.77 0.81 0.61 13.43 2.44 3.01 1.58 1.78 1.68 0.76 0.87 1.80 2.26 3.47 3.96 27.87 0.51 0.53 0.90 1.90 2.74 1.81 1.20 1.27 0.69 0.63 0.58 13.54 1.44 o!77 1.30 2.48 2.01 1.77 1.08 1.74 -1.58 1.14 1.56 20.19 0.67 1.06 2.15 2.32 1.14 0.70 1.25 0.90 0.72 0.77 13.39 2.93 3.50 2.30 2.10 2.02 1.50 1.22 2.14 2.30 3.95 4.22 31.90 0.78 0.57 1.14 2.42 2.80 1.46 0.99 1.51 1.17 0.54 0.59 14.66 0.61 0.60 0.76 2.07 2.77 1.64 1.05 0.83 0.67 0.22 0.67 12.63 1.05 1.06 0.82 1.71 1.98 1.15 1.01 1.47 0.94 1.54 1.14 15.21 0.82 1.08 1.39 3.05 3.54 2.42 1.35 1.61 1.26 0.79 0.78 18.89 1.70 1.68 1.09 1.53 1.64 1.17 0.94 1.56 1.61 3.40 2.34 21.27 0.55 0.87 1.20 3.19 1.77 1.16 0.88 1.60 1.03 0.89 0.49 14.23 0.43 0.43 0.69 2.22 3.57 1.85 1.23 1.24 0.55 0.40 0.39 13.58 0.44 0.49 1.16 1.72 2.92 2.11 1.53 1.54 0.88 0.29 0.30 13.85 0.51 0.90 1.02 2.16 2.83 1.58 1.06 0.94 0.85 0.55 0.50 13.55 0.86 1.02 1.03 2.12 2.15 1.02 0.86 1.34 1.20 1.18 1.43 15.56 1.56 1.23 1.08 2.28 2.44 1.18 1.08 1.37 1.26 1.70 1.89 18.89 0.69 0.97 1.27 2.38 2.84 1.40 0.93 1.56 1.17 0.96 0.58 15.46 0.45 0.65 1.12 2.11 2.79 1.90 1.32 1.05 0.85 0.46 0.38 13.67 0.89 1.07 1.23 1.49 2.37 1.19 0.89 1.52 1.16 1.42 1.29 15.66 0.45 0.81 0.90 1.84 3.02 1.73 1.14 0.94 0.70 0.65 0.43 13.20 0.78 1.49 2.50 4.13 2.23 1.28 0.94 1.88 1.60 0.62 0.69 18.91 0.34 0.52 1.27 2.19 2.25 1.18 0.86 1.35 0.94 0.45 0.31 12.09 0.44 0.69 0.95 2.36 3.62 1.82 0.88 1.17 0.96 0.68 0.89 15.40 0.80 0.87 1.34 2.35 2.39 1.21 0.94 1.92 1.36 1.24 0.76 16.13 0.36 0.30 0.71 1.76 2.07 1.28 1.43 1.57 0.79 0.21 0.37 11.23 0.42 0.58 0.91 2.10 3.28 1.97 1.63 1.77 0.83 0.39 0.50 14.89 0.53 0.91 0.89 2.26 2.79 2.44 1.21 1.37 0.91 0.60 0.81 15.33 0.58 0.51 0.81 1.75 1.72 0.79 1.12 1.48 1.26 0.98 0.64 12.43 1.15 1.87 1.16 2.34 1.62 1.03 0.90 1.60 0.92 1.32 2.21 17.50 1.47 1.95 1.57 1.79 1.60 1.42 0.80 1.41 1.60 2.22 2.36 20.43 0.35 0.39 0.94 1.70 1.91 0.99 0.69 1.24 0.86 0.53 0.48 10.33 1.57 1.86 1.75 1.53 1.63 0.94 1.19 1.98 1.52 2.02 2.33 20.38 0.38 0.80 1.17 2.83 3.39 2.10 1.19 1.38 1.15 0.81 0.58 16.43 0.32 0.37 0.68 2.21 2.37 1.55 1.20 0.94 0.73 0.32 0.29 11.44 0.22 0.25 0.67 1.61 2.18 1.65 1.43 1.63 0.78 0.21 0.38 11.36 0.54 1.03 1.21 2.70 2.16 1.25 1.09 1.39 0.89 0.89 0.77 14.54 0.32 0.38 0.82 1.43 1.99 1.59 0.81 1.30 0.70 0.39 0.46 10.53 0.39 0.44 0.75 1.54 2.68 2.21 1.48 1.16 0.36 0.24 0.34 11.96 THE CLIMATE OF MONTANA 71 AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR MONTANA Stations — County Jan. P'eb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Ann'l Adel, Cascade 21.6 22.2 29.2 40.7 46.7 54.3 61.3 60.2 52.2 42.5 34.6 25.6 40.9 Agrricultural College, Gallatin 21.2 22.4 30.2 40.4 48.8 57.0 63.6 62.5 52.6 43.4 31.4 23.3 41.4 Anaconda, Deer Lodge 23.5 25.5 31.9 40.8 47.8 55.5 63.2 61.9 52.8 44.7 33.7 25.3 42.2 Augusta, Lewis & Clark 21.2 22.5 29.1 42.0 49.0 56.2 62.3 60.7 52.0 44.3 31,9 25.5 41.4 Biddle, Powder River 18.5 22.3 31.2 41.1 52.9 63.4 70.0 67.3 58.5 45.9 32.7 23.0 43.9 Big Timber, Sweet Grass 25.6 27.7 33.8 45.0 53.4 62.7 68.6 67.4 57.2 41.1 29.5 28.8 45.1 Billings, Yellowstone 22.5 25.0 34.2 47.2 54.8 63.0 70.8 68.9 58.7 48.1 34.7 26.5 46.2 Bowen, Beaverhead 9.4 11.1 19.8 33.1 42.1 49.7 55.4 52.4 45.5 35.0 23.0 10.7 32.3 Brenner, Beaverhead 18.1 21.1 25.8 34.1 41.7 51.3 59.6 57.8 48.4 38.2 27.3 19.5 36.9 Browning, Glacier 16.3 18.7 27.6 39.7 46.9 56.2 61.7 60.0 51.4 41.5 29.7 20.9 39.2 Butte, Silver Bow 23.6 25.0 31.2 40.7 48.3 56.4 64.1 63.0 53.1 43.7 32.9 25.1 42.3 Cascade, Cascade 21.8 25.9 34.4 45.3 52.0 60.4 67.0 64.9 56.5 46.0 38.7 27.7 45.0 Chester, Liberty 9.7 12.8 25.9 41.8 51.9 59.3 66.5 64.0 53.4 44.9 30.4 18.3 39.9 Chinook, Blaine 14.1 15.9 26 0 44.1 54.4 63.5 70.0 67.1 56.0 45.3 30.1 20.2 42.2 Choteau, Teton 23.1 22.8 34.0 41.1 48.9 57.8 64.9 62.1 54.3 44.5 33.4 28.4 42.9 Circle (near) McCone 14.1 15.3 27.7 43.7 52.8 62.9 68.6 67.4 57.6 45.6 31.9 19.3 42.2 Crow Agency, Big Horn 18.6 20.2 32.6 46.4 56.7 65.0 71.2 69.1 58.7 47.1 33.3 24.5 45.3 Cut Bank, Glacier 16.9 17.7 27.0 41.2 48.7 56.9 63.0 61.5 51.3 41.9 28.6 23.3 39.8 Deer Lodge, Powell 21.6 24.0 30.1 40.6 51.3 61.1 67.7 64.1 55.4 44.0 33.1 21.0 42.8 Denton, Fergus 18.6 22.1 31.2 43 8 51.1 60.3 67.3 65.7 56.1 44.9 34.7 24.9 43.4 Dillon, Beaverhead 24.2 27.6 33.5 42.3 50.6 58.3 63.7 61.8 53.1 46.1 35.1 26.3 43.6 Ekalaka, Carter 18.7 18.6 30.5 43.6 52.9 63.4 70.4 68.4 59.3 46.0 33.3 21.8 43.9 Findon, Meagher 22.0 23.0 28.6 37.8 45.1 54.4 61.1 60.7 50.8 41.3 32.8 23.7 40.1 Fort Benton, Chouteau 18.4 22.2 31.0 45.1 55.0 63.0 69.4 67.3 56.7 46.5 31.9 23.4 44.2 Fortine, Lincoln 17.8 23.3 33.3 42.4 49.4 57.5 62.7 60.4 51.7 42.2 31.4 22.5 41.2 Fort Shaw, Cascade 20.3 23.9 32.8 44.8 53.3 61.7 67.7 64.9 55.8 46.4 34.4 26.4 44.4 Glasgow, Valley 8.0 10.8 24.4 44.0 55.2 63.6 70.0 67.9 56.2 43.6 26.8 15.0 40.5 Glendive, Dawson 13.4 14.2 27.2 46.2 55.9 65.8 72.2 70.4 58.5 46.9 30.6 19.6 43.4 Goldbutte, Toole ;.. 12.8 16.6 27.3 40.9 49.2 59.0 64.6 62.7 53.4 41.5 30.6 19.1 39.8 Great Falls, Cascade 23.4 24.7 33.1 45.9 53.5 61.6 68.5 66.5 56.8 47.7 35.6 28.7 45.5 Hamilton, Ravalli 27.9 29.2 38.2 46.9 53.3 60.6 66.7 65.2 56.6 46.8 36.5 26.5 46.2 Harlowtown, Wheatland 19.4 21.9 29.9 40.8 49.0 57.9 62.8 61.3 50.8 44.9 30.8 23.6 41.1 Haugan, Mineral 21.1 26.5 34.0 43.1 49.7 57.4 62.7 60.8 53.0 43.8 32.9 23.5 42.4 Havre, Hill 12.5 13.8 27.0 43.7 53.1 61.5 68.0 66.0 55.8 44.2*30.2 21.0 41.4 Hebgen Dam, Madison 12.4 14.8 25.6 33.7 43.3 51.4 57.4 56.6 47.8 37.0 25.2 12.7 34.8 Helena, Lewis & Clark 20.3 23.0 32 2 43.8 51.4 59.6 67.0 66.1 55.7 45.4 32.7 26.0 43.6 Heron, Sanders 24.9 28.9 35.5 45.2 52.0 58.6 64.4 63.4 54.1 44.0 34.6 26.0 44.3 Holter, Lewis & Clark 24.5 26.7 34.0 44.7 51.3 60.5 66.9 65.9 56.7 47.8 37.3 28.4 45.4 Jordan, Garfield 12.7 16.2 29.8 42.9 51.8 62.8 71.4 70.4 57.1 46.3 30.5 18.3 42.5 Kalispell, Flathead 22.0 24.2 33.1 43.8 51.3 58.1 64.5 62.8 53.2 43.6 32.7 24.9 42.8 Lewistown, Fergus 20.7 22.8 30.0 42.2 50.1 58.2 64.3 62.8 53.3 44.6 32.2 25.5 42.2 Libby, Lincoln 23.4 27.9 35.9 46.0 53.1 59.3 64.9 63.4 55.0 45.4 33.9 25.8 44.5 Livingston, Park 25.1 27.3 33.8 43.1 51.2 60.2 68.0 66.6 57.2 48.1 36.2 29.3 45.5 Malta, Phillips 8.6 12.6 26.2 44.2 54.0 63.8 69.8 67.9 56.8 44.4 29.6 15.3 41.1 Medicine Lake, Sheridan 5.6 7.7 19.9 41.6 52.1 63.4 66.3 65.3 54.0 41.4 25.0 13.8 38.0 Miles City, Custer 15.3 16.9 31.1 46.6 56.7 66.4 73.6 71.7 60.1 47.4 32.9 21.6 45.0 Missoula, Missoula 22.2 26.0 35.2 44.9 52.3 59.4 66.8 65.2 55.4 44.6 33.3 24.9 44.2 Ovando, Powell 17.3 19.0 29 1 39.4 47.6 54.9 61.2 59.5 50.9 41.0 29.5 19.9 39.1 Phillipsburg, Granite 22.2 24.5 31.6 41.1 47.1 55.4 62.2 60.7 52.5 43.0 32.1 24.4 41.4 Plevna, Fallon 14.2 15.8 26.2 43.0 52.2 62.8 70.2 66.7 56.4 43.8 32.8 18.9 41.9 Poison, Lake 24.1 27.9 35.1 43.6 51.6 60.1 67.6 66.1 55.5 46.1 34.6 26.9 44.9 Poplar, Roosevelt 6.1 8.6 23.8 43.8 54.9 62.7 70.6 67.9 57.2 44.7 27.7 14.7 40.2 Red Lodge, Carbon 20.6 20.9 27.9 38.8 45.9 55.7 61.4 60.2 51.2 41.0 31.5 23.3 39.9 Renova, Jefferson 24.4 26.4 34.3 43.9 51.0 59.1 65.3 63.7 54.8 45.8 35.6 26.0 44.2 Roundup. Musselshell 24.5 24.0 31.8 44.3 51.6 64.1 72.1 66.9 59.7 46.4 35.1 19.3 45.0 Saint Ignatius, Missoula 24.1 27.1 35.9 45.8 52.0 59.4 65.7 64.5 54.8 45.0 34.4 26.2 44.6 Shelby, Toole 15.1 14.9 26.9 42.1 50.5 60.4 66.6 65.2 53.8 42.7 30.2 18.8 40.6 Sidney, Richland 10.2 12.8 25.4 43.8 55.0 63.2 68.7 67.0 55.9 44.5 28.8 17.6 41.1 Snowbelt, (near Garfield) 16.6 19.5 29.1 41.9 51.6 62.1 69.6 67.6 55.7 44.1 31.4 18.8 42.3 Stevensville, Ravalli 24.3 28.2 25. 7 44.1 50.0 58.3 65.2 64.1 53.6 43.4 33.0 24.7 43.7 Superior, Mineral 24.3 28.2 36.4 41.8 49.8 57.8 66.0 65.0 55.0 43.3 32.0 24.7 43.7 Thompson Falls, Sanders 24.9 28.9 35.9 45.1 51.6 59.8 66.3 64.6 55.3 45.5 34.3 26.1 44.9 Three Forks, Gallatin 21.7 24.2 32.9 43.5 51.7 59.8 65.5 63.6 53.7 42.6 30.2 21.0 42.5 Upper Yaak River, Lincoln 19.2 25.1 32.0 41.5 48.7 56.5 61.7 61.1 50.8 41.7 29.9 18.8 40.6 Utica, Judith Basin 23.0 24.1 29.9 42.1 49.4 58.0 64.8 64.6 54.6 45.0 34.3 26.8 43.0 Valentine, Fergus 14.8 17.8 29.8 42.9 51.2 62.0 69.2 67.0 56.5 45.6 31.9 20.1 42.4 Valier, Pondera 17.5 20.4 28.1 42.5 49.8 58.7 64.8 63.9 53.6 43.1 33.1 21.9 41.4 Virginia City, Madison 20.7 23.5 29.4 39.5 47.4 56.5 65.1 63.7 53.1 42.8 30.5 22.8 41.2 White Sulphur Spgs., Meagher 21.2 22.6 27.9 40.2 47.8 56.8 62.5 61.2 50.4 41.2 31.6 21.7 40.4 White Water, Phillips 8.1 12.3 22.6 40.1 51.3 60.8 67.2 65.3 52.5 40.4 26.4 12.3 38,3 72 MONTANA FARM REVIEW MISCELLANEOUS DATA COOPERATIVE MARKETING AND PURCHASING THROUGH FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS MONTANA AND UNITED STATES — 1919 (U. S. Bureau of the Census) Sales Through Farmers' Orgranizations Farms Reporting Amount ' Number Per Cent of all Farms Total Average Per Farm Montana 1,948 511,383 3.4 7.9 I 1,538,303 721,983,639 $ 790 1,412 United States Purchases Through Farmers' Organizations Farms Reporting Amount Nu-nber \^^^^ Total Average Per Farm Montana United States 2,926 :\ 329,449 5.1 5.1 ? 871,192 84.615.669 298 257 WAGES OF MALE FARM LABOR IN MONTANA Per Month Per Day at Harvest Per Day Other Than Harvest Year With Board Without Board With Board Without Board With Board Without Board 1910 . . 1 $38.00 $50.00 46.00 70.00 59.50 83 00 $ ^.05 3.00 3.80 4.00 5.20 2.92 3.60 $ 2.80 $ 1.77 3.79 2.44 4.75 3.15 4.95 3.25 6 20 1 ^ ^(^ $ 2.36 3.30 4 10 1917 1918 1919 . 62 50 89 00 4.35 5.20 2.98 3 20 1920 75.40 105.00 42.10 63.00 42.20 1 63 no 1921 3.65 4.40 1 2.21 2.40 1922 1 GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT, TELEPHONES, AUTOMOBILES, TRACTORS ON FARMS IN 1920 (U. S. Bureau of the Census) MOTOR TRUCKS, AND Gas or Electric Light Tele- phones Auto- mobiles Motor Trucks Tractors MONTANA: No. of farms reporting use of. Per cent of all farms 2,013 3.5 UNITED STATES: No. of farms reporting use of 452,809 Per cent of all farms I 7.0 9,781 17.0 2,508,002 38.9 20,749 36.0 1,979.564 30.7 1,167 2.0 131,551 2.0 6,890 12.0 229,334 3.6 POPULATION OF MONTANA— 1920 (U. S. Bureau of Census) Total Population 1920 548,889 Cities of 2,500 and more 172,011 Incorporated cities and towns of less than 2,500 69,699 Rural territory (includes towns and villages not incorporated 307,179 — 73 — Per Cent of Total 100 31.3 12.7 56.0 74 MONTANA FARM EEVIEW FEDERAL FARM LOAN ASSOCIATIONS. COUNTY ASSOCIATION TOWN LOCATED NUMBER MEMBERS AMT. OF LOANS TO JAN. 31. 1923 Totals for State 146 6.178 $16,732,340.00 Beaverhead Beaverhead-Madison Dillon 26 $ 14.100.00 Big Horn Foster Hardin Little Horn Foster Hardin Wyola 19 12 9 69.100.00 30,900.00 32,400.00 Blaine Blaine County Harlem Savoy Stowman Zurich Chinook Harlem Savoy Chinook Zurich 197 103 34 41 53 664,150.00 181,800.00 56,500.00 66,000.00 88.800.00 Broadwater Broadwater County Townsend 102 496.150.00 Carbon Carbon Central Red Lodge Creek Joliet Roberts 66 132 222.650.00 455,850.00 Carter D. H. Russel Wilson Ekalaka Boyes 71 42 124,300.00 174.100.00 Cascade Great Falls Fort Shaw Great Falls Fort Shaw 11 14 44,500.00 41,600.00 Chouteau Lone Tree Big Sandy Carter Fort Genou Highwood Big Sandy Big Sandy Carter Fort Benton Genou Highwood 15 28 8 51 19 14 38,900.00 54.700.00 19,000.00 113,850.00 40.300.00 59.200.00 Custer Miles City Miles City 13 51.200.00 Daniels Daniels County Scobey 22 46.600.00 Dawson Hay Creek First Dawson Retah Redwater Sullivan Clear Creek VaUey Axtel Glendive Retah Richey Richey U'nion 41 47 - 14 50 17 41 76,000.00 100,150.00 39.100.00 100,000.00 33,500.00 75,200.00 Fallon Fallon County Plevna Westmore Medicine Rocks Baker Plevna Westmore WiUard 38 64 75 11 99.400.00 146,600.00 172,050.00 33.300.00 Fergus Darrell Danvers First Flatwillow Three Butte Button Butte Judith Moore Novary Suffolk Weede Winifred Winnett Darrell Danvers Flatwillow Flatwillow Grass Range Grass Range Lewistown Moore Novary Suffolk Weede Winifred Winnett 33 7 13 24 45 21 32 23 9 13 10 16 16 82,200.00 17,900.00 36,600.00 38,900.00 103,400.00 44,450.00 167,500.00* 141.800.00 15. 900.00 20,400.00 17,600.00 31.600.00 29.400.0C Flathead Kalispell Poison Kalispell Poison 252 73 796,000.00 179,600.00 Gallatin Southern Montana Wheatland Bozeman Three Forks 108 13 663,600.00 46.400.00 Garfield Old Settlers Smoky Butte Snowbelt Wason Flats Cohagen Smoky Butte Snowbelt Wason Flats 38 35 40 14 49,700.00 38,400.00 57,100.00 21,150.00 Glacier Cutbank Cutbank 10 18,300.00 Golden Valley Lavina Rothiemay Ryegate Lavina Rothiemay Ryegate 23 26 30 71,500.00 70.800.00 99.600.00 Granite New Chicago Hall 26 14,140.00 HIU Havre Cottonwood Hingham Kremlin Havre Havre Hingham Kremlin 33 177 9 26 91.300.00 342.000.00 19,850.00 53.800.00 MISCELLANEOUS DATA FEDERAL FARM LOAN ASSOCIATIONS — (Continued) 75 C©irNTY ASSOCIATION TOWN LOCATED NUMBER MEMBERS AMT. OF LOANS TO JAN. 31,1923 Jefferson Jefferson Valley Whitehall 34 143,300.00 Judith Basin Stanford Stanford 18 41,700.00 Lewis & Clark Augusta Helena Augusta Helena 47 37 154.400.00 111,950.00 Liberty • Joplin Tiber Joplin Lothair 149 53 357,850.00 139,550.00 Lincoln Tobacco Valley Kootenai Valley Troy Eureka Libby Troy 41 33 30 98,850.00 44,600.00 40,300.00 Madison Twin Bridges Twin Bridges 50 243,500.00 McCone Horse Creek Circle Pleasant View Cabin Creek Circle Nickwall 10 49 39 20,600.00 88,550.00 73,100.00 Meagher Meagher White Sulphur Springs 17 68,500.00 Mineral Mineral County Superior 28 61,300.00 Missoula Missoula Missoula 119 396,150.00 Musselshell Dean Creek Gage Hawk Creek Lake Mason County Central Goulding Creek Bundy Gage Musselshell Roundup Roundup Roundup 31 18 18 46 17 14 69,650.00 33,550.00 52,800.00 134,900.00 73,900.00 46,700.00 Park Meyersburg Wilsall Wilsall Wilsall • 20 54 89,100.00 285,750.00 Phillips Dodson Freewater North Star Dodson Freewater Lovejoy 47 68 45 75,800.00 109,350.00 62,400.00 Pondera Conrad Williams-Manson Conrad Williams 84 73 281,500.00 282,500.00 Powder River South Custer Coalwood 20 32,900.00 Powell Deer Lodge Deer Lodge 12 36,250.00 Prairie Timber Creek Cabin Creek Enterprise South Side Crowley Melstone Terry Terry 14 27 49 15 25,100.00 59,350.00 84,000.00 23,500.00 Ravalli Darby Hamilton Stevensville Darby • Hamilton Stevensville 19 108 25 54,850.00 333,750.00 103,200.00 Richland Lambert Brorson Gossett Sioux Pass Lambert Sidney Sidney Sioux Pass 27 35 47 62 54,900.00 73,700.00 123,200.00 128,050.00 Roosevelt Froid Wolf Point Froid 25 Wolf Point — Recently chartered- 50,200.00 —no loans closed Rosebud Bascom Rosebud County Yellowstone Sumatra Bascom Forsyth Rosebud Sumatra 20 141 8 40 55,400.00 437,250.00 49,500.00 79,950.00 Sanders Dixon Perma Plains Central Sanders White Pine Dixon Perma Plains Thompson Falls Whitepine 21 43 18 36 62 45,500.00 71,950.00 76,100.00 85,700.00 99,000.00 Sheridan Antelope Dagmar Liberty Soo Antelope Dagmar Dooley Outlook 33 68 48 63 64,000.00 130,300.00 82,300.00 148,000.00 Stillwater Whitebird Lake Basin Sackett Butte Reedpoint Absarokee Lake Basin Park City Reedpoint 62 13 18 21 179,300.00 56,300.00 53,300.00 55,900.00 76 MONTANA FARM REVIEW FEDERAL FARM LOAN ASSOCIATIONS — (Continued) COUNTY ASSOCIATION TOWN LOCATED NUMBER MEMBERS AMT. OF LOANS TO JAN. 31,1923 Sweet Grass Sweet Grass Teton Choteau Collins Toole Fairview Marias Kevin Sunburst Telstad Treasure Hysham Valley Beaverton Glasgow Farmers Wheatland Harlowton Wibaux Blue Mountain Carlyle Beaver Valley Yellowstone Billings Pleasant Vallej Custer Newton Grove Park City Big Timber 46 Choteau Collins 63 31 Dunkirk Galata Kevin Sunburst Telstad 25 18 17 17 18 Hysham 48 Beaverton Glasgow Hinsdale 28 90 124 Harlowton 86 Been Carlyle Wibaux 27 37 55 Billings Broadview Mizpah Newton Grove Park City 210 20 39 20 Just organized 195,500.00 163.100.00 48,000.00 58,600.00 45,500.00 33,600.00 37,550.00 21,950.00 110,950.00 50,250.00 203,600.00 227,250.00 239,800.00 53,300.00 73,700.00 115,150.00 766,800.00 77,200.00 103,300.00 29,600.00 INDEX Page ACREAGE— See also crops 9 AGRICULTURE— Historical Sketch , 5-7 ALFALFA— See crops ALTITUDE, of Montana 9 APPLES— See crops ASSESSED VALUATIONS 9,35 AUTOMOBILES 73 BARLEY : 51-52 BEES AND HONEY 24, 28 CEREAL MILLS 12 CLIMATOLOGY 64-71 COOPERATIVE CROP REPORTING SERVICE Foreword COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS 73 CORN 56-58 CROPS Acreage, Montana's rank 35 Acreages, relative crop (graph) i 34 Alfalfa hay 45 Alfalfa seed 63 Apple production :... 62 Apple trees 61 Areas, crop 9 Barley ^ 51-52 Com 56-58 Flax 55-56 General summary of 1919-1922 37 Hay 45-48 Oats 48-50 Orchard products 61-62 Potatoes 59-ei Relative importance of in 1922 (graph) 34 Reporting districts, map of inside front cover Rye 53-54 Seed peas 63 Sugar beets 62 Seed crops i83 Total farm value of in 1922 by counties (graph) 33 Value of Montana's rank 35 Wheat 38-44 DAIRYING Cows by counties 29 Manufactured products 30 DRAINAGE Enterprises 17 River systems 9,65 DRY LANDS — See non-irrigated farming ELEVATION, of Montana 9 — 77 — 78 MONTANA FARM REVIEW Page ENTRIES, land 10-11 FARMS Cooperative organizations 73 Lands 9-11 Lighting plants 73 Number, total and average values of, by counties 36 Telephones 73 FARM LOAN ASSOCIATIONS BY COUNTIES 74-76 FLAX .55-56 FLOUR AND CEREAL MILLS 12 FORESTS AND TIMBER Lumber cut 14 Ownership 13 Species 13 GRAIN ELEVATORS by counties 20 GRAIN STORAGE 19 GRAZING, on National Forests = 27 GROWING SEASON— See Climatology HAY -- 45-48 HISTORICAL 5,6,7,21 HOMESTEADS— See also agriculture 10-11 HONEY 24,28 HORSES AND MULES 22 HORTICULTURE 61-62 IRRIGATION Acreage by counties 18 Assessed valuation - 9 Capital invested, costs per acre 17 Character of enterprises 10, 17 Map of, areas 16 Per cent of crops grown under 18 Yields 19 LABOR, wages of, on farms 73 LANDS Assessed valuations 35 Classification by types and usage 9 Entries 11 Farms, value of 36 Plow lands, value of (table) 35 Prices, average of state owned 35 Public 10 Soil surveys of 10 State 10 Total acreage assessed 10 Under Federal control 10 LIVESTOCK Bees and honey 24 Cattle shipments 25 Combined value of, with crops by counties (graph) 32 Dairy cows 23 INDEX 79 Page Farm values of all, by counties (graph) 31 Grazing on National Forests 27 Historical 6,21 Horses and mules 22 Numbers and values of 27 Numbers of, by counties 26 Numbers of, by years 25 Poultry :... 23 Poultry and eggs (tables) 30 Purebreds in percentage 28 Purebreds, numbers of 29 Range industry 21 Relative value of products (graph) : 28 Swine -28 Wool and production 24 LUMBER— See Forests and Timber MILK COWS— See dairying MONTANA Altitude of 9 Area, land and water surfaces 9 Rank of in acreage 35 Rank of in crop value 35 MOTOR TRUCKS : 73 NATIONAL FORESTS— See grazing, forests and timber NON-IRRIGATED FARMING 7, 9, 35, 38 OATS 48-50 ORCHARDS : 61-62 ORGANIZATIONS, Farm 73 PLOW LANDS 35 POPULATION 73 POTATOES 59-61 POULTRY 23,30 PRECIPITATION By regions : 67 By stations 70 Map 64 PRODUCTION— See livestock, crops, agriculture PUREBRED LIVESTOCK 28,29 RYE 53,54 SEED CROPS 63 SHEEP— See also agriculture 21, 22, 25, 26, 27 SOIL SURVEYS 10 SUGAR BEETS '... 62 SWINE : 23,25,26,27 TELEPHONE 73 TEMPERATURE— See climatology TIMBER— See forests TOPOGRAPHY, effect of on climate 65 TRACTORS 73 WAGES, on farms '. 73 WEATHER— See climatology WHEAT 38-44 WOOL 24 '>iiST-*«» ^-^<«:^,.., ■.-^^.'^^^-I^'^^WP-^ %s^ '\^^s^m'wamM^m^zm>>,.mMm.^t . 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