Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-21
SUGAR BEET CULTURE.
What the Industry Will Do for the
Country.

Now that it has been determined
that sugar beets can be raised in Fer
gus county as successfully as any
where else in Montana, and that ey-
cry requirement for sugar factory
is found right in this vicinity, it is
considered certain that in the course
OF few years, at most, factory will
be established here. In this cOnncc-
ton it is interesting to read what an
experienced farmer says regarding his
observations of the industry in Colo
RADIO The following from T. l.. Kelly
appears in the Bozeman Chronicle:
Mine years ago the writer was in
northern Colorado and again In the
same territory two weeks ago. On the
occasion of my first trip, the impress
sions that | then formed were not ia
vorable to the locality Land, all in
alfalfa, could be bought at that time
from $25 to $40 per acre. l thought
then it was too high. Alfalfa was
then drug on the market, even selling
as low as 81 per ton in the stack,
leaving the gross returns from an acre
of alfalfa land from IS to SIC. The
actual expense of irrigation and har-
vesting was, at least, 81 per ton, max
ing, as you see, the net results per acre
very small. Very little grain was then
raised alfalfa being the staple crop.
On this trip the changes that l have
noticed were almost marvellous. Never
in any agricultural community have |
seen such complete transformation.
Less than nine years has done appar-
emily what ordinarily would take fifty.
Choice land, we'll located today is be-
ing held as high as $500 per acre
and much of it could not be bought at
even that price. Towns of from 800 to
500 inhabitants are now prosperous cit
les of 5000 to 5000. What has brought
about this change? II you ask the
question there, you will receive but One
answer, "The best industry The
Great Western Sugar company bought
| ,O0O, 900 tons of beets this year from
Colorado farmers, and paid for them
almost $5,OOO,OO0. This was raised OH
about 65, 900 acres and by In the neigh
: borhood of $3.50 growers. Divide 50,
100000 into 1880 parts and you VIII
have what the sugar company palo
each farmer for his crop. When yOl
consider this amount Of money has
been received by the farmers withOu,
any apparent difference in the amount
: of the other crops, you will ma tnt
cause of this wonderful increase II
2 population and values. l saw more
! in fact, think, at least, twice as mucf
! alfalfa in the stack as On my formel
}. visit. have not the statistics at hand
J, but | think you will find 1t SO II you
! take the trouble to investigate, tina
!, they are raising more grain also thar
e they were raising before the advent
e beet growing. You may think thi
J. statement hardly possible, but whel
u YOU stop to consider what intense cul
E. tiyation will do for irrigated land
your mind will change.
), 81 wish here to venture the state
ment that the farmers OF the Gallatil
= valley can raise 10000 acres of beet
;. each wear for the next five years, an
'. at the end of that period be raisln
:, =, more grain and hay than is now BEN
=, raised. II is reliably stated that
~ crop of any kind of grain following
e cron of beets will yield one fourt
a. more than when following any othe
" kind of crop. even clover or alfalf;
-. !, Your ground is perfectly clean, Wit
IL none of the elements of the soil r.
10 cuisit, to the grain crop exhausted.
'h an conclusion let me venture on
&c more prediction. Five years after IN
50 introduction Of beet culture here, Boz
IL man will have. al least. a populatio
m, N, of $4,000 and the valley will hay
us three farmers wnere it now has one
n What this industry has done for II
ge farmers and land owners elsewhere
es will do for them in this county. Thel
sc is nlenty If time 10 consider the ma
ter and this information is presente
III. simply for the benefit of those mo
directly interested.