The Glasgow courier., 1916-03-31
FARMING NOW DIVERSIFIED.

FARMING NOW DIV VEkSlFlED.
There is a more pronounced tend
ency toward diversified farming in
Montana at the present time than
ever before, according to a general
agricultural report which has just
been issued by the Banking Corpor-
alton of Montana. The report like
wise shows that the grain area has
been increased to a considerable ex-
tent. The report follows:
Even though the past winter has
subjected Montana to cold weather
discomfort, a little more extreme
than usual, the destructive effects of
the winter are practically negligible.
The abundant harvest of 1915 left
most farmers prepared and all avail
able reports go to show that the
stock losses on account of feeding
difficulties are no greater than usual.
"The winter opened with short
period of cold weather, followed by
heavy fall of snow which stayed
on the ground all winter. The frost
that entered the ground continued
hard until spring, so that compara-
lively small amount of damage has
been reported by the destructive ef
fccts of thaw and repeated freeze.
The Gallatin valley has suffered to
; some extent on account of repeated
frost, but no authentic estimates as
to the loss are obtainable at the
present time. The heavy blanket Of
snow that covered practically all of
Montana has gone off rather slow
ly, making it possible for the
ground to absorb the maximum of
winter moisture. The fact that IA
vorable conditions generally have
obtained, is verified by the good con-
dition of the winter wheat and APP
pearances of range grasses in prac-
tically every part of the state. The
: average condition of the winter wheat
in Montana is represented at the
present time by a government per-
centage figure of 50, as against an
y average of ST. for the United States.
:, "Although in some sections of the
= state a larger area has been seeded
to winter wheat than year ago, the
average taken over the entire state
will show a decrease of about 10 per
u cent. The actual acreage estimates
of land seeded to winter wheat in the
autumns of 1914 and 1915 are respec-
lively 711,OOO and $4,000. This de-
y crease is due especially to the in
D terference caused by the late harvest
. and shortage of farm hands in the
fall of 1915.
"On the other hand, an increase in
:, the area of spring wheat and other
grains is expected This condition
: may not be realized if the price for
wheat continues at the present low
figure, until after the time of seed
: ing. There is still large reserve
of wheat in Montana elevators and
up to date the movement of seed
y wheat has not been up to normal. The
l. tendency resulting from this state of
= affairs is being overcome by the ef-
Il forts of the commercial organiza.
. tions in many communities to induce
, the farmers to seed a larger area tc
- spring wheat; and this influence
" coupled with the area of new ground
= broken, will undoubtedly place the
figure for Montanas total wheat
: yield close to 33,8OO,O0 bushels, which
was the production in 1915.
~ "The tendencies toward mixec
" farming are more pronounced thar
{, ever The large amount of grain or
81 hand and the subdivision of large
'e tracts of agricultural land, is en-
Al couraging the small farmer to pur
IS chase hogs and cattle. In additio,
~ to this influence the experience o
years past has demonstrated the de
10 STABILITY of well rounded out
10 equipment on the Montana farm.
~ "On the whole, agricultural Mon
a. tana is in excellent condition for tn
Or season of 1916. The first insuranc
ne for good crops has already been OBJ
re tained (heavy snow fall that ha
ID thoroughly mostened the soil) an
ut added to this normal rainfall whic
rs in Montana always comes during tn
re growing season, there is found
RS most satisfying assurance that
he profitable year lies ahead.