The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-01-19
TREASURE STATE FARM AND LIVESTOCK
Sugar Beet Industry Is Making
Progress in Billings District;
Land Adopted to Culture Rises

gent inquiry every year as to the live
stock industry in connection with the
growing of beets and it finds that fol-
the 10000 acres of beets taken care
of this year the growers use $500
head of work horses, own 5000 head
of mich COWS and $500 head other
than dairy stock. In addition to this
they feed on beet tops and other pas
ture on the beet farms for periods OF
80 to $50 days, 100000 head OF
sheep, $500 head of cattle and zoo
head of horses. The manure furn-
ished by these animals fertilizes
about % per cent of the beet ground
for next season.
Pulp Pressing Mill.
1t is the policy of the company
however, to discourage the feeding OF
any cattle at the factory. 1t prefers
to have the animals fed on the farms,
thus retaining the manure of all for
fertilizing purposes. With this end
in view, in designing the factory now
under construction at Missoula plans
were made for the erection of a pulp
pressing plant, which will press the
pulp so that all the water is removed
anu IL Call luuo UC olllPpCo w I1lC
farms for feeding purposes at mini
mum freight charge. With the same
idea in view the factory officials
have decided on the erection of the
same kind of a pulp pressing plant at
the Billings factory this year.
The sugar beet industry has devel-
oped in the past II years into the
most important agricultural industry,
in so far as the man on a small farm
is concerned, that exists in south
eastern Montana. 1t has been the
savior of the Huntley project 4O-acre
farm and has brought prosperity il
great volume to the irrigated dis
tricts. An increase of SO cents pei
ton in the price of beets it is figured
will mean at least $40, 900 more tt
the pay roll of the Huntley projec
farmer.
land Values Advance.
Since the Billings factory wa
started there has been an increase il
I the value OF land from $40 in tn
, beet growing districts to 500 an
$125 per acre and in regions close t
y Billings to as high as $3.50 and $500
The industry has also been tn
a means of improving the fertility G
G the farms through crop rotation an
through scientific farming method
introduced by the expert farm en-
! ployes furnished by the company an
: through the advice they have give
=, on the growing of all crops. Anothe
: feature of the industry is the charat
ter of farmers it brings into the cou1
try and the increase in farming popl
10 l,o+ fol i'm l,n ITO nf
t industry. Every year the company
+ representative goes into the bee
e growing districts in other section
: and secures one or two trainloads
e field workers, men and women VIII
: thin, and weed beet lands, Workin
D under contract at SO much per acr
S Some of these workers return hon
4 after the season ends, but the M;
e jority remain in the district an
n secure employment in other avenue
s out of the beet growing season.
a very short time they become tel
ants and in little longer time the
II become owners of good farms, whlc
II they always improve to high d
IL gree. Some of the most successf1
III beet growers of the Yellowstone ar
III tributary valleys are men who can
III into the country to work in the be
II fields.
III Does Not Impoverish Soil.
n 1t used to be the theory that tt
III growing of beets robbed the soil III
H contrary is the case. t is now co
Il coded that increased production
IL crops follows the intense cultivate
II and working given the land in gro
HI ing beets and by proper rotation Il
III fertility of the soil is increased rath
III than diminished.
III The climate and soil Of Monta1
Ill are particularly adapted to the cul
III walton of sugar beets. The succe
III that has attended the Billings facto
II in this and other years has demo
HI strated this. AS a result the officif
Ill of the Great Western and other COZ
III panies have been looking over t
81 various sections of the state and t
erection of more factories is expect
to follow in the wake Of the constrl
q ton of the one now being built
Missoula.