Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-15
FARMERS OF:
MONTANA ARE
OPTIMISTIC
More Favorable Reports Be
ing Sent in by all Coun-
ty Agents.

Helena, Mont, Aug. 15.-Reports
received by the state department Of
and publicity indicate that
while the production in Montana, es-
pecially potatoes, will not be SO large
as it vas hoped early In the season,
the yields will not be so small IS indi-
Gated two weeks ago. The government
yield of this state each at 21,000,0 600
bushels. Reports made by county
agents in the state, according to Com
of Agriculture Greenfield,
are to the effect that the government
has not over estimated the II yield.
Greenfield estimated that the state
will yield at least s 100000 bushels
Of spring wheat and 20.ooo.looo bush.
els of winter wheat. He also stated
farmers this year will receive at
least rs cents a bushel more for the
grain than they did last year.
The reports Of 20 county agents for
the week ending August 4. are almost
without exception the most optimistic
that have been made so far.
]. B. Collins Of the Custer county
defense council reports that winter
wheat, which Is now being threshed,
averages % bushels to the acre, but
the spring wheat yield will be light.
Oats and barley IN short but well
i1l1lcu III lIlO6I SCCllOIS. LdI1y lAdA Will
yield q 80 per cent crop. A
Harvesting in the state is general,
both with wheat and oats. The yield
of the latter is generally reported
light as compared with last year, but
there will be a fair crop. The outlook
for fax is much better than that Of
two weeks ago, there being now the
prospect that late planted fax will
make a crop. 'a3;
The grain yield for the irrigated seq
ton will fall little, II any. below the
normal. In many sections the second
cutting Of alfalfa is being made with
good returns. Much land. which in
former years has been given up for
hay, this year was put into grain. The
result Is that the hay crop probably
will be below normal but yields are
good. The alfalfa seed crop also. will
be good. Il.
state will be beans. A large acreage
was put in, especially in the eastern
section. and the reports from county
agents show that the yield will be ex-
cellent.
While all the counties report ample
labor, 1t is possible that within the
next W. weeks there will be an In
creas demanded in wages. The going
rate Is from $3.50 to SO day and
AAOAAA wv. W Wv Wy ~ AIAOLkAh. e 49,.
1t is probable that the state will
produce as many potatoes this year as
last, although the yield per acre will
be less. The, superstition Is based on
the fact that a great many more acres
were planted in 1917 than in 1915.
Some counties report a larger crop
than last year but the majority of
them report smaller yields. Rain
would still improve this crop.
The state defense council has heard
from a number Of counties as to the
necessity for outside assistance for
farmers in obtaining wheat seed-sSNo
outside assistance will be needed In
Gallatin, Ravilli or Chouteau counties
In Wheatland county arrangements
are being made to take car Of those
who will need seed.
Reports indicate that a very large
acreage will be planted to winter
wheat provided there is rain so land
can be plowed. In Wheatland county
it is estimated that the increased acre
age of winter wheat will be 10 per
cent.