The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1918-07-12
DRY WEATHER AFFECTS
ninth DISTRICT CROPS
FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT RICH REPORTS CON
SIDERABLE DAMAGE BY DROUGHT BUT THINKS
FEDERAL ADJUSTMENT OF PRICES MAY
OVERCOME SHORT YIELD.

The following is the monthly report
for June of crop and business condi-
tions in the Ninth Federal Reserve
district by John H. Rich, chairman and
federal reserve agent:
Dry weather Throughout the north
ern portion of Montana and in parts of
North Dakota has changed the ex-
tremely favorable crop outlook of a
month ago, and has done serious dam
age to the grain crops in the sections
affected. Montana's s total wheat pro-
duction will be reduced as compared
with the outlook 80 days earlier and
some reduction of the prospective to-
tails in North Dakota may also be
looked for. The southern half of
Montana is still in good shape, as is
the eastern two-thirds of North Da-
kota, and the outlook in South Da-
kota, Minnesota and Wisconsin is ex-
cellent. The losses that have SO far
occurred are unfortunate, but they
are not yet sufficient to prevent the
district from recording as large a
crop as it has ever grown. This result
is safeguarded by the excellent con-
dition of the crop in portions of the
UlSLIlCL CIldC have IlOC ~ 1dl OCOIA AIt
by drought and by the larger acreage
in the areas referred to.
The losses in Montana are most un-
fortunate. They are chiefly confined
to sections which last year failed to
obtain a crop. They extend to the
northern belt of counties from Sheri-
dan county west to the Rocky noun
tains. From Havre to Cut Bank and
from Havre eastward to Glasgow, the
drought has so seriously hurt the
small grains that farmers will not as
a rule be able to obtain more than rs
per cent of a crop. In many cases
they will not get their seed back, and
the drought has had the added ill effect
of seriously reducing the amount of
feed.
In Valley and Phillips counties the
crop is practically a failure and such
rains as have been received lately have
in the far northwestern corner of the
state, the outlook is still fair to good.
Throughout the entire district, there
has been a lack of soaking general
rains. There have been occasional
showers, some of them producing a
fairly good rainfall, but these have
been confined to small areas. For
this reason there are here and there
farms that will show a fairly good
crop in spite of the poor average.
Farther south in Fergus county,
which is the central county of the
state, dry weather has also done much
damage, especially in section twenty
miles wide along the northern bor-
der and in section about the same
width along the eastern border. These
portions of the county will produce
about half a crop. In the remainder
of the county, which represents con-
siderable agricultural area, winter
wheat will be ready for harvest with
in 30 days and promises about fifteen
bushels and spring wheat, which rep
resenIs very much larger acreage is,
with the exception of some isolated
spots, still in good condition and gives
promise of very satisfactory yields
Throughout this district the heat dur
ing the early part of June was severe
The hay crop throughout this general
area is about IS per cent of normal
and the pastures are in excellent con.
dition, and the present growing wealth
er is helping the outlook.
Still farther south in the Yellow.
stone valley and eastward toward
the North Dakota line, the rains dur.
ing sthe last week of June have con.
siderably improved the outlook. Not
much grain has been hurt by heat
and the moisture was timely for win.
ter wheat and has helped it to fill.
The rain saved the spring wheat, al.
though some of it will be late. Some
damage has occurred in the Yellow
stone on account of the extremely
high waite.
The Effect in North Dakota.
Dry weather has hurt the outlooE
in the extreme western counties OF
North Dakota, and the present pros.
pect is for about half a crop. Season
able showers have helped, but soak.
ing rain is needed. The winter wheat
outlook is not especially satisfactory
and cut worms have done much dam.
age to feed crops. The feed situa.
ton, which was very bad in this Sec
ton year ago, is again unfavorable
and improved weather conditions will
be necessary if this portion of the
state IS to obtain satisfactory return
this. year. Throughout the remainde,
OF the state the prospect is good with
the exception of some sections which
need rain.
SSSSuuCIs anu MlIlOC, ant
around Bismark. the crop conditions
are still satisfactory. but good rains
are needed. From Washburn, Wiltor
and Underwood excellent reports have
come. in Considerable rain has fall
en-. and the crop has sustained no in,
jury.
In the jamestown district. the out
look is not quite as good as it was ter
days ago. About two-thirds of LIZ
Moure county is in need of rain, which
il it comes in time. will be very help
ful. In that section rye is estimated
at about twelve bushels to the acre
wheat fifteen bushels, oats twenty-five
bushels and barley twenty bushels, thu
straw being very short. Barnes coun
ty is in very good condition excep
for some small areas in the western
part.
Red River Valley Holds Well.
The entire Red river valley sectio,
is in excellent shape and has sufficien
moisture to carry the crop through tt
maturity. Throughout Minnesota, tn,
outlook is extremely good, with tn,
exception of some sections in tn,
northern part of the state which woult
be benefited by rain. Through tn
central and southern part, the crop!
show as fine an appearance as in an,
previous year at this date. Corn i
making good progress. The same con