The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-05-28
DOES RRlCA-
TON PAY?
Colorado Returns An Answer That
the State of Montana Should Heed.

Bulletin No. . Of the Colorado Co.
operative Crop Reporting Service-a
combined Federal ard State bureau
gives a need Of the grain Yields of
that state for 1919 that is highly in
structive. 1t answers in the aflirma-
tive the question, does irrigation pay?
Condensed the report shows:
Corn Yields.
lrrigated-From 91,795 acres, g.
SlO.292 bushels were gathered, on an
average of 1862 bushels per acre.
Observation-Disclosures SG.576 acres,
l2,lS4.065 bushels were gathered, an
average of 1921 bushels per acre.
Figuring corn at $l.S5 per bushel,
the irrigated average had value ov-
or the non-irrigated of 5000 per
acre.
Winter Wheat.
lrrigatetl-From 1872 acres, g.
S14,Ol6 bushels were harvested, an
average of 24.7l bushels per acre.
7,N64,lSS bushels were harvested, or
an average of 9:S3 bushels per acre.
At $2.ll per bushel the irrigated
acres gave returns Of $3l.G5 per acre
above the non-irrigated.
opElNS W uVdt
Irrigated-From l65,364 acres, g.
7S3,S4S bushels were harvested, or
22.S4 bushel per acre average.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 1917 acres,
1,416,554 bushels were harvested, or
an average of 1856 bushels per acre.
At 1921 per bushel the irrigated
acre returned $34.65 per acre above
the non-irrigated.
Oats.
Irrigated-From 1860 acres, L.
239,435 bushels were harvested, or an
average per acre Of 36.97 bushels.
Neutrality-suspicious. 111,515 acres,
1896, 700 bushels were harvested, or
an average per acre of 1921 bushels.
At II cents per bushel the irrigat-
ed acreage returned $l4.9l per acre
more than the non-irrigatetl.
Barley.
1rrigated-From 69,564 acres, e.
141,151 bushels were harvested, or
3O.7S bushels per acre.
Neutrality-suspicious. 1902 acres,
1,4O4,383 bushels were harvested, or
1858 bushels per acre.
At $40 per bushel the irrigated
area returned f2l.6O per acre more
than the non-'rri KSs
Irrigated-From 4,664 acres, 72,260
bushels were harvested, or an aver
age of 15.4O per acre.
Non-1rrigated-From 15S,041 acres,
1,354,O2 bushels were harvested, or
an average of S.57 bushels per acre.
At $1.35 per bushel the irrigated
acreage returned 1886 per acre more
than the non-irrigated.
Potatoes.
Irrigated-From 65,793 acres, TO-
10000 bushels were harvested, or an
average per acre of 154.71.
Non-Irrigated-From 26,7O9 acres,
916,48 bushels were harvested, or an
average of 34.31 bushels per acre.
At $1.61 per bushel, Dec. I, 1919,
the irrigated area returned Sl93.2O
more than the non-irrigated.
Summary.
There was this gain by reason of
irrigation: Corn, $1,856,145; Winter
Wheat, s., 599,3O1; Spring Wheat, $5,-
1852; Oats, 1869, 1923; Barley, 49,
O64, 1872; Rye, $43,608 and potatoes,
$l2,711,207. The grand total of gain
on years crops Of irrigated was S27,-
Does irrigation pay? Colorado an
swers yes, in multiplied millions of
dollars.
I,tt enormous cain was made b!
Irrigation of 625,1l2 acres. The
;Ac4,,,;ss gain on grain crops alone
'''~.' 49,, 06 per acre.
'u.!l;s ut water is flowing out of
"'s'">,:n:: every year to irrigate $780,
-, :.>,.cs. Put into grain the annual
-, - tana, on the Colorado
a., 81. o:i'I We the staggering total
y {, oHt:.&, y per annum!