The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-04-22
Crop and Labor Report
Continued from first page)

condition at this time forecasts a
yield of 100000 bushels. The
acreage sown last fall is estimated
at 425, 900 acres compared with
COS 900 acres in the fall of 1918.
Considering the condition at seeding
time last fall, it can safely be stated
that winter wheat has survived the
winter in a condition far beyond ex-
p~ectations and should Montana be
favored with good moisture condi-
lions this season the crop will no
doubt be good.
The winter wheat outlook for the
United States is less encouraging
with a condition of 1856 per cent
compared with 99.8 per CEN one
year ago and a ten year average of
S4.1 per cent. The forecasted yield
for the United States is 485,617,000
bushels, compared with an estimated
production of 731, 10000 bushels in
1919 and 565,O99,0O0 bushels in
1918. The acreage own in the fall
of 1919 was 80, TITO, 900 acres com
pared with 5O,489,OO in the fall of
1918.
Rye: The condition if rye is es-
timated at 80 per cent of normal as
compared with 90 per cent one year
ago and a ten year average of 95
per cent. The f%orecasted production
of rye is 1,O41, 900 bushels, based
On an estimated planted acreage of
$4,000 acres.
Farm Labor: Reports from all
counties in the state show that the
farm labor situation is unsatisfac-
tory. The supply of farm labor is
estimated to be IS per cent of last
year and IA per cent of normal. The
demand for farm labor is estimated
to be 80 per cent of last year and
81 per cent of normal. With the
shortage of farm labor and high
wages, there seems to have develop
ed a feeling among the farmers that
they can afford to plant only such
acreage as can be handled by them
and with the assistance of
their neighbors. The whole outlook
tends toward conservative farming
the farmer feels that the pres
ent condition will not result in a
reasonable profit after taking into
consideration the expense of oper-
ating his farm and the work of him
self and family.
The farm labor situation for the
United States reflects a short
age and a heavy demand. The sup
ply of farm labor is estimated to be
87.3 of last year and 72.4 per cent
of normal. The demand is estimat-
ed at 99.7 per cent of one year ago
and 153 per cent of normal.
Breeding Sows: The number of
breeding sows on the farms in Mon
tana show a serious reduction and is
at 70 per cent of the num-
Der on hand one year ago and but
81 per cent of the usual number.
Ills reuuCIlOU SeeulS 10 De LQe re-
suit of high feed and a tendency to
sell breeding sows when prices were
high.
The number of breeding sows in
the United States is estimated to be
90.1 per cent of the number held one
year ago.
General Conditions: The month
of March was cool with considerable
rain and snow, resulting in a good
moisture condition, a delay in spring
blowing and seeding. The snowfall
for irrigation is about normal. Grass
started slowly and some suffering
and losses of livestock was reported.
The delay in the opening of spring
caused heavy feeding of the limited
of hay and a heavy demand
resulted, since there was a tendency
not to place orders.
F. w. BEIER,
Field Agent for Montana,
U. S. Bureau of Crop Estimates.