The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-04-23
AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK
SEEMS VERY FAVORABLE
Crop Prospects in Montana for Com
ing Season Look GOOd-Farm La
Dor Situation Unsatisfactory.

A favorable outlook for winter
wheat, rye in good condition, an unsat-
isfactory farm labor situation, and
a large reduction in the number of
breeding sows are shown in the April
crop report for Montana issued by F.
Beier, Montana field agent for the
United States bureau of crop esti-
mates.
Winter wheat.-The winter wheat
outlook for Montana shows an i'm
provement over last fall and the lack
of moisture at seeding time has been
followed by sufficient moisture to pro-
duce a condition 83 per cent of nor
NAL compared with 81 per cent n
year ago and a ten year average OF
| 90 per cent. The condition on Deem
Der /, 1919, was 80 per cent compar-
ed with a ten year average of "a per
cent. A few reports of limited areas
that have suffered from winter kill
ing and other damage in the central
| anu uOItl CCIlbI al PoICo Va CiS Wv
have been received. The condition at
this time forecasts a yield of $780,
900 bushels. The acreage sown last
fall is estimated at 425,000 acres conf
pared with 6O5, 900 acres in the fall
of 1918. Considering the condition
at seeding time last fall it can safe
ly be stated that winter wheat has
survived the winter in a condition far
beyond expectations and should Mon
tana be favored with good moisture
conditions this season the crop will
no doubt be good.
The winter wheat outlook for the
United States is less encouraging with
a condition of 1876 per cent compared
with 99.S per cent me year ago and
a ten year average of SAL per cent.
The f~orecasted yield for the United
States is 483,617 bushels, compared
with an estimated production 1885,
900 bushels in 1919, and 565,000 bu-
shells in 1918. The acreage sown in
the fall of 1919 was 3~8,77O,00O acres
compared with 5O,489, 900 in the fall
of 1918.
Rye.-The condition of rye is esti-
mated at 80 per cent of normal COM
pared with 92 per cent n year ago
and a ten year average of IS per cent.
The f~orecasted production of rye is
1 ,O41, 900 bushels based On an estimat-
ed planted acreage of $4,000 acres.
Farm labor.-Reports from all coun-
ties in the state show that the farm
labor situation is unsatisfactory. 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 the high wages, there seems
to have developed a feeling among the
farmers that they can afford to plant
only such acreage as can be handled
by themselves and with the assistance
of their neighbors. The whole out
look tends toward conservative farm
ing since the farmer feels that the
a present condition will not result in a
!, reasonable profit after taking into
. consideration the expense of operating
: his farm and the work of himself anG
e family.
e Breeding sows.-The number Of
breeding sows on the farms in Mon.
S tana show a serious reduction and is
" estimated at 70 per cent of the mum
Der on hand one year ago and but g.
per cent of the usual number. Thi!
reduction seems to be the result O
u high feed and a tendency to sci
breeding sows when prices are high
. The number of breeding sows in tn
United States is estimated to be 90.
a per cent of the number held one yea:
ago.