Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-12

Helena, May 1.-THE May report
Of the Montana cooperative crop re-
porting service states that the amount
of hay fed during the past winter was
the lagest in the history of the state
and that very little of last years crop
is left. The report also states that
the loss of livestock from disease was
light and that Montana stock are un-
usually free from disease, but that the
loss from exposure has been fairly
heavy. Livestock have suffered from
the long cold winter and lack of early
range.
The 1921 hay crop was estimated at
2,407,OO tons, while On May /, 1921,
IS per cent Of the 1920 crop was left
on farms, making available for the past
winter about 3,35S,OD0 tons, and at the
present time the carry over is but
6 per cent Of the 1921 crop. This is
the largest amount fed since the federal
department of agriculture has been OBJ
tanning crop and livestock information.
Many localities that apparently had a
large surplus of hay do not have q suf-
ficient supply for spring work.
Hay Acreage Greater
The acreage for tame hay this year
is 5 per cent larger than last year
| COuSlQcIdUlt dl1dld~ dAu CiOfCI WILL w
seeded and there is a decided tendency
to grow forage crops in connection
with the diversified farming program.
Practically no loss of alfalfa has been
reported and the hay outlook is very
favorable.
The acreage of wild hay is estimated
at 1O4 per CEN of last year, with
favorable prospects for a good crop
as the ground Is well soaked.
The condition of the hay crop is %
per cent indicating a crop Of $4,000
tons from this condition.
The cold late spring has seriously
delayed the starting of the grass and
the old grass is short following the dry
condition of last fall and damage by
g~rasshoppers. Stockmen report that
ply of moisture. The condition of the
range is placed at "a per cent COM
pared to SO per cent last year. IS per
cent two years ago and the 10 year
average Of 81 per cent
Small Loss from Disease
The first half Of the year ending
April 80, 1922, was very favorable for
| Montana stock, the spring of 1921 be-
ing very favorable with early range and
splendid crops of pigs, lambs and calves
later the dry conditions of the range
followed by the past severe winter has
been a hard one on Montana stockmen.
Moutana's stock are very healthy and
loss from disease is below the average
for the United States. During the past
lack of feed) has been heavier than
usual.
Loss from disease of horses is esti-
mated at 10 head per thousand COM
pared to IA per 1000 last year and 10
year average of 10. Heavy losses of
range horses from exposure has been
reported.
Loss from disease In cattle past year
Is year . r 1000, last year IA head, 1C
year average Is per 1000. Losses from
exposure past year 45 head per 1000,
last year Is head, 1920 100 head and
the 10 year average of "a head per
1000.
Loss from disease In sheep past year
II head per 1000 compared to IA head
last year and the 10 year average of
Is per 1000. Loss from exposure past
year so head per 1000, last year Is
per 1000 and the 10 year average of
As per 1000, while for the year ending
1000.
April 80, 1920, the loss was 40 per
The loss from disease in lambs and
from exposure covering the latter part
| of last years lambing season and first
part of this indicates a loss Of 65 head
| per 1000, compared to go per 1000 to
| April 30. 1921, 10 per 1000 to April
80, 1920 and the 10 year average of
81 per 1000.
The loss Of swine from disease this
year is estimated at 10 per 1000 COM
pared to Il last year and the 10 year
average of q.
The above losses are based upon the
estimates of January /, 1922, placing
| the number of livestock in Montana as
| follows: Cattle, 1884, 600; horses. $751;
600; sheep, 2,170,OOO: swine, 10000;
| mules, 1900.
Winter Hard on Stock
The past winter with the early fall
of snow which covered much of the
, range, followed by long cold weather
| and continuous feeding, has been very
hard on Montana livestock. Range
horses have suffered severely, and all
| stock show the results of long feeding
and inability to get on the range. Hay
has been short in nan sections at the
| close of winter and many stock have
been turned out on short range where
grass is just starting, while the supply
of old grass, which Is a valuable part
of the early feed, is lacking.
Reports over the state vary greatly,
due to the supply of feed and prepared
ness to meet the past hard winter.
The condition of horses Is SO per
cent compared to IS per cent last year,
IS per cent two years ago and the 10
wear average Of % per cent.
Cattle show O condition of SO per
cent compared to 9S per cent last year,
- per cent the year before. and the
1O-year average of 90 per cent.
Sheep show a condition OF 50 per
| cent compared to 90 per cent last year,
so per cent in 1920, and the 10-year
average of Oh per cent.
The condition of swine is 81 per cent
compared to 81 per cent one year ago,
80 per cent two years ago, and the 10
wear average of 90 per cent.
Prospects are for a very short colt
crop. as the horse business is decidedly
on a slump. Early lambing has been
hit hy cold, stormy weather, and losses
are below the average, with better
nrospects for later lambs. Calves have
suffered with some losses where cows
are thin. but the later crop should be
very good. Spring pigs which promised
TO show a good increase in numbers
have suffered very heavily, and the
total number saved will be less than
last year. Reports of hairless pigs are
frequent.
cordtfIons In Counties