Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-12

Iyear. A somewhat lower premium than
this is generally paid for wheat Of high
milling quality, as determined by gluten
content.
Wheat Movement Slow
Percentage of Wheat Marketed by
October l is estimated 10 be % per
cent, compared to 50 per cent last year
at a corresponding time. A slower
movement this year is due to a later
season, the tendency of some TO hold
for better prices, the high haulage
charges. and to some extent TO car
shortages at some points.
The preliminary estimated yield per
acre of oats for the state is 81 bushels,
and the total production is 14,973.000
bushels, compared to last months fore
cast of Is, 100000 bushels, the 1921
estimate of 10, 7S7, 900 bushels and the
five-year average of 14,S56,000 bush
! els. Last year the crop was estimated
to yield "A bushes per acre in Mon
tana. GrasshOppers did very material
stroying some fields, and yields have
damage to the oat crop, totally de-
The quality of oats is very good, ay-
been disappointing in many sections.
eraging better than for last year.
The barley crop is estimated at
1,4SS,000 bushels, based upon an esti-
mated average yield per acre of "a
bushels. Last months forecast for
barley was 100000 bushels. while the
1921 and 1920 crops were estimated at
100000 and 1,05S,000 bushels respec-
lively.
Weather Aids Corn
Warm and dry September weather
matured practically the entire corn
crop of the state. The production
forecast for corn remains the same as
for last month, 6,624,000 bushels, COM
pared to the estimated harvested crop
of 2,560.000 bushels for 1921. The
above forecast for this years crop is
based upon the total acreage in corn,
that is. assuming that all of it will be
harvested for grain. As much of our
corr is not harvested for grain, the
forecast should be considered in that
light.
Flax in Montana suffered a decline
in prospects during September, due
chiefly to continued ravages by hop
pers, and a frost in the extreme north
eastern part of the state which caught
some late fields. The condition on
October l was 20 per cent of normal
compared with "A per cent on Septem-
Der i, 80 per cent a year ago, and So
per cent for the 10-year average on
October l. A production for the state
of 1.63S,0O0 bushels is indicated by the
October l condition, as compared to
the September forecast of 1,732,OO0
bushels. an estimated production of
1,125,00O bushels for 1921. and 1903
900 bushels for the f~ive-year average.
Potatoes Matured Well
Potatoes have matured well in the
absence of killing f~rosts; hoppers con
tinued to damage many fields; disease
and insects will cut the yields and in
jure the quality in some localities,
while Il very dry season in the Flat
head section accounts for a lower yield
there. Reports of early digging show |
somewhat lower yields than expected
in many sections. while the quality is
high. The condition of the crop on
October | was 81 per cent compared to
80 per cent September 1, % per cent
one year ago and the 10-year average
of n per cent for October J.. The
problem of marketing the crop is one
of great concern to the growers. as
current prices at consuming centers
do not justify producers to dig. grade
and ship. Local markets, which can
handle only a small part of the states
crop, are taking what they can, giving
the farmer an average of about rs
cents per hundred sacked. Owing to
the low prices and relatively high costs
of digging. grading and marketing, it
IL quite possible that many spuds will
be left in the ground and some will
evidently be marketed by the pork
route. Based on the October 1 condi-
ton the crop is forecasted at 7,034.OO0
bushels. a decrease of 2S1 900 bushels
from the September forecast. The
1921 crop was estimated at 5000. 900
bushels. To September %. Montana
had shipped % cars against 13j cars
TO the same date last year.
Ranges in Good Shape
Montana ranges are generally in good
and reports Indicate a better
feed situation than one year ago. A
few dry spots are found in the northern
and western sections. while warm dry
weather in September cut the ranges
short and matured the grass and water
shortages are reported in a few locali-
ties. The ranges of the southern.
and eastern sections are
generally very good with but few dry
spots. The grass crop has been very
good but matured late. while ranges
hat were Over-grazed in the past dry
Years are coming back. The feed out
ook is very good as the hay crop is
arge and several sections report a
,IIrpluS-