Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-06
LACK OF STOCK
INDICATED BY
BUREAU FILES
Indications Point to Return
of Stable Conditions i'm
Near Future.

A shortage of cattle in Montana is
now apparent on the ranges, according
to the report of the Montana Publicity
bureau of Minneapolis, which predicts
a return of more stable conditions of
the industry as a result.
The report reads:
After periods of stress such as the
industry has passed through since 1917,
it is impossible to get a reliable check
on the number of cattle left on the
farms to furnish the future beef sup
ply. Drought, crop failures. high prices
and war demand. up through 1919, with
forced marketing since then. has caused
the ratio of slaughter of cattle in the
country to far exceed production the
last five years. A very large proportion
of the cattle of America is produced
in range territories. Operations there
are TO a great extent on a large scale
and demand heavy financial backing
from the outside.
while the total receipts of the
markets of the country show com
parativeIy small decrease since 1910.
it is evident that adverse conditions
affecting the cattle business caused
constant marketing of numbers IN
excess of the ~consumptive demand and
cattle men consequently have suffered
the greatest yearly drop in values
known in the history of their opera
tons. Heavy marketing for war our
poses up to 1920 and excessive market
ing since then is no indication of
over production but rather of serious
depletion. The year 1921 has also been
the greatest year since 1908 for the
expectation of live meat animals. which
has been another factor decreasing
farm herds. Records for Ten months
of 1921 show that exports of all meat
products amounted 10 1919 94 pounds
as compared with 1~.OO2.31S,922 pounds
during the same period 1918, .
Face Restocking Problem
There can be no doubt that a
serious shortage of cattle exists on
ranges The past season has cleaned
Up practically all aged cattle west of
the Missouri river. Not only has there
been marketing Of young stock, which
in the usual course during normal times
remain on the farms and ranches for
another year, but in many cases sale
of stock from the breeding ranks was
necessary to meet financial obligations
occasioned by heavy decline in prices
since 1918. Dairying has resulted in
NFotlAAE Jaws III a Ia IL wv 'aAS
1000 900 calves were killed last year.
From all indications the world will be
short of beef products for some years
to come and cattle raising will be n
of the most profitable enterprises.
"Montana's famous grass fed cattIe
are again back to their old time stan
dard Cattle have matured late due to
the late hardening of the grass. this
with the hope of better prices has
generally delayed movements to mar
kets. so that shipments are two or
three weeks late. The feed outlook is
very good as the hay crop is large and
several sections report a surplus.
"Sheen are generally in very good
condition, with those from high ranges
in extra good shape. Sheep prices
are on a higher level than any other
agricultural product. with a strong
market and a heavy demand. The
lamb crop which. is short, generally
sold or contracted early. and
ome reports indicate that fully so
Der cent of the crop was contracted
bv September 10 at prices around
10 cents. The market has strength
ened and sales at from 10 10 11i2
cents are reported and at the close
of the month. offers of 10 cents are
reported from Beaverhead county.
L ne l.. - 1tA'dt iIiltiit VI Z
reports the 1929 wool production is
estimated at fa,416.000 pounds. The
average price to the grower is APP
proximately SO cents per pound.
Farm Land Booms
The bureau also reports that the
movement toward Montana farms also
shows a pronounced tendency to in
crease, with conditions in the middle
west and east promising. In this con
n~ection. the report reads:
Confidence in Montana is being
restored in the middle west and east,
the good crops of 1922 being her
aided to all parts of the country by
Montana people who write back to
their former homes with stories of
production. The immigration business
is several times larger in 1922 than
in 1921, and viii be larger yet in
1923. Many persons came to Mon
tana on the homeseekers' tickets from
eastern points in 1922.
These assertions were made by T..
C. Leedy, general agricultural devel-
~ontuaut agent of the Great Northern