The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-09-19
MONTANA'S SPUDS
TOTAL AS Much
AS LAST YEAR

Although Montana's potato acreage
of $1,000 acres is 20 per cent less
than that of last year, a condition rat
ing of Sc per cent of normal on Sep
TENDER l forecasts a production OF 5-l
$1,000 bushels for 1923, compared TO
:. 796, 900 bushels produced last year
Production estimates for the three
previous years were as follows: l92l
4.714,OOO Bushels, 1920, 4,4OO,OOO
bushels, 1919, 1920 900 bushels. Po-
tatoes last year on Sept. 1 held a con-
dition of 80, while the ten year aver
age for this date has been 70. Inc
condition of the states commercial
crop is rated at 80 per cent. Reports
from all commercial sections Indicate
an average yield Of 10 to Is per cent
less per acre than was realized IN
1922, while the quality is expected to
be as good or better than last year.
The commercial tonnage apparently
will be little more than 60 per cent
of that available a year ago, as the
heaviest reductions in acreage natu'
rally has occurred in commercial DIS
tricts. Growing conditions so far
have been largely favorable to the
crop. but many were planted late, and
alternate hot and cool weather has
prevented best development. Dry not
periods have cut the prospective yield
in the eastern dry-land districts par
ticularly, and in parts of the north
west counties. Beetles have been
more numerous than usual in dis
tricts, and have injured many fields
Hoppers also have done severe injury
in spots in many counties. The SET
| of potatoes has been reported to be
generally lighter than a year ago
! Diseases have apparently not serious
ly affected the crop, a few localities
in different districts being excepted
Due to a shorter United States croI
of potatoes than last year, prices are
much more encouraging, and 1T IS ex
pected that Montana growers will b'
able to sell a much greater percentage
of their marketable crop than they dlt
last year. Only 1882 ars of the 1872.
crop were slipped and CAT cars OF tn
1920 crop. Prices will determine vol
ume of movement to a large degree
but present indications point to
seasons shipment from Montana o
about 1900 cars.
The reduction of acreage was gen
eral over the entire country this veal
including the early, intermediate, an
, late potato states. The total Unite
i States acreage this year is estimate
to be about 3,892,0O0 acres, compare
4 to 4,331,000 acres last year, or a n
duction of more than ten per cen
., Of the total estimated reduction c
! 439, 900 acres, about $4,000 acres les
was planted in the early prOducin
states, and will affect the markets fo
q the late crop little or none.
The September 1 forecast for tn
United States crop is 3S9.674,OC
bushels, compared to ~451,1S5,OC
bushels, the 1872 crop, and to $4,000
600 bushels, the average productlo
for the 5-year period of 19l7-l92
Conditions indicate substantially
average crop, although many fields
different parts of the country al
late, and are subject to early fro
injury. A production of 187,665,Ol
bushels is forecasted for eight OF Il
n important late potato states, includir
Maine. New York, Michigan, Wisco
n sin, Minnesota, ort Dakota, Colorad
and daho. Production IN these stat
on 1872 was 233,Os4,OOO bushels. Mo
ID tana potatoes must compete WI
er those from the above states.
Taking all things into c~onsideratb
lg it is reasonable to expect that Mo
m tana growers will be able to find
y fair market for potatoes of high qu'
ity this season. The necessity
carefully grading and handling is c
vious, however, a. the total crop
large enough to make the shipment
nd ordinary or low grade potatoes frS
ie. Montana points a risky procedure.