The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-08-27
MONTANA'S WHEAT
CROP Is PLACED AT
5l,OOO,OOO BUSHELS
ESTIMATE BY THE MONTANA
STATISTICIAN BASED ON
AUGUST REPORT
The Total Amount in Bushels Is Less
Than Production Of 1928. But 1t
Exceeds the Crop Average For the
Five Year Period of 1gf8-1923.

luOnAdAa idi ilCto tuin Aa&A WA
market 51,406,000 bushels of
wheat If figures given in the Aug.
crop report of George A. A. Scott,
statistician of the Montana crop re-
porting service, proves to be an ac-
curate estimate in comparison with
the 62,4S6, 600 bushels marketed in
1923, and 40,506,000 bushels rep
resenting the five-year average OF
191s-1923.
The preliminary estimate on aver
age yield an acre for winter wheat
In Montana this year is 1863 bushels
making the estimated production Of
winter wheat 12,409,000 bushels
Yields are shown in the report as be-
ing good In most of the central coun.
ties, very good in the Yellowstone
drainage area, but lighter In Gallatir
county, in the north central district
and in the western counties.
From a condition of rs per cent Of
normal on August /, production Of
100000 bushels of spring wheat IL
forecast for the state. Because OF
weather conditions, small decline
was observed in the condition oil
spring wheat during July. Spring
wheat was in excellent condition In
the eastern counties on August /, but
less satisfactory west of the noun
tains.
The Sect report indicates that the
estimated small decline in the 1924
wheat production as compared with
1923 will be largely due to adverse
conditions in the western portion OF
the state Generally poor conditions
continued in the west central counties
and some local shortage of irrigation
water in western and southwestern
counties was an adverse factor. Crop
damage from grasshoppers and hail
was local in extent where it has been
experienced, and has been much less
severe than during the last two years,
In the eastern third of the state,
crop prospects are excellent, says the
report, and quite generally good In
other counties east OF a line between
Havre and Livingston. West of this
line, crops average somewhat lower.
Concerning the major crops other
than wheat, the report says:
Corn: The condition of corn is
still low, being rated at 76 per cent,
an Improvement of one point from the
July / condition. A crop of 1904
900 bushels Cor equivalent) Is fore
cast larger by far than any ever
harvested in the state. Corn suffered
very little from dry weather, and de-
veloped rapidly I'm July, but is still
behind its normal degree of develop
ment at this season. Frequent cool
nights and cool periods during July
partially offset the advantages of
warmer periods. 1t is expected that
there will be considerable corn which
will fail to mature this fall, unless
frosts are unusually late.
Oats: The condition of oats on
August 1 was rs, decline Of II
points during July. A crop of 49,
256,000 bushels is morecast, being
one of the largest crops in the states
history. The stocks of oats on farms
are much heavier than usual, as
farmers are holding a good reserve
of feed.
Barley: Barley with a rating of
IT, promises a crop of 2,5S7 900
bushels. The percentage of Montana
barley irrigated is larger than for
other small grains, which accounts
for its relatively better condition.
Where waterfall has been short in
non-irrigated localities, barley pros
poets are poor.
Rye: A preliminary estimated ay-
erage yield of 13 bushels per acre
of rye indicates crop of 1874, 600
bushels this year, which is much less
than the last two years, due to re-
duced acreage. Most rye is now
grown for feed only.
Flax: A flax crop of 1913,
bushels is indicated by the condition
of 81, on August l. AS most of the
flax acreage is in the eastern counties
the prospects for a good yield remain
favorable Considerable wilt was re-
ported from northeastern counties,
with extent of injury not yet deter
mined.
Project Crop Review
Crop conditions on the Montana
reclamation projects up to August
were made public this week by the in
terror department. A summary of
the report follows:
Sun River Project: Crops on the
Fort Shaw division are In promising
condition and reports indicate a
heavy first cutting Of alfalfa. Grain
promises a good yield. Corn is not
making good headway due to the cool
weather The irrigated grain crops
on the Greenfield division will return
a good yield. In general the crops
on this latter division will not be
good, however, owing to the tendency
of the waterusers not to grow crops
adapted to irrigation farming and to
farm too large an area.
milk River Project: The first
cutting of alfalfa has been completed
and the second cutting Is under way.
The irrigation of beans. beets, corn
and grain is in full swing.
"Huntiey Project: In general,
crops appear better than ever before.
Harvesting is in full swing and the
threshing has begun.
'Lower \ Yellowstone Project. All
crops are in excellent condition. The
first cutting of alfalfa is one Of the
heaviest ever produced Corn Is
somewhat later than usual owing to
cold weather. Sugar beets are maxi
ing rapid growth.
Could Eat, But Couldn't see--A farmer
who went TO large city to see the sights