The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-06-18
PROSPECTS
FOR MONTANA

Combined condition of 10 crops in
Montana on June l was 81.8 per cent
Of normal compared with the 10-year
(1916-24) average of 86.8 per cent
and the Swear (192O-24) average of
1872 per cent. The general prospect
on June 1, on this basis is about 81
per cent OF the 10-year average and
80 per cent of the more favorable
average of the past 5 years accord
ing to the official government and
state forecasts.
These averages based on the COM
bined estimates of several hundred
farmer crop reporters and represent
! ing every county in the state show
the situation as Of June l. Growing
conditions since that date have con-
/ tinued somewhat dry for best devel-
opment vegetative growth. A rather
general need Of good rains has now
developed over the greater part of
the state.
District 1 CNorthwest) including
/ Flathead, Lincoln. Lake and Sanders
Combined condition of 10 crops, on
] June 1 was S8.8 per cent of a normal
compared with the same figure as the
4 average of the past five years. June
I 1 prospect, therefore, about average.
May rainfall was below normal and
first week of June too dry for best
! progress. Needs rain.
District (West CENTRALLY including
: MisSOula, Mineral, Powell, Granite, Deer
Lodge, Ravalli-COmbined condition IL
crops including fruits 902 per cent OF
normal compared with 91.S the aver
age Of the past five years. June l pros
pect about 9S per cent of the 5-yeaI
average. May rainfall was below nor
NAL and first week of June somewhat
dry. Apples, small fruits and diver
sified crops still have excellent out
look
District (Southwest) including
Beaverhead, Madison and Silver Bow
Combined condition of 10 crops on
June 1 was 1901 per cent Of normal
compared with 5-year average of 92.C
per cent. June 1 prospect better thar
5 year average. May rainfall near nor
NAL. Field crops have general excel
lent outlook. Hay, cattle and sheep i'm
portant in this district with excellent
range prospect.
Above three districts cover western
third of state mostly lying west of Di
District 2 North CENTRALLY including
Blaine. Chouteau, Glacier, Hill, Liberty
IPondera. Teton and Toole-Combineo
per cent of normal compared with 5.
year average of 88.5 per cent. June
prospect about points below this av'
erage. May rainfall deficient, but re-
growth made early start. Important
wheat area having IL per cent of win
ter and 21 per cent of spring wheat
The former crop declined during May
but latter has better than average out
look at present. Area needs rain
District (Central) including Broad
water, Cascade, Fergus, Golden Valley
Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lewis q clark
Meagher, Musselshell, and Wheatland-
Combined June condition 10 crops 81.
per cent of normal Average of past
years 900 per cent. June prospec
about 81 per cent of average. May rain
fall approached normal in southern anC
eastern portions of this area. Districts
holds 80 per cent of winter wheat and
II per cent of spring wheat with june
condition of former of 80 per cent anC
Sc per cent for the latter First weel
of June dry but crops have held up wei
and would generally improve with rains
District (South CentraD Including
Carbon, Gallatin, Parks, saltwater
Sweet Grass and Yellowstone. Com
bined June 1 condition of 10 crops 81
per cent of normal compared with s.
year average of 1877 with general pros
pect therefor better than the average
May rainfall in this district shows {
range of ABB inches at Bozeman to less
than an inch at Billings, the western
portion exceeding May normal rain b!
| upwards OF half an inch and the east
ern end falling about inches below
/ District holds "a per cent of winter
/ wheat and 10 per cent of spring wheat
III DOth crops Delng SOOQ III the Odl1dllH
II Seed and canning peas, sugar beets ant
II beans are also important crops, the lat
II ter three being in the eastern end o
H the district where dry weather has re
II tarded progress. East end Of this dis
II trict needs rain badly with some deteri
II grafton already apparent. Rest of dis
II trict not yet suffering.
II The above three districts compris
central third of the state lying jus
east of the Continental Divide. Live
stock conditions in this whole area a
well as in western third are good
District 8 (northeast) including Dan
iels. Phillips, Roosevelt, Sheridan an
Valley Combined conditions of 1
crops TIA per cent of normal on Jun
1 compared with average of 92.5 70
past five years and is therefore abOu
S4 per cent of this average. May rain
II fall varied but was mostly below nor
| NAL: winter reserve of moisture goo
and spring seeding early. First wee
in June brought rain over norther
part of Valley and western and north
/ ern Daniels. Area generally needs raj
and some earlier dry weather damag
apparent. Area has % per cent o
spring wheat and "a per cent of stat
/ fax acreage. Dry weather has bee
Y unfavorable for latter and sprin