The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-12-10

EONTANA agriculture this year
IWH is reaping a harvest worth
Ava $~1S0,00O,0 coo, according to the
annual report of A. H. Bowman, COM
missioner of Agriculture to Governor
Erickson. The farms of Montana are
worth $453,OOO,0 900 and each farm
is valued at $9,626. This magnificent
expansion, says Mr.. Bowman, is the
result of the determination and vision
of Montana farmers who have had to
contend with the postwar deflation
together with three disastrous seas
ons of drought.
Despite the loss of 1912 farm families
since 1920, agriculture in Montana is max
ing steady strides and substantial advanc-
es, the commissioner indicates. Montana is
now in the era of wheat crops valued an
nually at more than $50, 00O, 600, the highest
in value she has ever had. Prior to 19l2
her wheat production amounted to less than
Development of Montana's wheat has not
been OverdOne, the Commissioner states,
and the state will find still further eXpan-
sion in wheat production as increased set
Element and development takes place In
the state.
The 1926 crop season witnessed much I'M
favorable weather, with drought damage IN
several sections. The weather for the en-
tire season was unusual in many respects
and in many instances broke all state re
records for temperature and rainfall var
iatienS.
In the report Commissioner Bowman
gives an impressive outline Of the tremen-
dOus difficulties, which for a period OF
several years beset the livestock men Oh
Montana. During one year they paid out
more than $j0,00O,O0O for feed. With low
prices for beef, stockmen still have a diff
ficult problem before them.
Following is an extract from the report
of Commissioner Bowman to Governor
Erickson:
By A. III. BOWMAN, Commissioner of
Agriculture OF Montana, in His Annual
About 80 years have elapsed since the
first parcel Of ground was seeded in Mon
tana by white men to grains and yege-
tables, while the history of the rapid ex-
pansiOn of farming dates back only 4O
wears. First to the Treasure state came
the miner, followed by the stOckman and
later the farmer. When this OmmOn-
wealth was, in 1889, admitted to the sister
hood of states, far-sighted men visiOned the
possibilities of agricultural development
and S. A. d. Hahn commissioned to design
the great seal of the state, was instructed
to draw beside the miners pick and shovel
as an implement of the husbandman, the
pillow. It said that the first drawing was
of q left-handed pillow, and so dominant
were the mining interests of the state that
when the production was presented 10 the
governor and the Legislative assembly II
was carefully and sOlemnly examined and
pronounced good. Moreover, it is recorded
that as late as 1897 the sessions OF our law
makers did not include as a member OF
either house or senate a single dirt farm
err"
In 1900 the late James J. Hill, painting
pictures on the curtain of the future, pre-
dicted that the day would come In Mon
tana when the product of the farms would
exceed in value the products of the mines
The prophecy of the pioneer empire build.
er long ago come true, and in this year OF
1926 the value of farm crops alone will
approach Sis, 200, 600, almost twice the val
ne of the output Of the metal mines. tn
1900 farms Of Montana have this veal