Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-07-01
From Montana state College,

TIME opening OF summer nnds hon-
tana we'll on its way to a harvest
i that bears every evidence OF being
most satisfactory. according to re-
ports from county agricultural agents. A
little more tina a week OF good growing
weather early in June was sufhclent 10
change the crop outlook from dubious to
excellent and to dispel much OF the
gloom created by six weeks OF snow,
rain and cold weather. Reports from
practically every one OF the % county
agents in the state can be summed up IN
the two words, "crops fine"
Acreage figures are still unavailable ex-
cent for the winter grains. According TO
the state department of agriculture the
light abandonment of winter wheat
the comparatively fine growth OF THIS
crop the prospects are for a crop ap-
Droaching O,0OO. 900 bushels or almost
5000. 900 bushels more than were har-
vested last year. The prospective crop OF
winter rye is nearly SOC, 900 bushels more
than last year and more than 100000
bushels more than the l0-year average.
The forecast is for more than l,o0o,ooo
bushels.
The spring wheat outlook is almost as
encouraging. The fields planted early are
we'll advanced, stands are good and notn-
ing appears in the immediate horizon to
change the situation. Later planted
wheat is but little behind that planted
earlier. How much spring wheat acreage
remained implanted at the close OF the
planting season is still predetermined.
Estimates in central Montana counties
indicate that from is to 20 per cent OF
the intended wheat acreage has been d.
verted to other crops or plowed for sum-
mer fallow.
Apparently corn has been chiefly az
fected by unfavorable spring weather.
Not only do reports indicate a
acreage but fields are said to be spotted
and growing slowly. Flax may show q
slight increase over last year but there Is
not the marked shift to this crop tnat
would nave occurred had good seed been
available. Sugar beets are doing well
after struggling through a trying plant
ing season; prospects are excellent ior q
good apple crop in western Montana, and
such crops as peas and beans on irri-
gated land have suffered some reverses'
Range conditions have never been better,
pastures are the best in years and these
factors coupled with a greatly increased
acreage in feed n hay crops gives as
surance of one OF the best livestock years
in the last decade.
While Montana's prospects are very IA
porable, the national situation is in
clined to be rather the reverse. A re-
view of agricultural conditions through
out the country by the United States de-
partment of agriculture, points out thai
the last two months have turned this
into a backward, and discouraging season
Throughout the north the rains and colo
weather delayed spring planting probably
two weeks later han average. The floods
in the lower Mississippi valley have
swept over an immense area during the
past month. In contrast, the Southeast
and a portion of the Southwest have SUI
fered from drouth. Eastern pastures and
western ranges alike have been slow to
furnish spring feed though the abundant
moisture promises an ample grass croE
for summer.
The Mississippi flood has inundated
something over 5000, 900 acres OF croE
lane in five states. The extent OF ioca
damage is enormous. From the stand.
point Of a national supply, however, cot
ton is the only major crop affected. The
advance in the cotton market reflected
the fact that somewhat over 80 per cent