The Bismarck tribune., 1931-09-15
SHEEP AND CATTLE
AND FORAGE CROPS
IMPROVED IN n. D,
Ben kienholz, Federal Agricul-
tural Statistician, Makes
Out Report j.

Fargo, N. D.. Sept. 15.-Ranges and
the condition Of cattle and sheep Inn
proved in North Dakota during Au-
gust. according to the report Of Ben
Kienholz, federal agricultural Stats
ttcian here
Temperatures during August we're
above normal, save for the last week
of the month when frosts were re-
ported in some places which did some
damage to corn and other crops. The
daily excess In temperature was about
l.6 degrees. The normal temperature
for August Is 66.1 degrees. It is Of
interest to note that on the second of
August at Moorhead. temperature
Of 102 was recorded. which is the
highest in 81 years of record. Rain
fall was short in the eastern part Of
the state while the area around
Devils Lake reports la inches above
the normal Of 2.48 inches. In spite Of
the high temperature of August, the
ranges and pastures are in better con-
dition than they were a month ago.
Prospects for fall and winter range
are a little better than they were a
month ago, when IS per cent Of the
reporters indicated unfavorable pros
poets as against only So per cent re-
porting conditions as unfavOrable on
September first. Some areas in the
state have q very grave situation as to
fall and winter range and feed, which
will probably continue until next sea-
son. Fortunately, some of those areas
are small, and are surrounded by
areas which have surplus food stocks
so that the livestock can be provided
for.
Close Selling Forced
In rather large area of the state
food shortage will force very close
selling Of stock, and In some cases
breeding stocks will be sold below the
numbers normally kept. In few
cases stock are being sold because O1
winter shortage. Soil moisture condi.
tions Of the state are not good, as Il
per cent Of the reporters state though
the supply Is short. while % per cent
say there is sufficient, and the re.
mainder say there is surplus.
North Dakota ranges improved dur
ing the last month. The present CON
dition Is u per cent OF normal a.
compared with so q month ago, 81
a year ago and SO per cent for th'
five-year average. South Dakota
. condition remains at 81. while Mon
tana went up from go to 66, and Wy
oming from 68 to "a per cent Of nor
NAL. OF the remaining range states
is indicate better conditions than
month ago, 6 below that of q month
ago, and one, Utah, remains the same
The average condition of ranges in tn
II western states is 73 per cent Of nor
NAL, 73 per cent a month ago, 81
year ago, and 86 the five-year aver
age.
! Cattle and Calves
North Dakota cattle and calve
have held up very we'll in the rang
area, considering the condition of tn
ranges. Their condition is 81 pc
cent Of normal compared with 70 pc
cent q month ago, 81 a year ago, an
$50 per cent for the five-year aver
age.
Sheep and Lambs
Condition of sheep and lambs L
North Dakota went up from 70 on Au
gust first to "a per cent of norma
on September first. This compare
with 81 per cent year ago, and 8
| per cent for the five-year average
Sheep in South Dakota, Montana an
Wyoming are in fair to good conditio
with the exception of those in the DR.
areas where there are some thin one
|, The condition of sheep in the wester
II states is "a per cent of normal,
per cent a month ago, SO a year ag'
, l91.6, the five-year average.