The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-07-10
DROUTH BROKEN In
STATE GENERALLY
Wheat and Flax Crop in Eastern
Part of State a Total Failure
Pastures are Improving Though
Short-Gardens Great Improve
ment Following Rains.

Pastures are Improving though
ShOrt-Gardens Great Improve
ment Following Rains.
Helena, July s. Quite an I'M
provement in feed and crop condi-
lions has taken place In many
parts of the state by reason Aof
rains of the past 10 days, relieving
to a considerable extent apprehen-
sion of stockmen due to previous
shortage of water and forage. Dur
ing the week ending Saturday, Ju-
ly A, precipitation ranging from
heavy showers 10 good rains were
enjoyed in several central, north
ern and southern counties, giving
renewed life to ranges and hay
fields and improving the chances
for small grains. Hail, which &C
companied rains in some sections,
did considerable damage to limited
areas.
Precipitation for the week, as
reported by the II principal wealth
er bureau stations was: Billings, o;
Bozeman 10; Cut Bank =; Glas-
cow "a; Glendive .16; Great Falls
1.2O; Havre LA; Helena 1872; Kali
ispell .O6; Lewistown 10; Miles
City .O6; Missoula .04.
For the entire month of June
these same stations reported as
follows: Billings .78; Bozeman
LA; Cut Bank 6; Glasgow ESQ;
Glendive 3.18; Great Falls 1.84;
Havre Ill; Helena 1.72; Kalispell
las; Lewistown 1.88; Miles City
100 and MisSoula LOG.
According to reports to the
state department of agriculture by
agricultural extension agents in "a
out of the Sc Montana counties fol
the week ending Saturday, July 4
the feed situation was much i'm
proved in those counties enjoying
ample rains, livestock was holding
up we'll except in those sections
suffering feed and water shortages
and rains had encouraged many b;
hold stock which otherwise would
have been shipped to feed or mar
keted prematurely.
In the irrigated sections where
growing conditions were general!
very good, first cutting of alfalf;
was going into the stack with fai
yields. Hope for small grains hat
been practically abandoned in SOM
eastern and northeastern cOuntie
and with indications of but meage
yields in others. In some section
where wheat is too short for har
vesting or for cutting as hay it i
being pastured. Seeding of for
/ age crops was still underway il
some localities. Sugar beets ar
generally in excellent cOnditio
with thinning practically complet
ed. Most of the wool crop ha
been shorn and much of it shipped
Reports by county agents Q
Sheridan and Roosevelt countie
follow:
Sheridan County
Exceedingly warm first part G
week with light shower of rain
central part of county on Sunda
afternoon. Remainder of wee
cool with strong northwestern
: winds Wednesday. Small area
western part of county receive
benefit of heavy rain several week
ago is only part of county in whiC
there is any possibility of payin
crop. Other sections of count
show not improvement over la!
week. County commissioners flu,
q nishing farmers with $50 pound
I of millet seed in order to resee
d some fields that have been blow
q out or dried out with hopes TIL
e some feed crops may yet be pr
T duced. Livestock holding the
g own. Some move to market. OF
: er farmers making plans to di
:, pose of their stock in the near f
ture.
Z Roosevelt County
IS Rain in central section helps
/ crop conditions locally. Extreme
n hot weather June 27-28 burn'
crops in many fields. Crops DOH
e well where moisture is availabl
II Corn in particular making gO'
l. growth. Wheat and flax crops
d failure in two-thirds Of count
Haying started with a very she
is crop in sight. Cutworms still dal
e, aging corn. Limited grasshopp
r, damage reported. Livestock NJ
n feeding in fields in which sm'
'r grain was seeded but grew up
70 thistles. Feed situation in mC
areas will not be acute for six
or days. Many stocknen shipping
a. part of herd to market and expe,
ne ing 10 ship more in early fall.
al LATER
20 General showers over the cour
e; this week in addition to the p
20 cipitation reported above, is p
ID noting the growth of grass
Z ranges and in pastures.
~ The weather for the past we
IN IN has been exceptionally cool VIII
~ preserves moisture. High win
E however continue. Gardens q
nc y potatoes are showing good grow
u Indications are that the drouth
a. broken. However there will be
=: grain at all in eastern Montan
to