The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-09-04
FEED SITUATION
APPEARS BETTER

SlOI otl flCG i0fOo@
optimistic situation than Was az
narent a few weeks ago. DISCUS
sing the result of the survey ca
tension director ] c. Taylor points
ont that there are several tnou0,
ands tons of hay available ! the
western Montana counties ana re-
ports reaching him from NolOn
Dakota indicate that additional
snnnlies are to be found there
The dominating factor in the Slt
nation. Director Taylor points ou''
is that sheep and cattle IN coun-
ties in the feed shortage area
must be brought to the hay OF
the hay must be brought to the
counties where needed ana elIhel
alternative involves an expense
which in many cases the price ol
livestock and livestock prouuctS
will not justify.
The efforts of county agents
and other extension workers are
being centered on emergency
problems growing out OF trough
conditions, Director Taylor States
County agents have made a COM
plete survey of the feed needs Oh
farmers and stockmen in areas
of feed shortage. At the same time
extension workers have detailed
information on the location OF a.
valuable feed supplies in this and
other states. Some sheep anu
livestock in drouth areas nave
been moved to market. Late rams
which helped to revive pastures
checked this movement. Whether
the fall movement of livestock
from Montana will be excessive
will be determined primarily by
the cost of available hay and feed
Mr.. Taylor states. Present i've
stock market quotations, he says
will not justify high prices for
feed, and if prices I too high,
farmers and stockmen without feed
supplies have no choice but 10
move their stock to market.
He points out that among 9TH
er things being done in the emer'
gency. railroads serving Montana
have granted reduced rates on
feeds and reports from certain ele-
vators indicate that they will
handle feed grains at cost. These
cooperative efforts are indications
that there is a wide appreciation
Of the seriousness of the problems
facing farmers and stockmen in
drouth areas of the state, says the
extension head.
Wherever possible, farmers and
stockmen, aided by extension a.
gents are garnering all possible
feed supplies within their areas.
In Daniels county farmers have
gone together to put up Russian
thistle hay on a cooperative basis.
In many counties Russian thistle
hay will be the feed mainstay in
wintering sheep and cattle. Two
brief circulars on emergency meth
DDS of w%intering sheep and cat
tie being distributed by extension
agents and livestock associations
are serving as valuable guides to
meet the critical feeding prob
lens.
While Russian thistles and 9th
err plants may be used for rough
age, livestock will require more
concentrated feeds such as linseed
and cottonseed meal to bring them
through the winter, and in the
movement of this feed the reduc-
ed rates granted by Montana rail
roads is especially important, Di-
rector Taylor states.
The effort to meet the acute
feed emergency is receiving the
cooperation of many agencies and
individuals. and through this CO.
operation the seriousness of the
situation in drouth areas will be
materially relieved, Mr.. Taylor be-
lieves. Many good farming and
stOckgrowing areas r faced with
the prospects of being practically
denuded of livestock and only
through the continued cooperation
of those with feed supplies, and
distribution agencies can this ma
jor calamity be avoided, he says.
The boosting Of feed and hay
to high prices could only result
in disaster to farmers and stock
men in the troubled areas as this
would force owners to move poor
ly conditioned stock to depressed
markets, and such liquidation
would strike a serious blow to the
livestock and farming industries
in many counties, the extension
head points out.
Because of the emergency feed
supplies that have been pressed
into service livestock buyers of
other states who have come to
Montana expecting to buy cattle
and sheep at give-away prices so
far have been disappointed, and
they will continue to be disap-
pointed in their effort to profit
from the misfortune of others,
says the director, if feed supplies