The Bismarck tribune., 1934-07-16
JULY REPORTS GIVE.
Rains AS Cause OF.
FAVORABLE CHANGES
Government Cattle BUYING
Greatly Relieved Feed and
Water Situation
CALF CROP is SMALLER
Winter Feed Shortage u Gen.
eral Prospect for State,
Reports Reveal

Cattle and sheep have improved
somewhat in North Dakota over last
month according to the July first
range and livestock report Of the
Federal Statistician's office Ut Fargo.
Most Of tho state had sufficient
rains to cause growth in pastures and
ranges. In tho southern part and
some Of the ncsShern counties. how
ever, ranges and pastures are still
very short. Range and pasture feed
has been supplemented by turning
the stock into crop fields which was
last resort In many cases to save
the life Of the animals and also to
utilize sparse growth Of tho crop.
Present outlook Is not favorable for
the production Of sufficient feed tor
next winter. Late planted crops have
not made as rapid a growth as 1t was
hoped they would make. Much Of the
corn Is well below normal for this
time Of the year.
The government buying program
has greatly relieved the feed and wa
ter situation. Many farmers are
hauling water for miles to their
stock.
Reports indicate that the calf crop
will be about 10 per cent smaller than
last year. This Is due to weakened
condition Of the cows and q resulting
weak calf which has caused higher
than normal losses.
The lamb crop Is close to or q trifle
higher than normal according to re-
ports. Many reporters state twin
lambs born are more frequent than in
years past, also the number Of dry
ewes Is smaller.
Feed Prospects Poor
Range feed prospects for this fall
are reported as poor by 81 per cent Of
the reporters while 81 per cent report
fair. Winter feed prospects will be
below normal according to 95 per cent
Of the reports.
The one bright spot In the threat
ened feed shortage Is that farmers
and ranchers have taken we'll to the
government buying program as several
hundred Thousand head Of cattle have
been contracted for up to July first.
Stockmen are of the general opinion
that further reductions are desirable
because Of the poor feed situation.
Soil moisture Is regarded as short
by about so per cent Of the reporters.
Some waterholes are filling up. Stock
water supply Is still acute In some SEC
ttons but has been greatly relieved
over what it was last month.
North Dakota Is not alone In her
troubles Of poor crops, pasture and
ranges. Much Of the area in the
range states face Z serious range and
winter feed situation as the following
paragraph from the Department OF
Agriculture regional office at Denver
indicates:
Condition ID General
Range and pasture feeds are poor
over most Of the western states, with
prospects Of q continuation Of the
serious feed shortage In the fall and
winter. June rains gave some tenn
porary relief In the Dakotas, Nebraska,
Montana, and few high areas.
Range feed Is good In Washington,
western Oregon, northern Idaho,
western Montana. and higher sections.
There Is . serious shortage Of range
Iced in the Dakotes, eastern Montana
Wyoming, northwestern Nebraska,
western Kansas, OElahoma, the west
ern half Of Texas, New Mexico, Ari-
1ona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, south
ern Idaho. southeastern and central
Oregon. and the southern half Of Cal.
Hornia. The immediate feed situa- |
ton IS very bad. with . serious short
age Of stock water over much Of the
range country. More than normal
rainfall win b required to revive
ranges and pastures. Short summer
feed has resulted In the early use Of
fall range and pastures and the NOV
in: Of livestock. Hay and feed crops