The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-15
Range, LIVESTOCK
IN BAD CONDITION
AYERS ]. s. REPORT
Situation Declares Worst in
History; All Glasses Are
Affected

North Dakota ranges and livestock
are passing through the most serious
situation since the state was settled,
In the opinion Of the Federal Agricul-
tural Statistician ct Fargo.
Weather conditions have been ex-
tremely adverse during the entire
growing season except June, when
nearly normal rainfall fell over most
Of tho state. During July tempera-
lures have been much in excess Of
normal with only about a per cent
Of normal rainfall. Hot winds add
ed to the above did much to cause
premature ripening Of crops and to
burn the pastures and ranges. II It
were not for the livestock buying pro-
gram and relief measures OF the gov.
eminent, farmers and ranchers would
be faced with staggering losses.
It Is common knowledge that the
marketings this fall have been very
much greater than . year ago Or IN
fact greater than In any similar per-
iod In the history Of the state. At the
present time (Aug. 1st) the govern
ment has purchased about 100000
head to date. All Of these cattle have
not been shipped but are being
shipped as rapidly as the carriers and
packers can handle them.
It is interesting to note that q very
high percentage Of calves Is being
shipped. Out Of this buying program
win come one bright spot, 50 stock
men state, ana that IL that restock-
ing will be done with q class Of cat.
tie which will be far superior in
breeding and conformation than is
much Of the stock now on the farm
and range.
Ranges At Low Point
Range feed Is now about at it, low
est point. It has all been graaed 90
closely that in most areas even the
crowns have been eaten.
Hay ana feed are going to be very
short over much Of the state during
the coming fall ana winter. There
10 no area which will have Z normal
hay crop although In the valley areas
there may be sufficient, II it Il pieced
out with straw, which is plentiful
where properly cared for.
Stock water Is becoming fully As
serious In much Of the state q Ii the
feed situation. Stock water Is being
hauled In increasing quantities and
for greater distances. Soil moisture
has oil but disappeared. Great cracks
have formed in the soil which causes
further evaporation.
To sum up, the situation 10 far Is
the stockmen are concerned u ~
serious and depressing as any they
have ever been called upon to face.
The Regional Livestock office at
Denver has the following to say about
range and livestock conditions as af-
fecttng the Western Range states:
Hay Crop Hard Hit
The supply Of range and pasture
feeds In the western states u the
smallest and poorest on record. Hay
and feed crops have been seriously
reduced by the drouth. The supply OF
fall and winter feed for livestock IN
relation to animal units Is the small
est on record. While conditions are
extremely serious now, conditions lat
er will be much worse. Late fall and
winter feeds are being used now and
many livestock on fairly good noun
tain feed will have little feed when
movd from higher ranges. Feed and
water shortages are particularly bad
in most Of the Great Plains areas.
where pastures are badly burned; hay,
corn and other feed crops very short.
Feed and water conditions are pArti-
cularly bad In the Dakotas, eastern
Montana. eastern wyoming. Nebras-
ka, western Kansas, eastern Color.
ado. western Oklahoma, the western
half Of Texas, and eastern New Mex
leo.
Cattle are in the poorest condition
on record, with prospects Of cattle
shrinking heavily from now. Cattle
are poor in drier sections and fair
In other areas. Losses have been con-
fined to the drouth areas but are In
creasing. The heavy government
purchases have taken many cattle and
calves that would have died.
Sheep In Poor Condition
1.-THE drouth has seriously affected
sheep. except in the higher areas.
Sheep conditions are particularly
serious In Texas, eastern New Mexico,
southeastern Colorado. lower range
and eastern Wyoming sections south
eastern Montana, the Dakotas, parts
OF Utah, Nevada, southeastern Oregon
and southern Idaho. Ewes are thin
in the driest areas and lambs are
stunted, particularly In Texas, east
ern New Mexico. and part Of south
eastern Montana, northeastern Wyom-
ine, ana western South Dakota.
Ranges are poor having an indi-
Gated condition figure Of - per cent
Of normal as compared with % =
month ago. - Z year ago and sos the
10.yeAr average.
Classification Of range conditions
by states shows North Dakota = just
average with - per cent Of normal.
Western Kansas Is In the worst con-
dition with 3 per cent and South
Dakota u next with ~ per cent. Mon.
taaa, with s. per cent. Is In the best
condition Of any range state.