Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-06-25

M0ntana's livestock industry has
been assured the best supply OF
early summer feed since 1882 by
rainfall Of a substantial character,
a report issued at Helena by J. G.
Diamond, statistician Of the bureau
Of Agricultural economics, states
Response Of range lands and pastures
TO May rainfall carried range condition
to So percent Of normal as June opened,
a gain Of IL points over month earlier
and 80 points over the 1897 figure, j.
c.. Diamond, bureau statiStician, re-
ported IN the June / range and live
stock report issued recently.
Pastures were rated at 81 percent OF
normal a gain Of II points over the
month previous.
improvement in the livestock picture
was noted during May throughout the
state, although tagging somewhat IN
northeastern Montana, where effects
seen in slower recovery OF ranges and
smaller gains for livestock
Cattle were reported making excel
lent gains on abundant feed except IN
a few northeastern state areas. Calf
crops were said to have been good and
late spring losses light.
Sheep and lambs made good gains
and lamb crops were reported good.
SnoWstorms during the month resulted
In some lamb losses, but considering
the favorable winter loss ratio, the
states sheep population entered the
summer season with less than the usual
number Of losses.
Only few scattering May wool sales
were reported, and only few inquiries
for fall feeding lambs were noted
Because Of the best supply Of early
summer feed in sight at any time dur
ing the past five years, and better
than average prospect for hay crops,
cattlemen are beginning to make plans
for restocking herds that were severely
depleted during the years Of drouth
and feed shortage.
Weather conditions in mid-June we're
less favorable for advancement Of
crops, pastures and ranges than IN the
preceding two weeks, the FEDERAL
weather and agricultural economies /
bureaus reported.
Dry land crops and lower ranges In /
the western third of the state had be- !
gun to show the effects Of continued /
dry weather, the joint report stated. I
an some extreme western districts, .
the report said, winter wheat has T
been reported burning, alfalfa consid-
erably reduced as to prospective yield,
and spring grains slowed up or at a
standstill
In the more eastern two-thirds of
the state. however. growing conditions
have continued most favorable.
while irrigation has required a
heavy outlay Of water, supplies gener-
ally have been adequate with the ex-
ception Of a few extreme western 10
calities
Irrigated crops are mostly excellent,
with more water available this season
for pastures and hay crops than
usual.
Except where heavy growth of weeds
has interfered winter wheat has main
tanned a generally excellent condition.
Spring wheat and other small grains
are mostly doing well. Much of the
spring grain crop, like winter wheat,
has stooled heavily, and the resultant
dense stands win require more than
the usual amount Of moisture for
growth during the hot weather periods.
while lower ranges have been dry
ing up to some extent in the extreme
west, conditions Of ranges and pas
lures in other sections have continued
good to excellent.
livestock continued doing fine"