Glacier County chief., 1940-11-01

The growth of shCcpraiSing in
! Daniels county provides 4 good
illustration of farmers developing
lOng-range program of better
land use coupled with switch
| over from Cne-Crop farming to
diversified agriculture. This trend
toward sheepraising has largely
followed from farmers studying
their own needs.
Only three years ago northeastern
Montana experienced an unprCCedent-
ed drouth that virtually cleaned its
ranges of cattle. sheep and horses.
Trailing in the wake of a decade Of
poor crops. this situation discourage
everyone and hundreds Of families
moved out of this county. The 1910
census shows 1000 persons left in the
last decade.
Those who stayed saw return to
better moisture years and more salts
flying crop yields. They could well APP
preclate the contrast between 1887 and
1888. In the former year herds had
been up to normal, but the drouth
which set in the spring and summer
of 1887 had its effect The lO,67G sheep
of 1887 dWindled to 6881 in 1898; the
zoos cattle of 1887 dropped to 3238
in 1888. and the 3.256 horses of 1887
decreased to 2.226 in 1893, as figures
in the county assessors office show
"neat faleu
Repeated failure Of the grain crop
had demonstrated that farmers in this
area could not rely on wheat--aiSinc
alone for their income. When the
grass began to grow again and Whea,
yields increased, produces cons !dered
the problem of resCOckIng On Il per-
manent basis and using their land
to greater advantages.
1t was here that planning COM
mittCe, working in conjunction with
the AAA program and guided b. the
county extension service. developed 4
guidance program for better land use
il Daniels county.
Later published, a thorough study
was made of the soil, number al
types of farms in each comm 1ni.y,
number Of acres of grazing ana
farmed acres. the water supply 2nG
all other facts upon which the COM
mittee based its recommendation for
better farming practices.
This land use planning commlss; o.:
county. approximately 10000 We're
farm titled acres. Under E. w. EiJrE,
then the county agent, ne COrImi tee
explored the possibility Ct converting
additional acres into fam land.
Providing irrigation practices were
developed, it was found that CRY a
few thousand acres Of grazing land
could be converted into farm land. 1t
was held more practical 10 MAINTAIN
the range for grazing purposes and
to use it in such a way as TO prevent
future feed shortages which would
again necessitate shipping stock as in
1887 and 1888.
Extra Acreage
Thus farmers we're urged to have
sufficient feed acreage to take care
of their stock for two or three "ears
if necessary. Under the AAA. their
diverted acres were used for planting
corn, millet, crested Wheatgrass or
sweet clover. Such practices confo-med
with the soil conservation program
and made for better farming.
When the producers began to build
up their herds and flocks again, they
bought into sheep because less capital
was needed and quicker returns were
obtained. On a general basis this has
proved desirable, according to the
present county agent, E. F. Kempton.
Raising of sheep in connection with
wheat farming shows itself to be a
practical combination, Kempton said.
He pointed to the increase in sheep
in this county in the last three years
and the conspicuous development of
farm flocks as proof of this assertion.
The number of sheep in Daniels
yearly assessment shows. This has fol-
lowed the increase from the 6,881 in
1888 to the 1902 in 1899. 1t is sig
nificant that of the 805 farms in the
county, there are rs operators engaged
in sheepraising.
While there are IL sheepmen in the
county with flocks numbering more
than $780, the remainder have strictly
farm flocks that vary in number from
5 to $50 sheep. OF the large-scale OPP
orators, only two run more than $500
sheep.
Recently five sheepmen joined in the
purchase of $50 good-blooded yearling
ewes from Chinook The move indicates
local sheepmen likely will further de-
velop sheepraising as means of better
utilizing the land of Daniels county
GETS AIRPORT GRANT
An allotment of S97,223 for a WPA