Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-01-10
MONTANA FARMS
EARN $6l,4S3.OOO
WHEAT rs PRINCIPAL CROP; BEST
RECORD OF ANY YEAR SINCE
DROUTH. BUREAU REPORTS

Montana farms and ranches pro-
duced crops worth $6l. 1885, 900 dur
ing 1910. This crop value total, the
federal agricultural marketing
service reported recently. Was the
highest for the post drouth years
10 date. Value Of 1899 crops was
S58.265, 900. and the 10-year uS2s-
1881 average was s56, sos, 900. The
states leading crop. wheat, was
valued at s33.08l 900 this year
about a million dollars higher than
in 1889 and nearly nine million
dollars above the 10-year average.
Hay. the second largest item on the
crop list, was worth s1l 1923 900 in 1910
as compared with sl2.089 900 in 1899
and the 1O-year average value of sl8.-
$4,000. In the case of hay, the lower
value of the larger than average crop
represented lower cost Of hay in live
stock production, repeating what has
been favorable ratio between feed
costs and meat animal prices for the
last two years.
Sugar beets set new production and
value records this year, when the crop
was worth $500 900.
Fourth in rank was the oats crop.
worth S2.530O0O. and then in order:
Barley. worth sl,736,0OO; corn. worth
81 1923 900; alfalfa seed, worth 81 3d.
600: potatoes. worth $Sl ,224,0 900, and
tlaxseed. worth sl,l58,000.
Among special crops grown in re-
stricted areas, seed peas, grown prin-
cipally in the Bitter Root, Flathead
and Gallatin valleys, were worth $685.
600. Beans. grown principally in Vel
lowstone. Carbon and Big Horn coun-
ties, were worth s577. 900. while mustard
seed, grown principally in Pondera
and Teton counties, was worth s493 900.
The harvested acreage of all main
crops in 1910 totaled 6.777,OOO. some
So percent larger than in 1899 when
1t was about equal to the l0-year av-
erage total of 6.249 900 acres.
Larger acreages we're planted to the
grain crops, including corn. but ex-
GLIDING rye, in 1910 as compared with
both the preceding year and average
Larger than average harvested acre
ages also occurred in the case of sugar
beets. mustard seed, sweet clover seed.
and alfalfa seed. Averages smaller
than average were harvested in the
case of flaxseed, rye, potatoes, beans,
seed peas and hay.
Production of most crops this year
was above that OF the l0-year average
with the principal exceptions being
rye, dry beans and seed peas Both
apples and cherries yielded less than
average crops, the former because Of
worms and drouth and the latter be-
cause the number Of bearing trees in
the case of sweet cherries is still con-
siderably below average following the
freeze damage of 1885.
Prices of all crops, except mustard
seed, were lower than the 10-year av-
erage and as rule somewhat lower
than 1899. In the case of mustard
seed, the sharp curtailment of imports,
as result of Europe's war, stimu-
lated both prices and production in
1910.
Continuing the economic recovery
that set in with the return of more
normal weather in 1888 and was re-
Elected in increased production OF
and 1899, the year 1910 shows further
strong gains in Montana farm income,
despite somewhat lower prices.
Illustrating the improvement, the
nine-month uary-September) to-
tai agricultural income, including gov
eminent payments, was s74O32 900,
compared with s599ll 600 for this
same period in 1899 and s46 8el 600
FOR the corresponding months in 1898.
A breakdown of income into main
sources shows the following compare
sons:
January through September income
from crop sold. 1898, sl4,852 900; 1899.
s22 1862 600; 1910. s29,243 900: livestock
and its products, total, 1888 S23, IT'S. 900 i,
1889, s27,733 900: 1910, s3l ,958 900: gov
eminent payments, 1898. s8.324.OOO:
1899, s9,8l6 900: 1910. s12.83l 900: total,
including government payments. 1898,
s4689l 900; 1899, s59,9ll 900; 1910, STA
O32 900.
That the total farm income for the
state in 1910 is heading for a new post
depression and post-drouth high was
indicated by the trend for the first
three quarters, which If continued
would place the probable total 1910
income from sales and government
payments between SOS 900 900 and
$4,000 900 compared with se4.286 900,
the preliminary estimate for 1899.