Laurel outlook., 1945-08-29
WHEAT CONTINUES
To POUR IN FROM
HUGE PRODUCTION
Harvest Of Winter Grain Near
Iy Completed, Work On Spring
Variety Now Under Way

Spring wheat has been pouring
into Laurel elevators the past weej
as the end of harvest approache:
in the surrounding dry land farm
ing areas. Combining and thresh
ing are just beginning in the irri
gated sections.
Grain buyers say that without
doubt this is the greatest year fo,
production of wheat Laurel has evel
known. The high record in bushels
is attributed to an increased acre
age and a favorable growing sea-
son. Had there been one more rain
before the wheat ripened the yield
would have been increased as much
as 20 per cent, some experienced
observers say.
Protein content this year is
slight; where it does noticeably oc-
cur the yield is not heavy.
Yields this year have varied
greatly, running from about ~
bushels per acre to more than 80.
1t was guessed here this week that
the dry land average is 80 to 80
bushels. ]. M. Westervelt report
ed Wednesday that five acres of
land previously used for sweet
clover had this year yielded 55
bushels of wheat per acre on the
skyline ID miles south of Laurel.
The past week has been favorable
for harvesting, following few wet
days when the hay was down. The
conditions here prevailed to quite
an extent throughout the state, ac-
cording to the Aug. 2S weekly
weather and crop report from Hell
ena. The report said the highest
temperatures generally occurred on
Friday in the west and central and
on Thursday in the east with the
maxima between 90 and 95 de-
grees. The forepart of the week
and the 26th and 9th were much
cooler, especially on the 26th when
few temperatures above 70 were re-
corded. For the most part nights
were not too cool to hinder crop
growth over most of the state. In
a few valleys in the west, frost
and freezing temperatures may have
nipped some vegetation Monday
morning. Butte, Drummond and
West Yellowstone reported temper
atures below freezing. The lowest,
% degrees, occurred at West Yel-
lowstone Monday. !
Several light hail and wind
storms occurred during the local
thunder showers over the weekend. |
The most favorable amounts fell in |
the north-central portion. lrriga-
ton demands continued heavy.
Matured crops in Montana were
harvested at a rapid rate during the
past week and tillage operations
for fall sown grains are well along.
Combining of winter wheat is vlr-
,ually complete in several OF the
1orth-central counties where har-
vest of spring wheat is also well
advanced. Most of the barley is
low cut and oats will generally be
'eady for harvest in another week.
Dry peas in Flathead, Beaver
lead and Yellowstone counties are
,ut of the way and cutting and
hreshing of peas in Gallatin and
carbon counties is proceeding rap
div. Bean cutting is starting in
carbon county and harvest in Yel-
owstone county should get under
vay between Sept. 1 and 10. Com
ines are moving through flax
ields in some northern counties
nd the crop as a whole is matur- ;
ng fast. II
Hay is being made in all areas
nd many fields of alfalfa have had
econd cuttings removed.
Harvest returns show wide
pread in wheat yields, particularly
4 spring wheat which has suffered
lost from drought during July and
august and from insect damage.
Flax has deteriorated from the
anne causes and late paintings IN
ONE cases may not be worth cut 7
ing. Prospects for alfalfa seed are b
oor and the crop will be very S
ght where grasshoppers have been 7
ctive. r