The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-08-13
Crop Prospects Not Good
Because Of Dry Weather

Crop Prospects Not Good
Because Of Dry Weather
Moderate to HI avy rain
showers which fell over most of
Montana the past week will i'm.
prove filling of late seeded spring
grains. Cooler weather the last
two weeks retarded deterioration
of spring wheat. although the hot,
dry weather earlier definitely re.
duced the yield. Soil moisture
supplies are now adequate to
abundant in many northern, east.
ern and central areas. but still
short west of the Continental
Divide, in some parts of central
and north central Montana. Soils
, are also dry in the southern por.
ton. None of these shortages are
listed as critical. except for few
spots in Yellowstone and Prairie
counties.
Winter wheat harvest has be.
gun in most producing areas and
is nearing completion in the
southeastern portion of some
south central counties. Very little
harvesting has been done in the
principal winter wheat areas be.
cause of last weeks rainfall. How.
ever. combining is expected to
get into full swing in the next
few days. About % percent of the
acreage has been harvested.
Yields to date have run from IL
bushels in the dry parts of the
southern portion to ~ bushels
for the best fields in Chouteau
County. Test weights are also
quite variable.
Early seeded spring wheat is
maturing rapidly and about half
of the acreage in southeastern
Montana has been cut. Yields
have ranged from S to 20 bushels,
with much of the wheat light in
weight. In most producing areas
harvesting will not begin for
another week or two. About 8 per
cent Of the crop has been cut to
date. Recent showers will i'm.
prove filling of heads of later
seeded stands. Harvesting of bar
Icy and oats Is also underway in
many sections. and averages
about II per cent complete for
the State. Reliable harvest help
Is In strong demand.
Flax has been damaged con.
sidcrably by the h eat and
drought. Yield prospects in tho
major producing area range from
fair to poor. Much Of the corn in
the eastern portion of the State
is short in height for lack OF
moisture. and yield prospects are
also fair to poor. Sugar bcets.
potatoes and dry beans are dc.
vcloping satisfactorily. although
irrigation water Is short in scvc.
raj areas.
Grassh0ppcr activity Is incrcas.
ing In the eastern half of the
State. Many farmers have cx.
pressed concern over the posi-.
bility Of heavy infcstations next
year over wide areas. Serious in.
fcStatiOns Of dwarf smut were re.
ported by county agents In
several areas west Of the Divide.
About 70 per cent Of the wild
hay and 20 per cent of second
crop alfalfa were cut by the close
of the week. Showers delayed
haying operations the last few
days.
The supply Of range feed Is
short In number Of areas of tho
central and southwestern sec.
tons. and In parts of Teton. Pom.
dcra. Daniels and Prairie coun.
tics. However. cattle and sheep
In these areas are holding their
flesh we'll. Elsewhere. ranges arc
In good condition and livestock
are making fine gains. Dry cows
constituted the bulk of tho
markctings during the week at
prices largely unchanged from
the previous week. Stock water
supplies arc short In many areas
just east Of the Continental ID.
vide and In tho southeastern p0r'
ton Of the State.