Hungry Horse news. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1948-current, 1955-12-02
Weather, Prices Reduce Farm Income

y Il
for their products combined to see
the Flathead's estimated 1855 gross
farm income down from 1854 and r
over Is per cent below two good
years of 1850 and 1851.
Parity (price bolstering) continues
to be hot political issue. Meanwhile
the nations farmers including those
of the Flathead are not experiencing
the boom times of 1855. This is even
true in central and eastern Montana
where there was bumper crop.
A major difference between the
farmer of today with prices ION
the skids'' and the pre-war farmer
| in the same situation is that he is
less in debt.
/ County agent Walt Maurits0n's |
summary of estimated 1855 gross |
agricultural production averaged for
the year and completed as Of Nov.
%, skips all political implications,
and lists only yields and dollars re-
ceived
INCOME BY YEARS
Maurits0n reports the 1855 gross
income as Sc, $780, 1872 compared to
Sc, 1881 ,O51 last year. The 1858 estim-
ated gross farm income was IS, 1885,
765; 1852, $7,888, $50; 1851, $685.
938, and 1850, $8,62O,005. These fig
l ures do not include farm Christmas
a tree harvesting and sales that aver
! age over 100000 a year, or the
Flathead lake cherry crop, produced
: mostly in Lake county.
r 1855 has been a topsy turvy wealth
d er year in the Flathead. The spring
|. was coolest on record. The first
! three weeks of June had but .21 of
e an inch precipitation, and then the
rains came for total of sos inches
c compared to 2.43 inches normal at
n the airport for June. In addition
June % with a reading of IS was
r. warmest June day since weather
records started in 1899.
\ WINTER WHEAT HURT
# The Flatheads 1880 acres of win
% ter wheat had an average yield, ac-
h cording to Mauritson of 231s bushels
= to the acre down from 81 bushels
average for 1854. The dry June
= weather also cut pea yield by 9
= third; oats from Al to IS bushels
~ and dry land potatoes from to
tons an acre. Hay crop total wa
~ good with a yield of 1.65 tons al
F. F. acre up from LIS in 1854.
IN Most marked decline was in hol
40 40 prices. The Flathead's 11,250 pig
-. -, were figured to average 215 pound
US at Is cents compared to 5000 pig
81 averaging 212 pounds at % cent
Nv for last year Pork prices have cor
tinued downward. The 1855, 1876
figures are considered an averag
for their years.
At the same time there was
slight upturn in beef prices.
The 1854 agricultural census show
ed the Flathead as having 1,434 farm
all compared to lab in 1850. A far
10 is considered over 3 acres.
lay Of the Flathead'se 1,4N farm
rs. .223 reported harvesting crops.
er. u. S. Agricultural census Show
I'M 523 of valleys / ,434 farms as %
less acres. We question the figul
not that average Flathead farm has 3
ost acres.
as Up to 40 per cen, of the Flathead
Tor farmers augment income by workil
ro- at Hungry Horse Dam and the An
m conda Aluminium Co. plant or
lde sawmills or in the woods.
SEQ LIVESTOCK ACREAGE SPLIT
' u The Flathead's farmers recei
w W 81, 523, 43O from livestock and poult
lns including dairying, and $751;
from crops.
ma. ma Dairying showed $1,018, 345 inclu
lliS ing $3.50, 345.O4 actual receipts frc
;nn dairy plants.
, no,, Last year dairying brought 81 ,08
!. Jew 775. "a including 1914, 275.84 actual
~ ceipts from dairy plants to farme
Balance was from sale of Gull co
'v and vealers.
,! ull Beef production total this year
li . figured at 1914, 725 up from last We;
Tic S763, 245; swine at 1851, 200 do
.-c from last years Sac, 900; sheep
s os $2O,O8O compared to last years $.
al 871.48; poultry at $2O9,O8O do
mas nas from last years $452, 500. Decl
eille here appears to be the figure
paid Co,,,.i, "a d cor noo th;c and goo
state yo e ee1 &C coz Y' th;s voar GA mn /
Ven .e0o The Flathead's main cash croI
" in . ~ni.e aor m to ~ Oos oso 1ast y
acier io o1,, dEp that 1sed for food
- The hay worth is figured at ST.
ever oo w., ~ tah,lat;on IN moo ;s
state, oo,,rs1oto S,'nnro.ru of 1o55 aor;
oup tural income as prepared by Y
1o7 Mauritson, county agent:
land ~" :. 80