Montana agricultural statistics

100 Pages·1996·4.8 MB·English

by  United States. Agricultural Marketing Service

MONTANA
AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS
1996
STATE collect;ON
W
JAN -8
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1994-1995 County Estimates
MONTANASTATELIBRARY
MontanaAgriculturalStatistics 1996
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MONTANA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS DISTRICTS
Sheridan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We
sincerely appreciate the following contributions to this year's bulletin:
Front cover: Picture taken by Clint Peck, Montana Farmer-Stockman Magazine
&
ofLes Diana Auer's farm, Broadview, Montana
Cover color separation donated by
FARMER-STOCKMAN MAGAZINE
1996MontanaAgriculturalStatistics TitlePack
MONTANA AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS
VOLUME XXXIII OCTOBER 996
1
STATE OF MONTANA
MARC RACICOT, GOVERNOR
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
W. RALPH PECK, DIRECTOR
COOPERATING WITH
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
U.S.
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
DONALD M. BAY, ADMINISTRATOR
COMPILED BY
MONTANA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
FEDERAL BUILDING and U.S. COURTHOUSE
301 SOUTH PARK AVENUE, DRAWER 10033
HELENA, MONTANA 59626-0033
PHONE: [phone] or(800) 835-2612
e-mail: [email protected]
home page: http://www.usda.gov/nass/SSO/MT/homepage.htm
PEGGY STRINGER, STATE STATISTICIAN
CURTIS E. LUND, DEPUTY STATE STATISTICIAN
LIVESTOCK, CROPS,& DATA PROCESSING ADMINISTRATIVE& SUPPORT
Thomas Chard II Steve Susemihl Annene Ronningen
Bill Meyer Caroline Sibley Wendy Bruski
Carmen Rost Billye Vincent
Ron Schumacher Vicki McCall
Bonnie Heller Carol Stefely
LorettaJohnson Pat Barker
2 TableOFContents MontanaAgriculturalStatistics1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RANK
FOREWORD
CommentsfromtheGovernor 3 MCornotpa&na'LisvResatnokckinRtehceoNradtHioing'hssAagnrdicLuoltwusre 4454
MessagefromtheDirector 4 WinterWheat& SpringWheatProduction-Maps 46
Notesfromthe StateStatistician 5 Durum Wheat& BarleyProduction—Maps 47
GENERAL Oats&AlfalfaHayProduction-Maps 48
MontanaDepartmentofAgriculture 6 COUNTY STATISTICS-CROPS
Crop, Livestoclc, and WeatherDigest 7 AllCrops, Irrigated&Non-Irrigated 1994-95 49
Freeze/FrostOccurrenceData 8,9 ACREAGE. YIELD, & PRODUCTION:
CHmatoiogicalData-Table 10 All Wheat, 1994-95 50-53
PercentofTotalAcreage SeededandHarvestedby WinterWheat, 1994-95 54-57
Date, Winter& SpringWheatandBarley-graphs 11 OtherSpringWheat, 1994-95 58-61
MontanaFactsandFigures 12 Durum Wheat, 1994-95 62-63
NumberofFarms, Land inFarms 13 Barley, 1994-95 64-67
NumberofLivestockFarms 14 Oats, 1994-95 68-71
FCeanrsmuRseoaflAEgsrtiactueltVuarleu,esF,arRmenstbPyeSriAzcer&e&SalReesnVtatlouVeal.u.e... 1144 CPootmat,oeAsc,re1a9g9e4,-9Ut5ilization,&Yield, 1994-95 72-7734
CensusofAgriculture,NumberofFarms, Land in SugarBeets, 1994-95 75
FarmsandAverageSizeFarms-County 15 Dry Beans, 1994-95 75
ECONOMIC AllHay, 1994-95 76-77
CASHRECEIPTS: AlfalfaHay, 1994-95 78-79
Principal Products&GovernmentPayments—State .... 16 AllOtherHay, 1994-95 80-81
Principal Products&GovernmentPayments—County .. 17 STATE STATISTICS-LIVESTOCK
MarketingsbyCommodities—Tables 18 Cattle&Calves: Value,Numbers,& Disposition 82
MarketingsbyCommodities-PieCharts 19 Cattle&Calves: Production& Income,&Map 83
GrossandNetIncomefromFanning 20 MilkCowsonFarms: Production, Milkfat,&Total 83
ComparisonofSelectedIndustries 21 Milk&CreamMarketed: Quantity&CashReceipts .... 84
Fertilizer& FertilizerMaterials Sold 22 DairyProductsMarketed: Income&Value 84
AMagrkCehteimnigcaYleaUrseA,veWriangteerPrWihceeastRe&ceOitvheedr,SMpornitnagnWah&eaUtS. 2232 ADlalirCyatPtrloed&uctCsalMvaens:ufaNcutmubreerd ofOperations&Percent 84
PricesReceivedforSelectedCommodities 24,25 ofTotal Inventoryby SizeGroups 85
STATE STATISTICS-CROPS BeefCows: NumberofOperations& PercentofTotal
ACREAGE, PRODUCTION, YIELD,ANDVALUE: Inventoryby SizeGroups 85
PrivateGrazingFeeRates: AverageRatesby Methodof
All Wheat, 26
Payment, Montana 85
WinterWheat 27
Commercial LivestockSlaughter 86
OtherSpringWheat 28 Sheep, Lambs,& Wool: Numbers,Value,
Durum Wheat 29
Production,Disposition, Income 87
Barley 30 Sheep&Lambs: Inventory, Death Loss,&Value 88
OCaotms 3311 SShheeeepp&&LLaammbbss:: LPoerscseenstboyfCLaoussseesbyCause 89
Potatoes 31 &
SizeofFlock 89
Dry Beans 32 Sheep& Lambs,NumberofHead—Map 90
SugarBeets 32 Hogs&Pigs,NumberofHead—Map 90
SweetCherries 32 Hogs&Pigs: Numbers, Value,
AlfalfaSeed 33 Production, Disposition,& Income 91
All Hay 34 Chickens: Numbers, Value, Production,& Income 92
AlfalfaHay 34
Honey: Colonies,Yield, Production, Stocks,
AllOtherHay 34 &
Price, Value 92
StocksofMajorGrains 35
WheatShippedOutofState COUNTY STATISTICS-LIVESTOCK
ByClass&Destination 36
Wheat& Barley Shipped LIVESTOCKINVENTORYBYCOUNTIES:
AAWllBhlleyaWWChthleeaVaasatstr,,ieSDMtuiiospetvpsre:limcyteP,&nerMtcD,oeidsnUptetoisl&oiifztDaTiteooistnotanil,naSEtexiepoodnretdsAcreage 333677 ABMBlrieleleekfCdaCCitotnolgwwessS&h&&eCeaHHpleeivi&fefeesLrrsas1m9TT9bhh4asa-tt91H6H9aa9vv4e-e9CC6aallvveedd 11999944--9966 99993344
& SeededAcreage 38 Hogs&Pigs 1993-95 95
WinterWheatVarietiesby DistrictandGraphs 39 Chickens 1993-95 95
SpringWheatVarietiesbyDistrictandGraphs 40 AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS 96
Durum WheatVarietiesbyDistrictandGraphs 41
Barley: PercentofTotal SeededAcreage REPORTS ISSUED& PUBLICATION DATES
& SeededAcreage 42 (on insidebackcover)
MajorBarley Varieties-Graphs 43
MarketingsofMajorCrops 43
1996MontanaAgriculturalStatistics Foreword-CommentsfromtheGovernor 3
COMMENTS FROM
THE GOVERNOR
Montana's agricultural market place is no longer
» regional or even national, it is global. Farmers,
ranchers, and agri-business people must have
concise, reliable information to compete.
MontanaAgriculturalStatistics provides
agricultural producers and businesses with the
information necessary to make decisions and take
advantage ofopportunities in a dynamic and diverse
industry. Whether the decisions are production or
marketing based, sound information is critical for
this decision-making process.
Agriculture, Montana's largest industry, is to be saluted for the contribution they make to our economy
while facing the challenges ofa world wide industry.
Sincerely,
iHauT^il-
Marc Racicot
Governor
4 Foreword-MessagefromtheDirector MontanaAgriculturalStatistics1996 iWMi
MESSAGE FROM
THE DIRECTOR
Each year Montana's agricultural industry is
faced with production challenges that are not
controlled by the producer. These challenges
are varied and may include the weather,
markets, input costs, competition, international
relations, and others.
Montana's farmers, ranchers, and agri-
businesses must have quick access to concise,
reliable information to assist them in making
sound managerial decisions. In this 33rd annual
edition ofMontanaAgriculturalStatistics, our
agricultural industry will find the accurate and reliable information necessary to make these decisions.
We encourage Montana's agricultural community to use this publication in their decision-making
process as they continue to provide a diverse spectrum ofproducts forthe United States and the world.
Sincerely,
Ralph Peck
Director
1996MontanaAgriculturalStatistics Foreword-NotesfromtheStateStatisticun 5
NOTES FROM THE
STATE STATISTICIAN
Our stafftakes great pride in presenting the thirty-
third edition ofMontanaAgricultural Statistics to
Montana's agricultural community. This bulletin
would not be possible without the support of
A
Montana's producers. big thanks goes to all of
Montana's farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses for
their willingness to provide basic agricultural
information.
During 1996, Congress passed the Freedom to Farm
Legislation moving producers away from traditional
crop subsidies to transition payments. As producers
market their products across the country and
throughout the world, the need for unbiased
information plays an important role in
making informed marketing decisions. Unbiased, accurate information will help producers decide what
to produce and when to market agricultural commodities. The Montana Agricultxiral Statistics Service
works in cooperation with the Montana Department ofAgriculture, the Montana Wheat and Barley
Committee, the Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee, Montana State University, and many other producer
organizations to provide basic agricultural information needed by the agricultural industry. This
publication is an example ofa partnership offederal, state, and private interests working cooperatively to
provide information more economically than each could on their own.
As you look over the bulletin, we would appreciate any comments or suggestions you have for
improving this publication. Again, to everyone involved in Montana's agriculture, thanks for your
continued support. Thanks to our staffofstatisticians, technicians, and enumerators who are dedicated
to providing Montana's number one industry, agriculture, with high quality statistics. A special thanks
to Wendy Bruski who spent many hours preparing this publication for release.
Peggy Stringer
State Statistician
6 General MontanaAgriculturalStatistics 1996
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The Department ofAgriculture, through the Director, is responsible foradministration ofa $6.5 million
annual budget with 89 full-time and 10 seasonal FTE. The Director overseesthe department's five divisions and
nine bureaus. The function ofeach division is summarized below.
Central Management Division performs technical, fiscal and administrative support functions forthe
department. Responsibilities ofthe division include activities for internal operations ofthe department.
Agricultural Sciences Division is responsible forthe registration of5,200 pesticide products; the training,
certification and licensing of 1,446 commercial and government applicators, 1,138 operators, 502 pesticide
dealers, and 8,000 private applicators. The division is also responsible for providing evaluation ofpest
management problems and programs; training and licensing ofgovernment and commercial pesticide applicators
and dealers; and providing analytical laboratory and consultative services to other agencies and the public. In
addition, the division is responsible forthe administration and enforcementofregulatory laws controllingthe
production, manufacturing, and marketing ofagricultural commodities exported from or distributed within
Montana. The division investigates consumercomplaints; performs technical expertise and licenses for 650
nurseries, 530 feed dealers, 215 fertilizerdealers, 315 seed dealers and 195 grain merchandisers. The division also
registers some 4,500 commercial feed products, 1,400 fertilizers, and 5,000 bee yards.
The passage ofthe Montana Agricultural Chemical Ground Water Protection Act (1990) provides that the
department will protect ground waterand environment from impairmentordegradation due to the use of
agricultural chemicals.
The Vertebrate Pest Management program provides on-site demonstrations, educational materials and
technical bulletins to assist producers in reducing damage caused by field rodents, birds and other large mammals.
The Weed Management program is responsible foradministering statewide efforts aimed at control and/or
eradication ofnoxious and otherundesirable weeds. TheNoxious Weed Seed Free Forage Program provides a
certification mechanism that allows producers to market various forage crops as being noxious weed seed free.
The Agricultural Development Division is responsible foradministering programs directed at promoting
and enhancing Montanaagriculture. The Agriculture Finance program is responsible formaking grants and lower
interest rate loans for rural youth, rural youth organizations, and otherqualified farmers and ranchers. The State
Hail Insurance programs insures anytype ofcrop grown in Montana from losses caused by hail damage.
The Marketing Program is responsible for market enhancement and developmentthrough direct market
development activities, grants, seed capital loan investments in new/innovative marketing, and product
development. Statewide agricultural statistics and projections are developed through a Federal/State cooperative
agreement administered through the division, which are made available through a comprehensive agricultural
statistics bulletin and grain movement summary along with otherproduction, price and income reports. Research
and market development efforts are promoted foralfalfa seed through the Montana Alfalfa Seed Committee.
The Montana State Grain Laboratory is located in Great Falls, operatingthe only official USDA-FGIS
state grain grading laboratory in the state ofMontana. The lab provides unbiased grain grading, analytical
services, and oil seed analysis to the state's grain industry.
The division is responsible for promoting and encouraging intensive scientific and practical research in all
phases ofwheat and barley culture, production, and marketing underthe guidelines and policies developed by the
Montana Wheat and Barley Committee.
1996MontanaAgriculturalStatistics General-Crop,Livestock.&WeatherDigest 7
MONTANA CROP, LIVESTOCK, AND WEATHER DIGEST, 1995
January: Weather for Montana remained mostly mild. There were above normal temperatures and very little
precipitation in the major wheat growing areas. The protectiveness ofsnow cover at month's end was rated 98% poor.
Although protection v/as minimal, wind damage was not much ofa problem.
February: Some welcome precipitation came, but amounts were well below normal in the major wheat growing areas of
the state. Winter wheat was rated 50% poor. Calving and lambing were well underway with 27% and 15% complete,
respectively.
March: Weatherwas characterized by greatly varying weatherpatterns. Spring storms brought needed moisture to many
areas ofthe state. The winter wheat condition showed some improvement. Snowstorms caused increased livestock
losses, especially in central Montana.
April: Some much needed moisture was received in the first halfofthe month. Wet conditions were causing some
anxiety among producers wantingto get into the field. By month's endjust over40% ofthe spring wheat and barley was
seeded, nearly 10 points behind normal. Calving was 91% complete and lambing 73% complete by the end ofthe month.
May: Above normal amounts ofprecipitation were received forthe first part ofthe month. Planting progress remained
behind normal and cool conditions hindered crop progress. Many acres ofwinter wheat had to be reseeded to spring
wheat because ofthe dry fall planting conditions and weather stress in the spring. Only 28% ofthe winter wheat crop
was rated good to excellent. Nearly two-thirds ofthe livestock had been moved to summer ranges by the end ofthe
month.
June: The month started out warm and dry. Farmers were able to wrap up spring seeding. By the end ofthe month
many areas ofthe state were looking for some moisture as the topsoil was getting dry. A prolonged hot spell in the
northeast was causing some serious stress to the crops. The winterwheat condition improved to 57% in the good to
excellent range, much ofthe increase was attributed to the condition being assessed on the remaining winter wheat acres
after much ofthe crop was reseeded to spring wheat. The pasture and ranges were doing very well.
July: Numerous rain showers and cooler weather started the month. Crop progress lagged behind normal but the weather
offered reliefto the northeast district. Many producers had trouble putting up their hay because ofscattered rains. All
crop conditions were rated very good. Winter wheat harvest hadjust started by the end ofthe month. Nearly halfthe
spring grains had started turning color.
August: Temperatures averaged above normal forthe month which assisted in the ripening ofthe crops. Bythe end of
the month over halfthe winterwheat was harvested and spring grain harvest was nearly 40% complete. The dryer
weather caused the pasture and range feed condition to fall by the end ofthe month. Fire danger was a concern with all
the dry grass.
September: Farmers had a fair month to nearly finish their harvest. Winter wheat harvest was completed halfway
through the month. There was a hard fi-ost mid way through the month that caused some crop damage. Winter wheat
planting started with many producers concerned about the lack ofmoisture. Moisture was received and producers were
able to plant a more normal winter wheat acreage than the last couple ofyears. Livestock producers had moved nearly a
third oftheir livestock offsummer ranges.
October: The remaining small grains were slow to get harvested. Row crop harvest progressed behind normal forthe
month. Winterwheat planting was finished by the end ofthe month with 83% ofit emerged. The winter wheat
condition was rated as 19% fair, 66% good, and 15% excellent.
November: Varied weatherwas the general rule forthe month. Snow coverwas erratic with extreme fluctuations in
temperature. Some wind damage to the winter wheat crop was reported, but the condition was rated 69% good and 12%
excellent at month's end.
December: This month was also marked by a wide variety ofweather. Snow cover forthe major wheat growing areas
was still rated mostly poor. There were reports ofmore wind damage to the winter wheat crop. The limited snowfall
kept grazing mostly open.
8 Freeze/FrostOccurrenceData MontanaAgriculturalStatistics1996
FREEZE/FROST OCCURRENCE DATA ^'
Station