The Harlem News

United Press Staff Correspondent

Helena (U.P.) - Montana is now in its seventh consecutive year of above average crop yields still in a cycle which began in 1937, while July 1 conditions indicated the establishment of new Montana production highs in 1944, according to the federal bureau of agricultural economics.

Below average crop yields were recorded in Montana for the years 1929-1937 -- known as the state's 'lean cycle.'

The bureau forecasts a 1944 production total of 78,869,000 bushels of wheat, or 534,000 bushels above the 1943 crop and the third largest on record. But indications were that the 1937 record production of 81,713,000 bushels could be broken this year.

The winter wheat crop promised 24,339,000 bushels, although a month earlier the outlook was for a 15,703,000-bushel crop, compared with the 1943 crop of 52,116,000 bushels and far above indications June 1. The present indicated wheat crop is 85 per cent above the 1933-42 average.

Corn production promised a 3,700,000 bushel crop, or 79 per cent more than the 10-year average preceding 1943. Other field crops also promised yields far above the 10-year average including oats, 16,036,000; barley, 16,600,000 bushels. Only rye, which is a feed crop that is losing favor with Montana producers, this year indicated a below-average yield of 305,000 bushels.

Cherry production indicated 770 tons, compared with 460 a year ago and the 10-year average of 334 tons. Increased production was indicated because of new yields of sweet cherries where the estimated crop has increased from 300 tons in 1943, to 340 tons this year since larger plantings went into effect.

Labor to handle the record-breaking cherry crop, estimated at a million pounds of fruit in Flathead and Lake counties, was being made available to growers through the Montana extension service.

Ralph E. Bodley, supervisor of the state's emergency farm labor program at Montana state college, has announced that cherry farmers associations of the two counties have arranged for the necessary crates, grading of cherries and marketing of the record 1944 crop.

Extension service working through county agents, Kalispell and Polson commercial clubs, growing organizations and the schools of the area will cooperate in making surveys of labor needs. Bulk of the harvesting labor will be done by high school boys and girls of the VFV and by the women's land army. Bodley said.

The crop will probably bring in $200,000, according to estimates of 120 growers who expect operations to begin today (Thursday).

Meanwhile, recent growing conditions were not as favorable as desired for corn, sugar beets, and beans, although high yields were promised by the weather man for 1944 grain crops, flax, peas and hay.

Excellent moisture conditions reported in most Montana counties were nearly non-existent in Glacier, Toole and Northwestern Hill county, where crop conditions were below the state's general average, according to the federal weather and agricultural economics bureaus.

Winter wheat had been filling under almost ideal conditions and was expected to be harvested within the next two weeks in southcentral Montana. Late mustard was coming along well in northcentral sections where earlier fields were in bloom.

Late flax was blooming too, with early seeded reported growing fast.

Insect damage had begun to raise its ugly head in some Montana counties, particularly in eastern, southern and southcentral sections. Western Montana, too, had not been ignored by the grasshopper, but control programs were expected to begin immediately in affected areas.

Montana ranges were carrying good to excellent supplies of feed and water indicating favorable summer growing prospects, while recent livestock gains had offset earlier setbacks.

The agricultural bureau's July 1 range and livestock report said Montana's record month of June -- the wettest in many years -- caused a sharp rise in range conditions.

The rise was marked by improvements in northcentral and northwestern Montana counties where dry weather early last spring caused summer grazing concern.

Stock water supplies were improved by recent rains. Cattle were in as good condition as last year after a five-point gain from June, and had offset setbacks in areas where grazing was par.

The calf crop was expected to set a new record this year, and like the cattle crop, was making good gains.

The 1944 lamb crop percentages were generally good, while fleece weights were expected to average close to the 1943 weights when similar wet June weather before shearing reduced dirt content.

Meanwhile, some of Montana's 4,200 imported Mexican national laborers had left the state to aid in farming and ranching in other sections of the United States, while a portion of them, probably around 2,000 remained in Montana, according to the Montana extension service.

Groups of producers in 20 Montana counties had requested additional workers when beet field work neared completion, the extension service reported.