Montana Oil And Mining Journal

FARMERS TO HIT GOALS IF LABOR NOT TOO SHORT

CORN, OATS, BARLEY, FLAX AND RYE TO BE INCREASED; LESS WHEAT SEEN

Montana farmers plan marked shifts in crop acreages in 1942, indicating a 13 percent reduction in wheat and increases in all other important field crops.

Important crops and their indicated increases in acreage as compared with last year are: Corn, up 15 percent; oats, up 15 percent; barley, up 50 percent; rye, up 5 percent; flax, up 99 percent; potatoes, up 7 percent; beans, up 15 percent; sugar beets, up 15 percent, and tame hay, up 2 percent.

This report came from Jay G. Diamond, statistician of the bureau of agricultural economics, after examining the annual March acreage intention survey sheets.

All wheat acreage will be 3,336,000 acres as compared with 3,820,000 acres last year and a 1930-1939 average of 4,380,000 acres. Spring wheat will be down to 2,025,000 acres from 2,440,000 acres in 1941 and the 10-year average of 3,378,000.

Sugar beets will be up from 67,000 acres in 1941 to 77,000 as compared with the 10-year average of 66,000.

Other acreages will be corn, 209,000; oats, 489,000; barley, 321,000; rye, 68,000; flax, 320,000; potatoes, 16,000; beans, 23,000, and tame hay, 1,128,000.

Despite reduction in supplies of farm labor and farm problems of equipment, Montana farmers indicated the 1942 war crop planting goals will be reached if the labor supply permits, Diamond reported.

Principal uncertainties of goal attainment at the time the reports were filled occurred in cases of crops requiring considerable labor, especially sugar beets, indicating the plantings might fall 9,000 acres below the goal of 77,000 acres.

This goal is equal to the crop's largest previous acreage. However, Diamond said, any favorable developments in the beet labor supply between now and the end of planting season would probably result in additional acreage.

Potatoes may also be affected likewise, he said.