The Harlem News

Grain Harvest at 85 Percent Complete Throughout State

Ideal weather conditions prevailed again last week throughout Montana. The small grain harvest is about 85 percent completed for the state, compared with about 70 percent at this time last year. Winter wheat seeding is slowly getting under way in most parts. Rain is badly needed statewide to germinate winter wheat seedings with only parts of three counties reporting adequate topsoil moisture supplies.

Haying is nearly done with only one-fourth of the second cutting of alfalfa left to be harvested. Present supplies of range feed are short in some counties and becoming short in others.

Moisture Shortage

Critically short to short topsoil moisture is delaying winter wheat seeding throughout the state. Although germination of some early seeded acreage has been satisfactory, rain is needed generally to assure good stands and development of this crop.

Statewide, the following percentages of small grains have been harvested: winter wheat 86, oats 82, barley 84, spring wheat 86, and flax 71. Northern counties along the continental divide are farthest behind, but progress will be fast if good weather continues.

Eastern and central counties have finished, except for a few small scattered acreages. Some counties have completed the flax harvest.

Statewide, the average expected starting date for the sugar beet harvest is September 29. Operations will be under way in some counties on or about the 16th with the majority planning to start the first of October.

Range feed supplies are generally adequate to abundant. However, there are shortages in Ravalli, Silver Bow, Beaverhead, Gallatin, Wheatland, Carbon and Daniels counties. Short feed is also becoming apparent in parts of Madison, Jefferson, Park, Sweetgrass, and Stillwater counties.

The general condition of livestock in Montana is good to very good. In four north central counties condition is excellent but in a few widely scattered, dry counties livestock are in only fair shape.

Livestock Sales

Sales and contracting of all classes of livestock are beginning to pick up. Some feeder lambs have started to move into Richland county, and recent sales of two-year old 800-900 pound steers in Rosebud county.

Judith Basin county reports cow sales and steers moving to eastern feeders. General marketing of calves and lambs, however, is expected to be late this year because of good feed conditions in most counties.