Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], October 01, 1951, Image 1

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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Biggest Crop in History
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Care in Storage Can Make It the Best
By DON R. BOSLEY
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IT LOOKS LIKE the biggest wheat crop
in Montana history—97,902,000 bushels, the
bureau of agricultural economics estimated
in its Sept, 1 forecast. Previous all-time
high was last year's 93,958,000 bushels.
In its Aug. 1 forecast the BAE estimated
that the crop would prove to be somewhat
less than last year. The winter wheat crop
would be bumper, it said, but hot, dry
weather in July had taken a heavy toll in
the spring wheat district. The weather had
done damage, but when the combines began
to make the rounds it was found that mod
ern tillage methods and good summer fal
low had paid off. Actual yields surprised
everyone. BAE revised its figures and pre
dicted the biggest crop yet.
May Be the Best
And it may be the best. That now de
pends mostly on how it is handled and
cared for in storage, for there have been
complications.
At the start of the harvest the crop
showed promise of setting a new high in
quality. The first 175 samples of spring
wheat sent in to the state laboratory at
Great Falls, according to George H. Moran,
chief grain inspector, averaged 15.7 percent
protein and 57.4 test weight. Winter wheat
samples averaged 13.82 percent protein and
60 pounds test weight.
These figures bettered the averages
E R S MONTANA
AND NORTHERN WYOMING
achieved by any crops in recent years. They
were approached only in 1947, a year when
the crop was comparatively light but the
protein content exceptionally high. Average
protein content for all spring wheat tested
at the laboratory that year was 15.47 per
cent. Winter wheat average was 13.32 per
cent. * , . v
Then Came Rain
But after the • first week dr so of the
harvest this fall it began to rain. Combining
was held up in some areas for two or three
weeks. Then came reports of wheat sprout
ing while standing in the field. Since the
wheat kernel can germinate only when fully
mature, this sprouting occurred only in
areas where the wheat was dead ripe before
the rains began.
According to Mr. Moran most of the
sprouted samples have come from along
the High-line west of Havre. The amount
of damage ranges from a trace to as high as
60 percent. But, says, Moran, the majority
of this wheat is lightweight and grades 3,
4 or 5 in test weight. Sprouted grain is
therefore believed not to be a serious prob
lem or a deciding grading factor except in
a very small percentage of the crop.
"Sprouted wheat," says Moran," can be
used to advantage in milling by blending
with öther wheat that is not sprouted or
otherwise damaged.
»
Harrington photo
Here is the way the samples tested at the
Great Falls laboratory averaged during
typical weeks before and after the fall rains.
SPRING WHEAT
Moisture
At. %
11.49
12.32
12.33
12.17
WINTER WHEAT
13.82
12.57
13.31
13.62
Samples for the first week were all taken
before the late August rains, Moran pointed
out. Samples for the last week were all taken
after the late August and early September
rains. The average moisture tests for both
spring and winter wheat would indicate no
great difference before and after. However,
Moran warned, the averages do not show the
range, and while very few samples tested
over 12 percent moisture the first week, the
moisture content in the last week's samples
ranged up to 16.4 percent, and more than 20
percent of the samples tested had more than
13 percent moisture.
Wheat with (Please turn to page 16)
WmIc
Ending
Aug. 15
Aug. 23
Aug. 30
Sept. 20
TmI
Weight
At. Lbs.
57.4
57.6
57.2
57.7
Protein
At. %
15.7
15.31
15.54
14.71
60
Aug. 15
Aug. 23
Aug. 30
Sept. 20
11.37
60.3
11.94
11.43
12.14
60
58
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