Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], November 01, 1953, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
Jÿoyember 1, 1953
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ß> MONT H. SAUNDERSON
ECAUSE Montana is a great stock ranching state with an
immense and productive range resource, one might as
sume that most of the livestock production of the state comes
from the stock ranches.
However, as was shown in the Aug. 1, 1953, issue of this
column, about half of the beef cattle numbers of Montana are
to be found on the diversified farms of the state. And, though
the larger part of the sheep numbers of Montana are in the
range bands of the stock ranches, farm flock sheep enterprises
now yield approximately a third of the lambs and wool
marketed from the state. Moreover, this percentage is in
creasing.
Even though this picture of the importance of Montana
farm livestock is impressive, a substantial number of Mon
tana farms have no livestock enterprise. Principally, these
are the cash grain farms, the wheat farms and others of the
Montana plains country without much irrigation.
Do such farms have possibilities for diversifying with live
stock and should they so diversify? Now, with the wheat
acreage allotments again in the picture, many Montana grain
farm owners and operators are studying their livestock
diversification opportunities. And, in studying such oppor
tunities, they are seeking the answers to questions such as
these:
What is the national and the western market outlook for
beef cattle, lambs and wool? What are the necessary facilities
—feed crops, pasture acreages, equipment, labor, water, etc.
—for adding a livestock enterprise to the farming operations?
How do I decide which livestock enterprise is best suited to
my own operation? What are the special advantages and prob
lems of this particular kind of livestock?
Let's see if we can come up with some of the answers to
these questions. In writing briefly on this subject. I'll have
to phrase the answers in general terms, and that has limita
tions, of course. But these answers will help you arrive at
your own specific answers, for your own particular situation.
B
S MONTANA AND NORTHERN WYOMING
Wkàtow poai&iittei oi di
MWjyjty utOi JfattiâCk ?
•ÿâatii mahiet fiuttMt jl$t £fre~
46efa#d00duoCi ?
Wfat jfieiüüei one helmed &
add liveiUct en&ÀpMH?
•Which type eft iimlfâ etähftiiC
métfo mrtt Auüäßte ?
On the question of the market outlook, both for cattle and
for lambs, we can be certain of these things: Our national
population is growing rapidly, and the west coast population
is growing considerably faster than the national average
growth. More livestock are going to be grown in the western
states, and most of the increased production will come from
the diversified farms of the west, rather than from the stock
ranches. (I'll not attempt to give the reasons for this, but it's
unquestionably true.)
Beef and lamb consumption has been increasing and will
continue to increase in the western states and especially in
the Pacific Coast states. California (Please turn to page 20)