Farming and Ranching

Farming:

Wheat and the multitude of wheat made products are Montana’s leading export. 72% of the state’s agricultural exports find their origin in this simple grain. Glacier County and the area around Cut Bank are no exception to this fact. And yet wheat is not the only crop in Cut Bank’s past or future. A look at the following chart gives us insight into Glacier County’s contribution to the agricultural exports in 2006.

Harvested Acres

(Irrigated and Non-Irrigated)

Glacier Co. Totals/ Montana Totals

Major Crops- 23,020 Acres/ 241,500 Acres

Wheat- 3,100 Acres/ 143,000 Acres

Average Yield-36.1/ 29.9 (Bushels/Acre)

Barley-10,800 Acres / 85,000 Acres

Average Yield- 48/42 (Bushels/Acre)

Alfalfa- 9,500 Acres/ 13,500 Acres

All Hay- 11,500 Acres/12,000 Acres

The majority of the farmland around Cut Bank is non-irrigated, or ‘dry land’ farming, meaning the farmer is dependent on Mother Nature for moisture. Farmland is planted generally in alternating strips of cultivated and fallow (or bare) ground. This method allows a rest period every other year for the ground to regain its moisture and nutrients. Stubble will remain in the cultivated strips through the winter and early spring to help hold the soil and moisture. Some irrigated farming is done in the area, but generally when the land is close to a water source. Most of those operations are done with pivots, wheel lines, or flood irrigation.

Spring wheat and barley are planted in the early spring and harvested in August/September. Winter wheat is planted in the fall after harvest, goes dormant, and then resumes growth in the spring. It is harvested early-to-mid August. The majority of the barley grown is malting (brewing) barley. Generally, growers can get 2-3 cuttings of alfalfa in this region, depending, of course, on the weather and rainfall.

Some new crops have been showing up in the area in recent years, among them mustard, canola, lentils, grass seed and field peas.

Ranching:

Ranching in Glacier County consists mainly of beef cattle. There are also sheep, with hog, dairy and chicken production being mostly an enterprise of area Hutterite colonies.

In 2003, Glacier County was ranked 27th in state cattle production, 7th in milk cow and sheep production, 2nd in hogs and pigs and chickens.

Depending on the weather, calving season can be a very active time for area ranchers. Calves are very vulnerable and must be shielded from extreme cold conditions that can prevail in our area during the first few days of life. This can be a trying time on livestock and cattlemen as well, especially when cattle are on the open range. Most ranchers attempt to bring their cows into calving barns during this period. There they are able to keep a 24-hour watch on young livestock. It’s a busy time, but ranchers and the community alike are rewarded when they see the land dotted with young spring calves playing in the fresh green grass.

Branding season is also a busy time. Ranchers, and cowboys alike, come together to get the job done. In 2007, there were 41,700 head of cattle in Glacier County. More than 24,600 of them were calving. All these new calves need to be identified and tagged, and it takes cooperation to get the job done.

Glacier County boasts a very active 4-H program that is aided by the County Extension Service. The area’s Four-County Marias Fair is held in July. It affords an annual opportunity to young farmers and ranchers to show off their efforts in the stock show and auctions. Many of our area’s graduating seniors go on to college majoring in farm and ranch business and economics. They later return to family enterprises to continue a legacy of farm and ranch traditions.

For more information please refer to the following agencies and websites:

Farm Service Agency
#1 3rd St. NE
Cut Bank, MT 59427
406-873-5618
www.fsa.usda.gov

Montana Agricultural Statistics Services
301 S. Park Drawer 10033
Helena, MT 59626
406-441-1240
nass-mt@nass.usda.gov
www.nass.usda.gov/mt/

Glacier County, Montana
State University, Extension Office
1210 East Main
Cut Bank, MT 59427
406-873-2239
www.glaciercountymt.org