Townsend, Montana Agriculture
July 29-30, 2007. We are staying in Lincoln Road RV-Park Helena, MT less than a mile west of I-15 at exit 200. Lincoln Road RV-Park is about 10-miles north of downtown Helena but in a very good position to access everything in the area. $25.04 with Good Sam discount plus-taxes for FHU in nice gravel pull-thru sites with some shade. Free wifi was available but no cable TV. The free wifi was available but you had to take your laptop to the office (it wasn't available from your RV).
Not far south of Helena we started seeing wheat fields. Some irrigated and some not.
Irrigated alfalfa
This is alfalfa in a well irrigated field.
Mowed alfalfa field
This is mowed alfalfa hay that is drying in the field prior to being baled. Alfalfa hay
Huge bales of alfalfa hay with a large field of cut alfalfa hay being dried prior to being baled. Alfalfa
Field after field of alfalfa, thousands of acres are being harvested in this irrigated valley that is being watered by the Canyon Ferry Lake Dam system.
Wheat
In this area alfalfa has given way to a large field of grain. We think it is spring wheat (white wheat) judging from the light color---but we certainly don't know that. Wheat
Another beautiful field of wheat.
Then there is this huge area that is not being farmed. Alfalfa
As we approach Townsend alfalfa fields reappear.
Near Townsend the entire valley is a pastoral setting.
From here that 200-acre pivot irrigation system appears to be producing alfalfa. Possibly this view of one of those large pivot irrigation systems will give you a better idea of the size of these operations. From the dark green color it appears that this is a field of alfalfa. Pivot irrigation at work
This is the only irrigated field we saw on the WEST side of River Road. It looked to be a newly planted alfalfa field.
Joyce took this picture because of all the interesting things it contained, such as; irrigation system, old fence post, thistle plants in bloom, the mowed alfalfa field, the line of trees along the banks of the Missouri River and finally the Belt Mountains in the distance. I hope that you enjoy this picture as much as she would like for you to.
Baled hay ready to be picked up. Click here for more Montana Travel Adentures
Until next time remember how good life is. Mike & Joyce Hendrix
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