Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-11-23
The Cost of an Iowa BuShel of Corn.
Another Man tells what he kn0 Sss
About Ie.
MITCHELL. Oct. 30, 1871.

MITCHELL. Oct. 30, 1871.
Editor Of the State Reg'ster:-And
now comes one of the ten thousand
farmers called upon by writer in
the Register, few weeks ago, to
bear witness to the correctness OF his
estimate on the cost Of raising bush.
ell of corn. And this deponent say.
eth that those estimates are. TO say
the least of them, little wild. The
writer gives a statement Of Mr.. NJ.
l.. Sullivant, one OF the big farmers of
Illinois, in which that gentleman says
that it costs him fifteen cents pc.
bushel to grow corn. This estimate
of Mr.. Sullivant is, / think, very near.
ly correct. either tor Illinois or Iowa.
Corn can he raised just as cheap in
Iowa as in Illinois. But the write. in
the Register says that no Iowa farmer
can raise corn, with hand labor, tor
less than thirty cents per bushel.
Now, any farmer that cannot raise
corn or the fertile pralries OF Iowa
tor less than thirty cents per bushel,
without taking into account anything
for rent, or interest Of money invest
ed IN land, will not be likely 10 get
rich, farming; and, it he has any de-
sire to make q fortune, he might as
well look a, ound for some other oc-
cupation. The Register writer, in his
estimates, sets down three dollars a
day for wages of man and team-a
very liberal estimate-and then sets
down one days work, or three dol
lars tor marking ten acres, which is
Just double what 1t should cost. He
then sets down sum that amounts
to seventy five cents per acre tor hoe,
ing. which might do very well tor
New jersey, but not 80 well tor
Iowa. He also sets down sum that
amounts to one dollar and half per
acre tor boarding. horse feed, and
wear and tear of implements, which
should be included in the very liber.
al wages of three dollars per day for
man and team. He then sets down
thirty nine dollars for gathering and
crbbing four hundred bushels of corn
which is almost ten cents per bushel.
Now, any farmer who cannot gather
and crib an average crop OF corn for
less than ten cents per bushel, should
60 to school and learn his profession
Not to the Agricultural College, nor
10 any school where "what l know
about farming" is used as text book;
but he should 90 ont to Mr.. Sulli
wants or some similar farm and lie,
himself out to work year under in
structions, and then 90 home and
gather and crib his corn for five cents
per bushel. If he finds still that he
cannot get his corn in CRIB for five
cents per bushel, he should 60 hack
to Mr.. Sullivant and work another
year, and then 60 home and try j,
again; if he fails the second time, he
should give up the business, and &C
and start gilt enterprise, or get up
a lecture on Woman's Rights, or be I
patent medicine man, or some other
OF the supernumeraries, for he is no,
| fit for farmer. I have raised a good
many bushels OF corn in Iowa, and
will now try my hand at an estimate
with the same ten thousand farmer,
still looking on. I will give an esti.
mate on forty acres:
! man months. from April 18th to
July 18th. at $50 per mon'h........ $50 C
! team and Implements from April
18th to July 18th, 1T $50 per
month.................... ................ OO.Ot
Boarding and feed for ma and team
at SIG per month. 5000. ....-...... $500
Seed. .........-.............. 1.50
Gathering crop, ! man and team
ls4 days at Ss......................... 40,5l
2 additional men TO 60 with same
team ut 81 so per day each......... 40.5(
Cost of crop. 25O.Ot
40 acres, 40 bushels per acre 1000
bushels at 20 cents, present price $4,000
Profit. ................ ...........,,.. GO.5C
In raising the crop I make this es'