Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-08
Cost of Milk. Etc.

Owing TO the fact that very few farmers
keep books of account of the farm, in which
they keep the cost of crops and products
separately, there is great difference of opin
ion among them when questions touching
these subjects come up. In a recent session
OF the State DaiFymsn's Association OF Iowa
they had discussion on the cost of 100
pounds of milk, and growing out of this, the
question of the cost CT keeping a ccw for a
year. Some Of those present claimed that
COWS could be kept in that State for SIS per
year, while others claimed that the cost of
kseping each COW could not be reduced TO less
than S40-a difference of over half. It was
finally agreed that about $50 per year was the
average. And having settled this point. they
proceeded to estimate the cost of milk. They
s9ttlad this ques lion by an average, slso. It
.-as the agreement of those who expressed
L opinion that where COWS were kept on
land worth S25 per acre ard 10 to 500 per
ace, milk costs 40 cents to the 100 pounds I;
ovsr $50 par acre. 55 cents per 100 pounds !;
$75 per acre, 65 CENTS PER 100 rounds /:
AID on land worth Sl00 per sore, 70 cents
De, / % pounds. Now, TINS question OF the
tJSb u E4IlA Is = fGly AuISKCSslH5 JIG W tl4c
liry formers cf this State. TIE only true
way 70 sove this question is by a correct sys.
ten OF bookkeeping, showing the cost OF
keeping COVE. This involves the price of
zsat 2nd COVE, the cost of labor to produce
&c taIy IT and feed the crops to the cows
the cost of labor to care for and milk the
e yz. aad mary other little items of expense
Ns,,i.h 80 farmer can estimate correctly uu-
! - be has systematically kept accounts with
lis dairy. The great difference Of opinion of
really intelligent farmers upon questions OF
Ihis character illustrates the necessity of
book keeping on the farm. In fact, we
are persuaded that if the question
as to thu cost of milk was to
come up suoag sn asse nblage Of Califor
MIA dairymen there would be as great diff
ference of opinion ss there was in the meet
ing In lowe, aud the attempt to settle the
question would he attended with the same
difio lily want Of definite Information.
The same difficulty would attend the settle
ment as to the o1st OF 100 pounds of wheat
or corn or barley or any other farm produce.
Until farmers can settle these questions upon
real basis of facts and figures they are all
al sea in their farming operations. The
merchant who buys his goods can very easily
ascertain what his goods cost him, because
but few and simple factors are inyolved-gen-
orally first cost aud freight. These deter
mined, he csa easily determine what he
can sell them for to pay a profit.
I is just as important that the farmer should
knox what his products coats him, in order
to tell whas he car afford to sell them at
but more difficult because more factors are
involved. As a rule, farmers plod on from
year to year without ATTY d. finite system to
tell whether they are making money or losing
it. This should not bs. There is no salts
faction or evidences of thrift in business
conducted in this manner. If farmer does
not know whether he Is making money or
not in any particular branch of his business,
how can he know whether to continue ii or
n,tf l. Is true he msy know at the end OF a
years operations whether he has as much
money as when he commenced. but he should
be able TO demonstrate this as he goes along,
Just as the student demonstrates problem
IN mathematics.