Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-05-03
Cosr or GROWING WHEAT. CORN
AND CATTLE.

of the secretary Of the State Board o
Agriculture for the quarter ending
March 81, 1890:
The conditions affecting the cost Of
production vary so much as we 60
westward from the east line Of the
state that a satisfactory showing can
be made only by dividing the state in
10 sections aud giving the estimated
cost of growing each product in each
section separately. The state is divid-
ed into three bclts-the eastern, CEN
trail aud western. The eastern belt
comprises the counties Of Doniphan,
Brown, Nemeha and Marshal on the
nerth and all the counties between the
east line of the state aud Il line from
the west of Marshall county to the
south line OF the state. The central
belt comprises the counties Of Wash
ington, Republic, Jewell and Smith
on the north and all the counties en-
braced in bel. of equal width to the
south line OF the state. The western
belt comprises all counties west OF the
central belt. -. .
The cost of growing a bushel of
wheat in the eastern section is esti-
|mated at 81 cents, in the central belt at
80 cents aud in the western belt at AZ
cents. The estimated cost of grow
ing a bushel of corn In the eastern
belt is q cents; in the central belt 20
cents; and IN the western belt IL
cents. The estimated cost OF growing
a steer to the age of three years III the
eastern belt is SIG; in the central belt
$2l.54: in the western belt $l5.19.
The chief reason why il costs more
to grow corn and wheat in the eastern
belt than in the central Is because the
rent of land is higher, varying from
81 per acre in the eastern to Sl.5O in
the central belt. For the same reason
il costs more to grow corn and wheat
| i'm the central than in the western belt.
The same reasons will account for the
difference in the cost OF growing a
steer in different sections OF the state.
| In some portions of the central belt
and in the western cattle are herded
on the range for % cents per month
Der head, or less, during the summer
lin fenced pastures it costs 80 cents),
and wintered at 70 cents per month
per head, while in eastern Kansas the
cost is very much more.
Again, the manner in which steer
is kept from q cali up, makes marked
difference in the cost and also in his
value at the age of three years. Those
who grow thoroughbred and high
grade cattle of course give them more
care and the cost of keeping is great
err: but there is also a corresponding
difference in their value. A few OF
onr correspondents, in addition to the
cos, of growing steer, have added
the cost of feeding him for the mar
ket. This cost has been deducted and
the average cost as reported simply
covers the cost of growing a steer.
The cost of growing a bushel OF
wheat in the central belt is estimated
at 80 cents, which is about the average
for the state. The man who grows
wheat IN Kansas at 80 cents per bush
ell, with an average crop of 10 bushels
per acre, according to this estimate
merely gets pay for the work done,
but no profit.
With the exception of one year
(lSSS), the price paid for wheat since
| lSS4-beca use shrumken from rust,
chinch bugs or damaged from other
causcs-has averaged considerably less
than so cents per bushel, and therefore
farmers have been losing money
growing it. The farmer should have
from 70 cents to 81.
\, Tho average cost for the state OF
growing a bushel Of corn. with an av-
erage Weld OF 80 bushels per acre, is
estimated at q cents. Ii the corn
TOD of the past year had cost 81 cents
per bushel to grow it the loss to the
farmers of tho state would be, count
lug the market price now at 10 cents
per 6ushel. about $l5OO0,000; but the
average yield last year was about 40
bushels per acre, which II duced the
cost per 6ushel 10 1Gl4 cents, which is
still loss TO the farmer Of Ia cents,
or $2,5000 900 OH the entire crop. The
only way farmer can realize a profit
from corn this year is to feed 1t to
stock
Of the 1O6 counties, 81 have report
cd listed corn, as compared In cost TO
that put in " it'll planter, and accord-
| ing 10 the estimates made It costs 30
cents per acre less to grow corn with
tho lister than with the use Of plant
CIR. This is fraction over three
cents per bushel-quite q saving.
When ground is dOuble-listed the diff
ference in cost, reports say, is practi-
cslly nothing.
The condition with respect to the
cattle market is not so bad as II has
been, but still there is room for much
improvement.
The estimates by different parties In
! the same county differ considerably,
especially so in regard TO cattle. The