Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1908-11-26
Farmers Educational
AND
Co-OperativeUn Union
Of America
Can Farmers Afford to FIsure2

Many farmers seem to have dread
Of figures In connection with the bust
ness OF their farms. They seem to
think that farming that is measured
by figures won't pan out, but II they
go II blind" they will get through
in some way. Is this true? Is 1t
a safe plan to rely on?
How long would a merchant, banker,
manufacturer or other business man
stay In business II he worked on such
a plan as that? He would soon be
unable to know where he was at"
He would not know whether he was
ON the road to success or to failure.
And the probability is that he would
not remain in business very long.
But business men work on differ
emit plan. They figure and keep &C
counts. They know the cost of each
particular article or transaction and
by means of this knowledge are able
to know what particular items of their
business bring in the profit and why
others do not pay. Then they can cut
out the Improbable transactions or
change plans in such a way as to
bring profit out Of what has been I'M
profitable.
Now why can't farmer apply the
same principles to his business? Why
can't he figure up the cost on every
article he produces then say Cost plus
profit equals selling price" II we
could do that we could hope to be
successful in maintaining fair and
stable prices on our products. Some
farmers do figure carefully and keep
accounts correctly. And when they do
they are sure to learn that consider
able part of the business of the aver
age farmer falls below cost instead Of
giving the farmer profit. Then when
they learn where the drain Is, the
next step is to stop 1t and do only
those things on which they can realize
profit.
In order for farmers as a class to
become business men and thus be
able to protect their rights, it Is
necessary for all or most of them
to keep accounts carefully.
Every time farmer produces and
markets a crop of grain. hay or any
thing else he ought to know exactly
how many days work was devoted to
1t, and what each days work Is worth
no matter whether the work is done
by himself and family or by hired
help Then he ought to figure care
fully not only the first cost Of impls-
ments, harness, etc.. but also the
natural wear and tear as we'll as
amout paid for repairs and the time
spent In going to the shop.
"Oh!" says someone, farmer
must not count his time or he will
get left sure. Oh my brother there
10 where you are wrong. II you are
not making wages for your time in
addition to all Of your expenses you
had better quit farming and hunt an
other Job.
A farmer ought to keep an account
with each particular field and know
not only the cost Of labor and imple-
ments used on it, but also the
value of fertilizers applied, and as near
as possible. the amount Of fertility
drawn from the soil by the crop Pro
dueed ON It, Because when We reduce
the fertility of our farms we are like
q business man who makes a draw on
his capital. Many farmers imagine
they are increasing their wealth, when
in reality they are only transferring
SO much from the value of their farm
to their pocket or their bank account.
Again carefully kept figures In the
dairy department Of our farming will
often show US that one cow yields a
handsome profit while another does
not pay for her feed.
In such cases the careful farmer
will dispose of the poor COW and take
all the better care Of the good one.
Some fiocks of chickens pay well
while others do not pay expenses II
we would carefully figure the value
of what they eat and what they waste.
The remedy should be to either quit
the chicken business or use better care
In the management of our fiocks and
their surroundings.
And thus 1t Is throughout a long
list of the different departments OF
our business. Farming Is compli-
Gated business and requires not only
brain and Drawn but real business
management
Brother and sister farmers lot III
take up all Of these matters in the
local union paper and discuss them
in a way that will result In greater
pleasure and profit to ourselves and
families.
Desoto. Ill. w. d. crews