Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-03-29

;
Hamline.-An exhaustive analysis Of
the cost of producing farm products
In Minnesota, based on statistics gath
cred during the years from 1902 to
1907 from five representative farms Of
the state, showing there is greater
profit for the farmer by raising corn.
potatoes and vegetables than in the
production Of grains, is contained in
the eighteenth annual report Of the
agricultural experiment station made
public by the director, Dean Albert F..
Woods.
The report, which covers the work
of the college and substations at
Crookston and Grand Rapids, contains
detailed accounts of the research in
vestigations and scientific experiments
being conducted by every department
and division of the agricultural sta
ton as well as the financial statement
of the department by divisions. In the
report, which is addressed to John
Lind, president OF the board of re-
gents, Dean Woods urges the necessity
Of further appropriations both for ex-
tending the work of the institution
and the employment of more profess
ors and experts for instructional and
inyestigative work.
Cost Of Farm Operations.
Featured in the report of the treatise
are Professors Edwin G.. Parker and
Thomas Cooper of the department of
agronomy, whose minute investiga-
lions as to the cost of farm operations
extend over five years, from 1902 to
1907. The information was gathered
from conditions prevailing on five
farms of the state, one near Mortified,
Rice county; Marshall in Lynn county;
Halstad, Norman county and section
farm in Stevens county. Trips were
made to the farms and close inven-
tories were kept on all expenditures
to the end that an exact estimate was
secured as to the ultimate cost of
everything. This was then compared
with the market prices prevailing
for farm products and the university
were then afforded a
basis of comparison as to the most
profitable products on the farm.
Entering into the investigation as
factors governing the cost of produc-
ton were the following: Man labor,
horse labor, values consumed in the
farm machinery, seed, Irvine, etc., and
the rental value of the land.
Potatoes and corn were discovered
to be the most costly in production,
but their returns justified the outlay
of expenditures as the net profit per
acre worth $50 was $2443, while in
those cases where fertilizers were used
and the potato raising was carried on
ON more intensive scale the net profit
per acre was $40 per cent on an acre
worth $50.
Summary Of the Report.
The article concludes with sum-
mary of the findings of the investi-
gators as follows:
For the years 1904.1907 the average
monthly wages paid farm laborers dur
ing the eight "crop-season" months,
April to November 80, were approx
as follows: Mortified (1905-
1900, $26.16; Marshall, $26.64; Hal
sted, $25.65, and the large farm in
northwestern Minnesota, $26.77. Dur
ing the months of December, January,
February and March the average
monthly wage at Mortified was $3.50;
Marshall, $14.26; Halstad, $11.69, and
the large farm in northwestern Mime
sofa, $14.36.
The cost of farm board per month
for one laborer averaged for the three
years, 1905-1907, amounted to $14.36 at
Mortified, $12.73 at Marshall, $11.58
at Halstad and $1,000 on the large
grain farm in northwestern Minnesota.
The average cost per acre was 47.9
cents at Mortified, 42.4 cents at
Marshall, 1856 cents at Halstad, and
1874 cents for the large farm in north
western Minnesota; the average cost
of board per month on all farms was
$12.65 per month and per day, AZ
cents.
The average cash value per hour of
farm labor on all farms for the three
years 1905-1907, is 11.2 cents for De-
cember, January, February and March,
and 1877 cents for the "crop-season"
months, April to November, inclusive.
While wages are lower in the winter
months, the number of hours worked
by the laborers is much less than in
the summer-thus there is little differ
ence between summer and winter in
the cost per hour of farm labor. This
cost is based upon the wages paid to
men plus the cost of board.
Cost Of Farm Work-Horse.
The average annual cost of main
tanning farm work-horse during the
years 1904-1907 amounted to 5000 at
Mortified, $87 at Marshall, $75.O7 at
Halstad and $65.23 for the large farm
in northwestern Minnesota This cost
is based on the following items of ex-
pense: Interest on investment, depre-
citation, harness depreciation, shRing,
feed, labor, and miscellaneous expense.
The labor of the farm horse COM
prises large proportion of the cost