Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-11-08
TO SHOW FARMERS
Uncle Sam Ready to Pave Way
to Big Profit.
filters Of the Soil Can Double Their
incomes II They Are willing to
Act on Advice From the
Government Experts.

Washington.-"Wec can show the av-
erage farmer how to double his IN
come without requiring him to do
things differently from the way IN
which he now does them and without
relatively increasing his operating ex-
penses," was a declaration made by
Prof. VIM. ]. Spillman. chief OF the
cffice of farm management, depart
ment OF agriculture, who said, IN con-
t,nuance: THE average farmer Is not
q good manager. In order to double
his income it Is only necessary Tor
him to utilize his present equipment
to the best possible advantage. All
farmers as a rule work hard and are
entitled to a fair return for their toll.
The average farmer does not get any
thing like fair return. This ls
largely due to lack of management
and planning.
For example, there are two farms
in New York state near Elmira. They
are the same size and the same types
Of farming obtain on both. At the
end Of a years work one OF these
farms showed net profit OF 1871 al
ter paying per cent. on the invested
capital. The other farm showed net
profit of $1.7ss.
This wide difference seems almost
unbelievable. But it Is true, never
theless. Furthermore. the two farms
adjoin, the land is practically identi-
cal. In fact, the farmer who managed
tc show a net balance after a years
work OF only $131 harvested heavier
yields OF some crops than did his
neighbor who showed 30 much larg-
er a profit. The farmer who made the
small profit Is now operating on
plan mapped out for him by an ex-
pert of this office. Ultimately he may
make larger profit than his more
successful neighbor, because some Of
his yields have been larger. His farm
was wholly lacking in balance. He
was attempting to grow too. much OF
one crop and not enough OF another
Zone Of the most important things
IL to so organize the work that 1t will
be evenly distributed throughout the
entire year and be money-maker
every day instead Of only occasion
ally. This saves waste at many I'M
suspected points.
f'If the farmer will permit our COM
petent experts to map out his work,
showing him how much of this. that
or the other crop he can raise to best
advantage, how much stock he needs
to do the work and for market pur-
poses, and will follow instructions,
the results will come. He can large
" increase his income without In
creasing his expenses perceptibly,
and can go right on farming the way
he has for years, only adopting our
cropping system in lieu of the one
he has been following.
1--WE now have seven experts do
ing cooperative work in as many
counties in New York state, and
will have two more at work before
the close of the year. At pres
ent farm management experts are
at work in Broome, Che'1ung. Her
kimer, Jefferson, Oneida. ST. Lawrence
and Tompkins counties. We have not
finally determined where the other
two men will be placed. They very
likely will be put to work in counties
lying along the right of way of the
Lackawanna railroad, which also 10
cooperating with the Office by paying
one.third of the expenses of experts
In two counties.
I'VE welcome this kind Of co-opera-
ticn, because it enables US to make
our money stretch one-third further.
The railroad, Of course, expects to get
a return on its investment through
hauling increased yields of various
crops due to better farming. The
Lackawanna also is cooperating with
us in one New Jersey county.
There are many more requests
for help from New York counties
with it's present appropriation. I'm
der the plan of cooperation with
counties. the government stands one
half the expense Of the expert and the
people of the county the other half.
Where railroad also co-operates, the
expense is divided into three parts.