The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-09
FARMERS Want THE
CLASS PLAN ADOPTED

0S0u0O ] 6UvUv IuOOU USO
Continued from Page ~
lively new term in American agricul-
ture. Heretofore. VIC nave had treat
Uses on shop management, on railroad
management n many other works
dealing essentially with the economic
features of the various businesses with
which they dealt. Each endeavored
to show some special system or sys-
TENS. which would result in economies
in that business or would show the
combinations which would bring the
ganized conditions of agriculture.
however. but little attention has been
paid to its most important phase
the business aspect.
Experiment stations and scientific
workers have been engaged in studies
to encourage production along the
lines i'll which they were specializing.
The endeavor has been to teach these
methods to those actually engaged in
production. Little attention was paid
to the effect that these various phases
of production may have had upon the
other enterprises of the farm or upon
farm profits as a whole. The farm it,
self has been considered as a series
of disconnected enterprises rather
than as a unit made up of various en-
terprises. each OF which should sup
plement the other and should enable
the larger profits to be obtained from
the farm.
This new science of farm manage
ment has for its object the uniting
OF our business principles and the
various scientific principles Of agri-
culture into such Il system that the
farm as a whole shall yield the great
est profit. This subject comprises,
then. the many problems which may
Immediately affect the operation of
the farm. 1t takes into consideration
the individual problem rather than
the problems of the masses. which is
comprises not only consideration of
crop rotations. their effect upon the
soil and the the conservation of soil
fertility, but the relationship which
the various classes of livestock may
have to the system that can best be
practiced under the economic, cli-
matte and soil conditions which pre-
vail. In the final analysis, its purpose
is to answer the question of What
crop or what live stock or what
amount of capital shall use TO make
the farm most pro1table?' Sometimes
We seem to forget the fact that the
arn1er must make the farm pay. This
necessity arises above all others. AS
We study the business side of agri-
culture. We find that it is not the
man who produces the maximum
yields IN is most prosperous. We
Invariably find that the farmer who
is probably CARRYING on his farm is
producing a good yield. d bly,
above the average. either in his fields
or from his livestock.
perhaps the most important service
OF farm management is to aid the far
nlers to decide brtween various things,
all of which may pay. The farmer.
particularly in our northwestern states
has so little capital that his problem
Is often not so much what would nav
as what he may first undertake. to
advantage. These problems differ as
conditions vary. The general princi.
pies OF farm Arrangements. however.
can be applied to these varied condi-
lions.
Special Problems
The North Dakota farmer is con-
fronted by sol peculiar problems of
MS own. Problems that are present
IN other states do not affect him, The
farmer of the Red river valley has
solved. as have the farmers of no 9TH
er territory, the question of making
the greatest use of labor. Through
ne use of motive power and Of large
tflage. or other implements. he has
multiplied the efficiency of his labor
many times. Success in this has per-
haps accentuated the labor difficulties
! nthe state by making it nor difficult
10 employ! numbers of men except at
Very brief periods throughout the year.
There are several problems though,
which confront him. at the present
time. The most important of these
are capital, the use of proper meth
DDS of cropping. livestock and mar
keting. ~.
Capita.
The last census shows that the
average value Of all farm property per
farm is $1,000 and of this amount
$500 represents the value Of imple-
ments and machinery and $1.456 the
value Of domestic animals, leaving q
remainder of 11,063 as the value OF
land. Very careful investigations
have shown that our western farms
invariably contain too large a proper.
ton of their capital in the form OF
land, or as a fixed investment and that
In order to obtain reasonable profits
from this capital a comparatively
large additional investment as work.
ing capital Is required. As a gener
al thing. The farms of the Red river
valley require a considerable add.
ton OF working capital in forms OF
productive livestock. and sometimes
In fencing or other forms of construc.
ton which will enable the stock to be
properly. cared for.
So long as a single crop system OF
agriculture is carried on comparative.
iy small amounts of capital were re.
CURED. other than that invested In
AS o however. as the sol
commences to indicate decreasing
yields. that its fertility il being de.
pleted. new methods Of agriculture
must be undertaken. Sooner or late,
the cost Of operation will overtake
the income that is obtained cntirel,
from a single cropping system. A