The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-09

simple methods could be put into
general practice upon the farms of
Grand Forks county. its annual pro-
duction of wealth would be increased
In five years by over two millions, OF
dollars. annually. Such an Increase
is within easy range OF possibility and
by intelligent effort could be brought
about within comparatively few
years.
THE system of cropping must be
related to land values. AS lands be-
come higher in value, the system Of
cropping must be so changed as to
admit of more extensive cultural
methods. The following illustration
shows the relationship between land
values and u cost Of production.
Fifteen bushels Of wheat per acre on
$50 land at the average farm price,
Will return a ne profit of 1876 per
cent on the investment or land value,
the net profit being over and above
land rental or interest, which is
counted as an item of cost. When
land is increased to $50 an acre, the
same crop with similar prices gives
a net profit of only is per cent and
o n$100 land, the price remaining the
same, a loss Of 9 80: cen is shown.
In order to obtain similar profits. a
yield of 23.9 bushels is necessary on
$50 land. and 1878 bushels on. 800
and 1t may thus he seen that wheat
is lot adapted with ordinary Yields
and prices to culture on high priced
land. In fact, it is absolutely iinpos-
sible to grow it on high priced land
in competition wit hcheaper land. less
favorably located. but. equal to. or ex-
ceiling. our higher priced land in pro-
d~uctiveness for wheat. AS our lands
increase in value. then. we must grow
crops to which intensive culture can
be given. The corn crop or potato
crop is a good illustration of our
more intensive methods of cropping.
while the illustrations cited are
only relative and change; as prices
raise or lower. they illustrate in a
definite manner the fact that land
value is n of the most important
factors in determining a profitable
system of agriculture. When land
values r relatively low Il system of
farming raises crops capable Of ex-
tensive cultivation at a low cost Of
production per acre is usually more
profitable than one producing crops
at a high cost of production. and
when lands are high. the intensive
cultivated crops r most profitable.
To put the principle in a nutshell, We
may say that as lands increase in VAL
ue. crops that require successfully
greater applications of labor and cap
ital must be grown.
Relation of Livestock to the Farm.
las previously intimatcd. the in
vcstment of capital in livestock and
the use of productive forms of live
stock. has a most important bearing
upon the proper management of the
ia nm II 80 oS.11, <1No,~1 THO y,un @F
livestock making possible the mar
keting and growing of our abundant
roughages and the use Of farm man.
ures. that the fertility may be kept up
on u farms. The. time may come
when the use of commercial fertilizers
Will be necessary and advisable. but
general use is still years in the
future. Livestock is especially need
ed at the present time. to restore the
nish steady employment for labor. I'm
der North Dakota conditions, the in
direct profit which may be obtained
from livestock mainly through the
marketing of the roughage crops and
the use of the farm manures. is of
fully as great importance as the direct
profit. We car. however. obtain. a d.
rect profit from the production of live
stock which is fully as great as that
AasNs w Z Iou IlIS'
production of our ordinary field crops.
Under ordinary farm conditions in our
humid area, IL pastures are suffi-
ciently good to make an average gain
OF '21O pounds g steer during the
season. This gain is obtained from
an average of l 1-2 acres of ground.
Thus, il acre furnishes 1870 pounds
of beef at an annual cost. where land
is valued at so an acre. Of $4.Os. if
f1a roar nf GyYSr9 ~ or ~ &c nc@4Nk~J
land this Is yer slightly the profit
of beef at 4 cents is $a.14 per acre or
4 1-2 per cent net on the investment
in land. In order to make the same
profit from wheat at an average of
80 cents per busllel. a yield of Is BUSH
els per acre would be required. Oats
at 20 cents a bushel would pay a sim
liar profit until the yield exceeded so
bushels per acre. An acre Of good
annual pasture crops. representing an
annual cost of" approximately Sc will
produce ego pounds of pork.at a meat
value of not less than ST. an acre.
When the cost of labor and produc-
ton is excluded. this would give a
net return of o less than IS per acre.
I'm the Red river valley the aver
age COW produces $40 pounds of milk
from he average acre. Of pasture. or
$3.50 worth of product. The cost Of
obtaining this production on land
valued at $35 an acre. is 1910. leaving
a net profit of $3.50 or z per rent net
on the investment In terms of wheat.
IT would require an average of II
bushels at so cents to obtain as large
a net profit from the same area. These
are figures dealing with farm stock
under. average farm conditions such
as are found IN, many parts of the
state. They we'll illustrate the posi-
bilities which may often be obtained
through the use Of the crops grown
at a low cost Of production and which
are only made profitable through the
Use Of livestock.
THE possibilities of; direct profit
from livestock are very great even I'M
der average farm conditions. The ami
ductive aslthey should be. we find pay
comparatively we'll. In practically ali
cases.. livestock, properly cared for,
has given greater returns, for the Ia
Dor. than have U single crop, systems
OF agriculture. In an investigation
carried on on our afarms. the average
profit from livestock has been close
the direct profit been. thus secured
m. the livestock but profits from the
farm as a whole have been materially
increased.
Glass Depends on Area. .,
The class ct livestock found most
profitable will depend upon the ares
Of the farm. labor conditions and gen
eral economic conditions In tho vicin.
ity. Generally speaking. the dairy
COW 10 the most efncient: Of all forms
Of stock In converting food into q large
primarily lifted for the small ana In.
Hrl rENNr He T. fE.