Morris tribune., 1913-06-06
FINDING THE COST OF PRODUCTION.

Swivel-chair farmer not always the most practi-
cal people EARTH and of their advice is strongly
to be discounted Particularly is this when such advice
is based theory unsupported by the obvious facts in
the For instance the unfounded claim that farmers
getting rch-at farming. This not worth while
discussing convince very and honest
and equally ignorant regards farming people that all
high of living due the exactions of the
farmers
Just what farmers are making out of thier business
is matter for careful study because until arrive ate
production bases upon which rest the business
phase of agriculture shall continue to throw good
money to the dogs, all unwtngly of course in at
tempts to do the impossible. To ascertain what it costs
to produce given crop it 10 necessary to get the
age of large number of experiences in order stand
ardze the conditions nearly possible and average
the individual factor.
Minnesota is well on its way towards time where it
give figures regarding the of production that
be taken closely approaching what the farmer should
expect under fairly favorable conditions The statistical
route work. until recently under the charge of Prof.
Thomas Cooper gathering such data and from time
to time bulletins have been published bringing such in
formation as has been obtained up to date This nforma
tion is accessible to all who wish it, and who take the
trouble to write the Experiment Station at ST. Anthony
Park.
But the question naturally arises whether not this
data is not of the ''swivel-chair' character
trip over one of these routesthe Mortified routeds
pels the illusion. The work is practical and the data
liable Here is the way it is obtained Some eight
nine farmers agree furnish the state full information
to all their business dealings route travels
the rounds daily and makes note of what is being DONE
full inventory of property is kept and from the data
gathered the Experiment Station at the end of the
figures up the profit and loss for each phase of the
farmers work. and for the farm whole. The farm
this route will probably average a little better
than the majority in their section, but the state is very
careful not to direct work. rather get from
them full information their plans. purposes, and
reasons. AS the farmers the route visited may
be classed engaged in mixed farming. Some of them
making money by carrying large amount of high
grade stock while others making money by carrying
scrub stock and cutting down the of labor to the
bone In all the homes visited there evidence of
thrift and of prosperity Some of the farms
reporting incomes of four and five per cent while the
best goes up to eleven. This latter highly equipped
stock farm with something yet to gain in point of
agement since the hogs are losing year after year.
After seeing these farms and talking with their own
one comes better understanding of the reach and
value of the of production estimates made by the
Minnesota Experiment Station Bearing in mind the fact
that other routes located give fair average
statewide conditions check up the visited is fair
say that the figures of production published
by the Station represent just about what good farmer
farming under favorable conditions should secure in his
practice If he is able to place the of pro
dueon low the Minnesota tables indicate it SHOULD
may be that he has undertaken the mpossible-t is
certain that he should discover for himself just where
the excess cost lies F. S. H. would like to have eacE
readers for themselves copies of the tats
cal work already DONE and set about fading out how
closely their of production approximates tina
obtained by good Minnesota farmers fair Minnesota
farms.-Farm, Stock and Home.