The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-03-05
Is Farming A Profitable Business.

merry with the use OF more horses and
fewer men has made the small farm ar
inefficient unit are conclusions OF scien'
lists OF the Department Of Agriculture
who have recently completed farm
management survey in the corn belts,
The following facts are taken from Bul'
letia No. Al, entitled "A Farm Man
agement Survey Of Three RepTesen'
tative Areas in Indiana, Illinois, and
Iowa" States in the corn belt were
chosen for this survey because they ex
eel almost all other religions in wealth
Of farm products. On rich soil, with
ample rainfall, a system Of Agriculture
is found that is uequaled as an example
Of tie expansive type Of farming.
In the region studied the owners
made good profits. The average labor
income Of the farm owners operating
their own farms was $40S and OF the
tenants $S70. In addition, the oper-
ators had house to live in and those
products which the farm furnished to-
ward their living.
The landlords on the average, re-
ceived 3.5 per cent on their invest
ments. The size OF their investments
had no appreciable bearing on the rate
Of income.
Assuming that the year in which
this study was made was a normal one
labor income Of S870 to the opera
tor, whether owner owner or tenant,
and a return Of 3.5 per cent on the
capital invested may be expected.
The tenants income is in direct
size proportion to his capital and
the OF the farm he operates. Men
owning small farms often materially
increase their incomes by renting
additional land. This affords a better
utilization Of their equipment without
much increase in capital.
The tenants income is in proportion
to the risk he assumes. On the
cash-rent basis his income is greater
in good year and less in a poor year
than when be rents on the share basis.
The farmer making the lowest labor
incomes are on big farms but fail
through inefficient management. Poor
crops, low prices for products sold,
poor stock, failure to work, and unused
capital are the main causes contribu
ting to their failure.
Modern machinery, with the use OF
more horses and fewer men, has made
the farm Of less than 100 acres in this
region an inefficient unit. Further re-
adjustments in area will occur, which
will tend to lessen the number oil
persons needed and at the same time
increase the net production Of the
farm.
In the corn belt States the family
size farm is the most desirable. Il
provides work for the farmer and his
sons and permits the best use Of men
horses aud machinery. II the small
farm has place, it must be near a
city and should be highly diversified in
its organizations.
Approximately one'third OF the tota
expense is for labor on the farms ex'
amined by the Office Of Farm Manage
ment Of the Department Of Agricul
ture.
The average value Of the farm build
ings on the owner farms was 81, ,40l
and on the tenant farms, 1852. L
we include the cost Of new building!
and cash repairs, the annual charge i:
SD per cent Of the buildings invest
ment on the owner firms and 4.4 PEI
on those rented. These percentages
are higher than they would be in {
region that has been settled longe
and where fewer new buildings wert
being erected.
The average amount invested il
farm machinery and toools on the own
er iaims is S39i. The annual expense
for new machinery and cash repairs i
l6.9 per cent Of the inventory value
This amounts to so cents per croI
acre per year. Oa the rented farm
the average amount invested Is 1868
and the cash paid out for neR machin
cry, harness, and repairs is 21.2 pc
cent Of the inventory value. Thi
makes a cost OF Sc cents per crop acre
1t is expected that the cost would b,
higher on the latter, as man just start
ing in farming as tenants would b,
likely to purchase more new machin
cry.