The Marshall republican., 1914-02-27
PROFITINFARMING
DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICULTTRf
GIVES RESULTS OF FARM
MANAGEMENT SURVEY.

That the American type OF farming
needs large areas IN contrast to the
European type, and that modern
machinery with the use OF more hor-
fc3 and fewer mel has mace the small
farm an Inefficient unit, are conclu-
sion5 OF scientists OF the Department
Of Agriculture. who have recently
completed a farm-managoment sur
voy IN the corn belt. \ summary Of
the results Of this survey arc now
published IN Bulletin so. Il. ontiil-
Cd: "farm-Nanagement Survey OF
Three Representative Areas in In.
diana. Illinois and Iowa
The states In the corn belt were
chosen for this survey because they
excel almost all other regions IN
wealth OF farm products. on rich
coil with ample rainfall. a system Of
agriculture Is found that H. unequal
I'd rs nm example OF the expansive
,,po OF farming. This type ~ dovol-
oped on the basis OF the farm work
horse ms the means OF motive power.
Data from about 200 farms In this
rich area have been taken as a basis
for the bulletin. and. although this
represents u relatively small portion
OF the farms In the United States. the
Information gathered furnishes al
most conclusive proof with respect 10
many phases OF farm organization.
In the region studied the owners
made good profits. The average la
Dor income OF the farm owners OPP
Grating their own farms was SiOS.
and OF the tenants. $50. In addl-
ton, the operators had Il house TO
live In and those products which the
farm furnished toward their living.
gives an idea Of what may be
expected from the utilization OF high
priced land under and expansive sys-
TEN OF agriculture. Other results Of
the Departments Investigations arc
given below:
The landlords on the average, re-
colyed 3.j per cent on their invest
mcnts. Tho size OF their investments
made no appreclable bearing on the
rate OF income.
The tenants income is In direct
proportion to his capital and the size
OF the farm he operates. Men own
ing small farms often materially In
their incomes by renting ad-
ditional land. This affords n better
utilization OF their equipment with
out increase in capital.
Then tenants income is in pFcpor-
ton TO the risk he assumes. on the
cash-rent basis his income is greater
in Il good year and less in a poor year
than when he rents on the share
basis.
The farmers making the lowest
labor incomes are on big farms, but
fail thru inefficient management.
Poor crops, low prices for products
sold, poor stock, failure to work, and
unused capital are the main causes
contributing 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. Fur
Their establishments in area will occur,
which will tend to lesson the number
of 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. 1t
provides work for the farmers and his
sons and permits the best use of men,
horses and machinery. II the small
farm has a place II must be near a
city and should be highly diversified
in its organization.
Approximately one-third of the to.
tai expense is for labor ON the farms
examined by the office of farm man.
agement of the department of agri,
culture.
The one-third credited to labor in,
cludes the value of board furnished
also the value of the family labor
OF the farm operators purchased larg,
quantities of corn for feeding, there
by making this expense 1873 per CEN
OF the total. The expense for tile
drains was largely incurred in lows
and Indiana. where the construction
OF extensive systems mean consider
able outlay.
The average value of the farm
! buildings on the owner farms wa