Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-06-09

labor of farmer. .......... 1,434
Interest at per cent on in
vestment ............ I'LL
Labor income ............... 1913
In addition to the 1923, the farmer
had his house to live in and the dairy
products, meat, eggs, potatoes and
garden products furnished by the far
mer for home consumption. From this
it is evident that farmers labor in
come is not comparable with city wag-
es. However, it is one of the best
methods of comparing one farmers
success with another. The cash cost
of boarding hired help was included
as an expense, but such items as groc-
cries for family use, clothing, and 9TH
er personal items were not included
in the expenses. Upon most farms,
children or other members of the fam.
lily, do considerable amount of farm
work, but receive no regular wages.
In the preceding figures, the value of
such work at hired mans wages, has
been included in the farm expenses.
In studying the business of farming,
one must ever keep in mind the fact
that the receipts above expenses are
pay for two distinct things, interest
upon the investment and pay for the
work and supervision of the farmer
In this case, the receipts above ex-
penses, were $1,434. However, the
average farm represented an invest,
ment of $22,226. 1t would have been
easy for the farmer to sell his farm
and equipment and invest the money
so that it would earn per cent, or
SILL. Therefore, deducting Sill
from 1870, leaves only 1923 that the
farmer earned by his own work and
management. We may sum up these
figures by saying that these farmers
made five per cent upon the money in.
vested, and 1923 for their own labor
and supervision. What is your invest
ment in the farm business? How does
1923 compare with your labor income
Five farmers made nothing for their
work and less than per cent on the
investment. Five other farmers of the
twenty-six made over $500 for their
labor income. Why were some farm.
ers able to do we'll in the same neigh
borhood in which many of their neigh
bOrs were making less than hired
mans wages for their work, above all
expenses and interest on the invest
ment?
The figures from twenty-six farms
probably give us a fairly reliable aver
age as to the returns for the invest
ment and the time of the farmer. How.
ever, the number of farms in the de-
monstration is not sufficient to give a
satisfactory answer to the question as
to why some farmers were successful
under the same conditions under
which others failed to show satisfac-
tory financial results.
In Kandiyohi County considerable
variation from one farm to another in
the system of farming is found. Some
farms depend largely upon small grain
for their income. Others combine
varying amounts and kinds of live
stock with small grain. Among all
these systems of farming that are be-
ing tried, what combination of crops
and live stock pays the farmer the
best wages for his years work after
deducting all expenses and interest on
the investment? The best answer to
this and similar questions, is the ex.
perience of Kandiyohi County farm.
ers upon their own farms. However,
it is necessary for some person skill
ed in such work to collect this exper-
fence, classify and summarize it by
statistical methods. This is the pur-
pose of the farm management demon
stration. When the business of 60 or
more farms has been studied one can
determine by comparison of the sys-
tenn of farming upon the paying farms
with that followed upon the unprofit-
able farms, the important essentials
in securing satisfactory returns for
capital invested and the time of the
farmer. .:. H. =. s5=
Provided Kandiyohi County contin-
ues to employ County Agent with
whom the representative of the Uni
versity of Minnesota and the U. s. De-