Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-02-11
THE FARMERS INCOME.
Gosh Profits Do Not Measure the Re-
turns From a Farm.

C.sh ~ Jfits Do Not Measure the Re-
turns From Farm.
Prepared by United States department OF
agriculture
Just how much does the average
farmer make? The answer to this puz-
cling question has been long sought by
| agricultural experts. since IL is the ulti-
mate test Of all systems OF farm man
agement Ii is simple enough TO calcu-
late the cash profits received in the
sourse OF the, year. but these do not
measure the farmers success. The
farm supplies him with much besides
money-with food. shelter and fuel.
For these things the city worker has
to pay out large part OF his wages.
They must. therefore. be included In
any just estimate of the farmers in
come. In other words. the city worker
is paid entirely i'm cash, the farmer
partly in cash. partly directly i'm the
necessities OF life.
To obtain fuller knowledge Of the
'oiht VI thic hlitNJ lIOlU
the farm. the United States department
OF agriculture has recently concluded
an investigation which included AIS
farm families. divided among ten
states in different sections of the coun
try. The investigators found that on
these farms the cost OF maintaining
each grown person was on the average
SIG year.
or this sum only about % per cent
was paid out in cash. The remainder
was furnished by the farm. not in the
form OF money. but in those things for
which the money would have been ex-
changed. The extent TO which farm
can thus be made self sustaining. made
to supply the wants OF the family that
lives upon it without resorting to buy
ing and selling, is indicated by condi-
tons In the particular area of North
Carolina included in the investigation.
This area. it may be said. is not re-
garded as typical OF Southern agricul-
ture.
The investigators found that the av-
VI,
oil and shelter enjoyed by the farm
family was sos. OF this sum the aver.
age farm furnished directly S429. leav-
ing only $40 TO be bought The grocery
bill was always the largest item i'm the
cash expenditure.
This was even more apparent IN
other sections where the farms were
less nearly self sustaining than in this
particular area of North Carolina. The
bulk of the groceries was always
bought. but the total quantity con
sumed depended 10 great extent
upon the quantity of animal products
and vegetables raised on the farm
Where these abounded the consump-
ton of groceries diminished From
this it would seem that an obvious
way TO effect an important saving in
expenses is to raise more vegetables
and animal products ON the farm
Whether il is better TO cut down ex
penses in this way or 10 increase re-
ceipts by concentrating attention ON
cash crops is one of the great problems
in farm management. the answer 10
which i'm each individual case depends
upon local conditions. In the past.
however. many farmers have not re
allied the existence of the alternative
The two other important items in the
cost OF maintenance are house rent
and labor Both Of these it lis IA com
mon error to overlook i'm estimating
the farmers income Since the house
usually goes with the farm and the la
Dor Is performed by members Of the
family both are taken for granted
With labor it is much the same. The
members Of the family secure by their
work comfort which they would other
wise have TO buy. or. 10 put it another
way If they did the work for some
body else they would be paid As il is
they pay themselves
IL is obvious therefore. that what
the farm furnishes directly in food. iu
fuel in shelter and i'm rent is an inpor
tant part Of the farm family's income
ON the other hand. it mast be remem
bered that the farmer has capital i'm
vested i'm his business. the interest on
which must bc-earned before he can
truly be said 10 be making money. In
the proper relation of he three factors
Interest ON the investment. cash re.
ceipis and direct income from the farm
lies the secret OF successful farming
Homemade Plumb Bob.