The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-04-10
ORANGE COUNTY
FARMERS ASSN NOTES

! The past week has been spent in re.
turning farm survey records and retaking
from those who wish to continue this
work. Last year records were taken
from everyone obtainable in the survey
area around Randolph. This year rec
ords are being retaken from those farm
ers who feel that there is some benefit
coming from it and wish to repeat the
record. The purpose of these farm sur.
yey areas of which there are six in the
state, is to demonstrate to the farmers
of locality by means OF their own fig.
ures the factors which influence farm
profits and to interest and assist them
in the systematic keeping of farm ac-
counts. The first year we wished to get
all the farmers to give records SO the
figures would be representative Of the
area, hereafter having obtained that ay.
erage, our chief purpose is to assist in
the keeping of accounts and picking ont
the strong and weak factors on the in.
dividual farm. The majority of those
whose records have been returned have
wished to continue the survey and many
are securing the farm record books in
order that hereafter they may have some
more reliable records to give This year
the survey will not be confined to the
Randolph area. but limited number
of records of other farmers in the county
will be taken on request, to make up
for those who drop out. Please get in
touch with the county agent, if you wish
to have your record taken.
There has been some criticism Of these
records as not being accurate since so
many of the farmers keep no accounts.
This may be true with many of the in
dividual records, but considering them
in groups and as a whole for averages,
think this inaccuracy may be disre-
garded. The averages where there were
at least ten farms in group and some
groups with less. showed the same trend
as those taken in other places. The in
accuracy Of the individual records would
influence the degree of varia
ion between groups, but not the relative
position OF the groups. The fact that
4 of the - records taken We're thrown
Dut before the averages were made, |
hows that some obviously inaccurate
ecords or those where outside influences |
Elected the figures were recognized by |
hose summarizing the records and not |
sed. For individual accuracy, ! think
he second years records will show an
as most OF the farmers
yhose record is retaken are using more
are in giving their records.
A series of articles will follow in these
ews notes giving the important fac
ors influencing farm profits as shown
Y last years figures. A complete sum-
lary is returned to those whose record
! taken and was given in my March cir
ular letter to the members of the Coun-
Y Farmers association. This survey
loWs that the average farmer is making
living and a little besides, that few
lrmers are making as much as could be
zpected in many other lines OF business
nd that few farmers were running be
ind not only working for nothing, but
sing part Of the interest on their in.
The average OF the 81 farm
5 in Randolph and vicinity made 1851
ON April, 1914. to April l., 1915, above
5 farm expenses and FIVE per cent in
rest on his investment. This doe, not
clude his household and personal ex
'nses outside OF the things furnished
! the farm. The average Of the 10 bet
r-paying farms averaged Sl,l56 on the
me basis The average of the 10 poor
paying farms lost $256 after paying
e per cent interest. The best paying
rm gave labor income OF $3.50, ana
e poorest loss of S463.
These figures look good deal like the b
lures on profits from individual CONS n
the average herd There must be some +
rms which are robber farms and not 1
wing for the labor expended on them, $
is it because they are not properly
Gated? Do you know what you are o
ing on your farmy There were several c
rmers in this Randolph area who did u
t last year. Are you planning to
ep farm accounts this summer? k
Summary for week ending April l, b
l6: N
rms visited ....,..,.......... ~ = =
l..