Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-04-06
FARM MANAGEMENT SURVEY
IN TOWN OF LEBANON
Table Shows Income is Largely Derived
from Dairy Business.


During the year 1915 the Connecticut
Agricultural college extension service
and the New London County Farm
bureau completed the second survey of
farm management methods in use on
40 farms in Lebanon. Conditions vary
on different farms so that only general
averages can be used in arriving at
general conclusions and each farm
must then be studied individually be-
fore making any change in the man
agement- Individual practices are dis
cussed in the report only so far as they
conform to general conditions.
The measure of profit or loss on a
farm is termed labor income and is
determined by deducting ) per cent.
interest on total capital invested from
the difference between receipts and
expenses. This gives the farm income,
or the amount the farmer earns for his
own labor and management, besides
the use of the buildings and farm pro-
duce consumed by the family.
First is given the summary of bust
ness on this farm, followed by a gen
eral summary of the 40 farms and an
analysis of the same.
It is evident from the table embodied
in the report that the farm income in
Lebanon came largely from the dairy
business. Dairy products and the cat
| tie sold from the herds constitute 81
| per cent. or nearly two thirds of the
| gross income on the farms. If the in
come from poultry and swine be added
| to this income from Gairying 1t is found
| that 75 per cent. of the farm income
| is dirived from livestock. From the
| table of expenses it is noted that 40
per cent. of all money expended goes
| for grain to feed this livestock, and
| that 80 per cent. one-third of all mon
| ey expended, is for labor. This labor
| hired together with the labor of the
1 Onprn largely
| cattle and the raising and harvesting
| OF feed for the cattle to consume. 1t
would seem, then, that profits on these
| farms must depend largely on the abil-
| ity of the stock on which the feed and
| labor is expended to turn this feed
| and labor into profit.
| Besides the consideration of labor
in the production of milk, it should be
considered from the efficiency stand
point. The general summary shows
to hired labor. When the farmers
| labor is added to this, it will be seer
that practically so per cent. or one
half Of the farm expenses are for Ia
be measured by the number of dollars
worth of labor required to produce 500
receipts.
Another important factor in success
full farming, besides good cows and
efficient labor, is the size of business
farmers with the larger labor income!
have the larger cash receipts.
OF the II farms having labor in
comes of $1,000 or more, all but tive
have cows producing 800 worth o
| milk or more per year. All but ont
took in 500 receipts with $32 or les!
of labor. All had total receipts o
$4,000 or more.
The dairymen in some of the pro
, gressive dairy sections of the stat
have formed herd improvement asso
. Citations and have hired a man to ties
! the COWS for butter fat, keep the dair,
records on all farms in the association
and assist in planning economical ant
productive rations. Where men are no
in position to do this work for them
ISOLATION is small compared with tn
benefits to be received. The numbe
OF such associations is increasing.
Efficient Labor.
Regardless of the skill of the ma,
or the management, work done on poo
= | cows cannot be profitable. When
: takes over $40 worth of labor to brin
: in 800 receipts the labor is poorl
: managed and farm profits are Low
t Even when the cows are good labo
4 may not be used to advantage. o
t some farms there are seasons whel
n | while the men can find work to d,
e they are not busy at productive worl
e The most profitable farms have the
years business so arranged that q
r far as possible at all seasons of tn
= year there is work to do which wi
bring in money.
Farm Accounts.
Successful farm management is usU
e ally the outcome of a careful study
the farm business over a period
Il years. Farm accounts are so essenti
r, to such a study Of the farm busine:
It that the collge has had printed LOT
10 copies of a farm account book whiC
If is designed to meet the needs of II
e, ordinary farmer without imposing ar
unnecessary burdens in keeping II
records
a