The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-18
(eY PROFESSOR {. s. cuRRIER.
Head Of Farm Management, Montana
State Coiteqs.)

0SdNO ~VuVSOsJ
Most of our successful business en-
terprises of today are organized with
the matter of efficiency uppermost in
mind.
A sworn statement of one OF the
large packing companies shows that
during the past year this company
was actually able to handle beef for an
eighth of cent pound live weight
and yet make for itself a net profit
of some s20O0o.OOo.
Take for further example some of
our large automobile manufacturing
concerns. Even in the face of a stead
lily rising cost of materials. by the APP
plication of efficient organization
methods. they have been able to turn
out to the consumer product at an
actual reduction OF cost from year to
year.
A National Watchword.
This matter Of efficiency in doing
things has been one of the really I'M
portant developments of the present
century. 1t has become the national
NdlCH"o1u anu HtsihiliS IlSCiI iCll III
almost every line of human endeavor.
In the last few years it has even In
vadcd the rural districts of the country
and in every agricultural community
we find farmers who. knowingly or
otherwise. have greatly increased their
incomes by the application of the prin-
| ciples OF sound business management
GaiIatin Valley Survey.
| In a recent survey conducted in the
Gallatin valley. the results of which
are published in bulletin III of the
Montana experiment station. it was
found on one farm where correct prin-
ciples of business organization had
been put into effect, the net income
was almost 10 times as great as that
, of the average farm where methods
of only average efficiency were in use
The average lahor-income made by
1855.
| In farm management. labor income
Is used as the measure of efficiency in
farm operation. BY labor income Is
meant what the farmer has left after
paying all farm expenses and allowing
a reasonable rate Of interest on the
capital invested.
Seventy three farms In the survey
that were alike in other respects. but
had favorable size of business, had
a labor income Of $766.
| Twenty-one farms that in addition
to having a favorable size of business
had crop yields at least a fifth better
| than the average. had a labor income
of 1884.
Seven farms that in addition to the
requirements mentioned above re-
| ceived at least fifth of their receipts
from livestock. had an average labor
income Of s253a
Ono Farm Made $4.413.
One farm that was properly organ
lied in almost every respect had a
labor income of $4,4l3.
The figures shown above point quite
conclnsively to the fact that where
farms are properly organized there is
little chance of failure.
Applied to Missoula County.
The principles of efficient organiza-
ton are identical whether used in the
factory or on the farm. whether in
Gallatin or Missoula county. Some of
the more important of these may be
enumerated as follows: Size Of bust
ness: quality of business diversity of
business.
Size Of Business.
The success OF the modern factory
probably depends upon size OF bust
ness to as great an extent as upon any
other one factor. \ large volume OF |
business enables them to turn out their |
product at low cost per unit. The |
same principle is Of direct application |
on the farm. Where reasonably |
large acreage of crops are grown, it |
permits the more efficient use of la
Dor and equipment. thereby insuring'