Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-10-10
PRODUCTION COST
OF RAISING BEANS
AND POTATOES
BEAN ACRE COST FOUND TO BE
$5S.43 AND POTATOES $4,000 BY
EXPERT AUTHORITY

The cost of production plus fair
profit as in other industries is the
advice from Washington in the mat
ter of farm products. To assist the
U. 5. government in this determine
ton, to aid in stabilizing prices, to
recompense the producer for his crop
grown on the basis of outlay, and Sc
cure maximum acreage for next
year was the work of this commits
sion.
The personnel of this commission
brought to this work business expert
ence and the knowledge of agricul-
ture. Jason Woodman of Paw Paw
is an alumnus of the Michigan Agri-
cultural college, one of the foremost
and successful growers of potatoes
in the u. S. A soil specialist and
also member of the state board of
agriculture. lothian Allen of Alma
is first farmer and in addition, the
manager of the Alma plant of the
Michigan Sugar company. Crop
costs in beet growing are a familiar
experience with Mr.. Allen. A. B.
Cook of Owosso is a graduate of the
agricultural college, a farmer by
choice, and has served his state in
making its constitution and as
legislator. John Bale of Lakeview is
one of the largest potato and bean
growers in the state, also a shipper
of produce and a live stock feeder.
C. b. Scully of Almont is farmer.
president of the state association of
farmers clubs, and represents his
district in the state senate. r. C.
Rothfuss of Adrian, is president of
the National Bank of Commerce of
that city and squared agricultural
services with business lines. I'm
avoidable engagements prevented
Others of the commissioners from be-
ing present.
G. III. Graves representing the fed
eral and state government in farm in
vestigations digested large mass of
reports collected from county agents
who had consulted farmers on crop
costs. The work of Lewis Toan,
county agent of Monroe county, New
York, who had Investigated bean
growing in that state was also made
basis of consideration.
The findings of the commission of
the acre cost of growing beans was
S5S.43. This composite calculation
assuming favorable weather for the
completion and harvesting the bean
crop was a yield of 81 bushels of
merchantable beans per acre. This
will compel at least seven dollar
bushel price to the farmer this year
Crop damage that may intervene be-
tween now and threshing time would
compel a revision of this calculation.
Potatoes: The details of potato
costs per arce was presented at great
length. An interesting conclusion was
that within reasonable limits the
cost does not vary so greatly, large
yields involved this year, excessive
seed and labor costs. From Wexford
county was received a telegram,
showing the cost of growing an acre
was $500, and the estimated yield
thereon was ninety bushels. Exten-
sive investigation in Montcalm coun-
ty showed that this figure was APP
proximated there. The acreage cost
is sections outside the most favored
potato growing counties was less but
the yield also would be less. Damage
by frost and dry weather are still
possible factors in reducing the yield
now calculated on. On the basis of
actual cost Of potato growing this
year with the unusual cost of seed
an devery factor entering into potato