Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-27
Account Keeping for Farmers.

/ OhUNOs moy
In those days of agitation, of economy
and elimination of waste the farmers Of
Maine are coming to realize that It 10 %
essential to know what II costs to pro-
duce Q crop Of any kind 90 to ascertain
ct what price It should sell In the open
market.
Maurice D. Jones, farm management
demonstrator connected with the UNI
versity Of Maine extension service, 10
devcting much attention this spring to
assisting farmers to keep their accounts
90 - to be able to know the net result
Of their labors every year, and to deter
mine what kinds Of farm activities are
the most profitable In their communities
and under their conditions.
There is nothing complicated about
the plan of bookkeeping Mr.. Jones
teaches. It is az simple as the alphabet
after It has been properly started. The
instruction costs the farmer nothing, for
the University of Maine furnishes the
account books free and likewise the serv-
ices of Demonstration Jones. The only
requirement is that the farmers who
desire this free service form groups In
their communities, because 1t would be
Impractical to instruct them individually.
They agree to keep accurate records for
year, at the end of which period Mr..
Jones or the county extension agent, or
both, will assist in balancing the ac-
counts, II such assistance is needed.
OF course the results OF the analysis In
individual cases will be kept secret, II
so desired, but from q general summary
of accounts much information OF value
to farming communities, the counties
and the state can be obtained.
The figures at the end of the year will
show the farmer what major and what
minor enterprises are best fitted to bis
conditions and equipment. he can
study the various factors of cost 30 as to
be able to compare his results with the
average showing in his community, and
thus determine whether bis methods are
more or less efficient than those OF bis
nelghbors. It will also help him deter.
mine what crops and what kinds OF live
stock pay best on bis farm.
Oranges, farm bureaus and other agri'
cultural agencies are taking q great In
terest In this cost-accountiDg movement
and Mr.. Jones and the county agents are
kept busy attending to the calls for
assistance In organizing groups. There
are at present 76 such clubs organized
In the state, and the list is weekly In
creasing.
The plan has been In operation two
years In this state, but has not been
pushed as thoroughly az 1t is now being.
An analysis of the figures compiled by
Mr.. Jones covering the operations OF
farmers who have kept strict account OF
their costs and receipts shows that In
the communities covered combination
dairy and poultry farming pays best;
retail milk production, second; poultry,
alone, third; dairying, alone, fourth;
orcharding, flftb; potato crops, alone,
sixth.
Potato raising showed the highest
labor income, $1,000, but the greatest
individual loss, $1,000. The keeping of
COWS alone showed maximum labor In
come of $500, but 1t carried q risk, as
In one instance the loss on dairy COWS
reached $700. Keeping hens alone
showed q maximum labor income of
$110O; maximum loss 500. Retailing
milk showed maximum labor income
of $1,000, with no loss. Combined dairy
ing and poultry raising showed q maxi
mum labor income OF $1700, and not one
farmer who followed that combination
on bis farm reported loss.
These figures were compiled from
records kept on 619 farms, scattered
through Penobscot, Kennebec, Hancock,
Franklin and Somerset counties.