Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-07-09
FARMERS ARE
NOT PROFITEERS


study of data collected last winter
from 200 irrigated farms in Twin /
Falls county, showing that, after the
farmer had received interest on his
investment, the average labor earn7
ings on these farms for the year
was ssss. On SIS farms that special
lied in wheat. the farmers lacked
nine cents a busheI OF receiving a
wage for their labor.
These Interpretation Of the fig
ures are made by c. c. Taylor, farm
management demonstration Of the
University Of Idaho extension divi-
sion. The statistics were collected
by Byorn Hunter, farm management
investigator OF the university, in CO.
operation with the federal office Of
farm management.
Eighty-acre farms were the most
profitable, Mr.. Taylor's analysis
showed. Wheat was the most profit
able on the largest farms. and unpro-
fitable on the small ones. The cost
of producing wheat averaged $l.92
bushel.
Some very remarkable lnforma-
ton concerning farm profits has Just
been obtained by the farm manage
ment department of the University
OF Idaho through the tahulation Of
data collected last winter from 200
irrigated farms in Twin Falls coun-
ty," says a statement by Mr.. Taylor,
THE data and conclusions will be
published in bulletin form as soon
as possible, but meanwhile the Twin
Falls county farm bureau will en-
deavor to have this information pre-
sented to the farmers of the county
through a series of community meet
ings while the figures are still new.
This will probably he brought about
during the coming month.
"The figures, which are scientific
Tally accurate as applied to irriga-
tied farms near Twin Falls In 1919,
show that the farms about 80 acres
lin size are the most profitable frams
in the area. There were three groups
Ismaller In size which made smaller
profits and one group larger than
so acres which made smaller profits
on the average.
Farm profits are measured by
labor earnings, being the net amount
remaining form the farmers labor
: after deducting all expenses and
: per cent iterest on his investment
It includes the products contributed
by the farm toward the living OF tho
. farmers family. On the average
t the labor earnings of these 200 ~
pical farms was s89S. The farmi
about so acres in size made 1885,
while the farms about 40 acres II
size averaged 500.
THE above information is suffi
Gent denial OF certain statement
published in our larger cities imply
ing that farmers are a party TO III
profiteering which became SO preva
: lent. AS further evidence, the dat
from SIS farms which specialized I
wheat showed that the total cost Q
= producing wheat averaged 1892 pc
bushel. The basic price which thes
= farmers received was ----1.S3, or
cents per pushed less than the a.
tuai cost. IN other words, thef
y farmers lacked 0 cents per bush'
of receiving a reasonable wage *
: their labor.
- "A detailed study OF these whei
y cost figures showed a wide diffe
= ence on individual farms, rangir
! from less than $12O to over $s.t
ner busheI. Most of the wheat VI
produced at from $40 TO 1920 p
~ busheI. Drawing a line at the ST.
y cost. included on 43 per cent OF q
- wheat farmers and IS per cent
On the production. Experience h
shown that. normally, from so p
cent to 90 per cent Of the producti
= OF any product must be at pro
g or else production will decreai
81 Such a limit is known as the "bu
:. line cost" and in this case the II
- IL found to be 81 % per bushei
n include 80 per cent Of the producti
and al $3.50 per bushel to inclu
90 per cent. The price Of $f.ss
ceiYed last year was considerably
low either one OF these figures.
a.The farmers on the largest far
grew wheat at the lowest cost, az
aging $1.s4 per busheI, while It c
the farmers on the smallest far
an average Of s2.23 per bushel. y
ured ON the acre basis. the aver
costs we're s67 and s92. respective
AS would BE- expected, this aver
was reflected IN the farm profits