New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-11-26
FARM PROFITS
NOT VERY BIG
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
MAKES PUBLIC FIGURES FROM
THREE TYPICAL AREAS.
TAKEN OVER SEVERAL YEARS
Agents Found the Farmers Incomes
Were Considerably Larger Of Late,
but Increase Is More Apparent Than
Real.

Were Considerably Larger Of Lat,
but Increase Is More Apparent Tina
Real.
b. JAMES p. hoRNADAY.
WashingtOn.-Figures on farm prof
us, covering seven years In two area
and nye years in a third, have bee
assembled by the Department of Agri
culture. These figures show "a tina
comparatively few of the farmers |,
the groups studied have been maxim,
large profits during the recent year,
or comparatively high prices; (2) thu
their average return on investment In
creased from about 4 per cent in 1917
To z per cent In 1918, and CD tina
most of them are making less thar
sou cash "a year over and above tn,
things the farm furnishes toward thu
family living, which, however, consti
tute a very important factor.
Specialists of the office of farm man
agement and farm economies. witt
have conducted these Investigations
say that while the results will moi
justify making fiat congratulations ms
10 farm profits are for the coun.
try as a whole, they believe they
should have weight In the consldera.
TO Of the general problem, as In
dicative of the trend of farm returns
IN representative farming sections.
The three groups Of farms studied are
located IN Washington county, Ohio,
go farms, hill country, I years., Clin-
ton county, Indiana, (lOO farms, corn
belt, 7 years). and Dane county, Wis
consin go farms, dairy region, 8
years..
Representatives of the department
visited these farms year after year.
taking records covering the farm bust
ness under the following heads: Dis
tributiOn Of farm area. crop yields,
amount Of work stock and Of other
livestock, amount OF labor used,
amount and distribution of farm cap
ital, amount and distribution of re-
ceipts and expenses. value OF the fam
lily living obtained from the farm,
amounts Of the more important prod
ucts sold, and prices received.
Farm incomes Computed.
From the figures thus obtained. the
farm Income (receipts less expenses).
and the labor income farm income
. per g n on investment), have
been computed for each farm and for
each group of farms. The average
farm income of the % farmers visited
In Washington county, Ohio. for the
seven years l9l2-lS, was 500; the
labor income, $27G; the return on in.
vestment, 40 per cent. In addition
to the farm Income, the farmers had
food. fuel and house rent. estimated
10 be worth on the average $3.50 per
year. For 1912 the farm income of
farms averaged S546. and for
1918 the average was S7l9. These
farms are I'm a hilly section where
he soil Is not especially fertile.
The 100 farmers In Clinton county,
being on better land than the
ohio farmers. made n corresponding
y better showing. Their farm in
zones averaged sl.S56 for the seven
ears. 1910 and l9l3-ls, and their labor
Incomes, S55s. Return on capital was
", and food, fuel. and house rent
furnished by the farm. 1926. The ay-
farm income of these farms in
from 81 ,2s2 in 1910 TO se.91s
n 1918.
The farIs income of the 90 Wiscon-
lin farms averaged Sl,293 for the
I've years, 1913-lS, the labor Income.
-4OS; and return on inyestment-dc.
by deducting from the fnrm
income the value OF the farmers labor
AZ per cent. The average farm in
ONE ranged from S1,O19 IN 1913 to
! 900, IN 1918.
Labor Income Not Large.
OF the 1SJ farmers IN the three
reas, none male a labor income Of
1000 for every year of the study, but
s In the Indiana area and Z IN the
Wisconsin area made labor incomes
.veraging over $1,000 per year for the
eriod. Four farmers e. per cent Of
ne entire number) made over 500
Ibor income every year. Averaging
Ibor income and loss over the whole
me, Is per cen Of the farmers failed
!, make any labor income at all. Ten
pr cent failed even to make ) per cent
Iterest on investment ia any year Of
study.
Department specialists point out
lat though farm incomes In most
Ises showed n marked Increase dur
q the years 1916-1S. as compared :
It'll incomes for 1912-15. these in :
eases are more apparent than real. (.
view Of the decrease in the pur-
Iasing power of the dollar. The turn :
-er for the recent years was larger d,
for the earlier years. but the re- !
rms were relatively little larger. If ;
in terms Of the things the :
Dney would buy. :
Children's Bureau Report. Z
"Twenty-one years ago the re- Z
lion of the father TO his child
rtook Of the nature of a prop
ty right. The courts could enforce
Is right. but on the other hand they n
re often powerless TO enforce the
ty Of the father TO his child" says Z
e federal children's bureau. Since
W. it j. pointed out, every state in
: Union has passed juvenile court Y
except Connecticut, Maine and il