The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-11-26
IDAHO FARMERS
To GET AID Of
STATE BANKERS

first step to putting their farming bus
mess on paying basis according to a
statement by c. c. Taylor, farm man
agement director of the University Of
Idaho extension division.
Only $74l a year was the 1909 net
income of the average farm family in
Idaho, says Mr.. Taylor's statement.
This allows the family only SAB for
its years labor, provided 7 per CEN.
interest is allowed on the money in
vested in the farm. Since prices, as
whole, have just about doubled since
that time, it may be expected, he says,
that the 1920 cnesus will show figures
about double those given.
Numerous letters to the farm man
agcment demonstration from bankers
in all parts of Idaho" says Mr.. Tay-
lor's statement, indicate that the
bankers are to help the farmers of the
state to put their farming business on
a paying basis by providing them with
a simple and adequate accounting sys-
tenn. The banks are to obtain copies
of the perfected account books from
the University of Idaho extension d.
vision for distribution among their
farmer patrons.
First Attempt in State.
"This will be the first time in the
history of the state that the banks
have united with the university in put
ting into use among the farmers of
Idaho a uniform accounting system
which has the Endorsement of the three
great organizations which are interest
ed in perfecting the farmers account
ing and business methods. These are
the United States department of agri-
culture, the American Farm Bureau
federation and the income tax division.
The same accounting system is being
put into use in practically all the west
ern states and the New England states
and, with certain notifications, in the
states of the middle west also. The
account book is so constituted that the
final balance for the year is the net
farm income to be reported to the in
come tax division, so for the conven-
fence of the farmer and the man who
helps him make out his income tax re-
port, a ruling has been passed permit
ting the farmer to detach duplicate
summary from this account book and
submit this page to the income tax col
lector in place of the old form lO40F
which was so hard for the farmer or
his banker to fill.
perhaps the greatest benefit which
the farmers will receive will be the de-
termination of the paying and the los
ing factors in their business. The
farm account is the farmers search
light, which, looking back, finds OH
where the money goes and whether o.
not each expenditure returns profit
and, looking forward, directs the wa,
to greater farm profits. The bankers
in turn, will be directly benefited
through the increased prosperity O
their depositors.
Will Fill Real Need.
"Some idea of the great need fol
larger profits on our farms and o
better business methods to bring then
about is obtained from study of thu
census figures on agriculture. Ac
cording to DR.. w J. Spillman, form
erly chief of the United States offic
of farm management, the census dat
Indicates that the average farm famil,
lin 1909 received only SPA net earnings
including the value of the food, fue
and house rent obtained for their owl
luse from their own farm. This al
lowed the average family only S pc
cent on their farm investment and $40
for their labor.
i Similar estimates made by the farr
management demonstrator Of the Uni
versity of Idaho show that for tn
same year the average farm family i
. Idaho made $74l net earnings whic
! allowed them per cent on investmen
and $48 for their years labor Is
, any wonder that the number OF farm
in the United States has increased onl
Ia per cent since that time? TIL
farms of the United States cannot b
expected to increase in number unit
e the net earnings from their operation
! provide higher standard of living fc
I farmers. Farm accounting is power
full way of briging this about in SAT
: sane, sensible and wholly America
S manner and the bankers of the sta,
are to be commended for their helpf
cooperation in the advancement
G | n ur;culturaI Dropress"