The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-14
FARMERS AVERAGE
LESS THAN $500
Bureau of Farm Statistics Show That
Net Revenue Has Become Low.
(By George ii. Manning.)

Washington, D. c., Oct. 13-The
rather startling statement that farmers
of the country are making less than
$500 year over and above the things
the farm furnishes toward the family
living. is contained in statement
made public today by the Department
Of Agriculture. The figures given out
by the department are the result of a.
farm profits survey, covering seven
years in two areas and five years in
third The statistics show that but
few farmers in the groups studied
despite the general impression TO the
contrary, have been making large
profits during the recent years of
comparatively high prices.
The three groups of farms studied
were located, respectively, in Wash
ington county, Ohio, (25 farms, hill
country, years., Clinton county, In
diana, 400 farms, corn belt, years,
and Dane county, Wisconsin, (69 farms,
dairy region, years.. Officials of
the department visited these farms
year after year, taking records cover
ing the farm business under various
heads. The facts brought out in the
report are of special significance since
they represent the results of continu-
Gus studies of the same farms ex-
tending over longer period OF time
than do any other such investigations
thus far completed by the department.
The result of the survey shows that
the average farm income of the %
farmers of Washington county, Ohio,
for the seven years. 1912 to 1918, was
500; the labor income, 1916; the re-
turn on investment, 4.6 percent, in
addition to the farm income, the farm
ers had food, fuel and house rent, es-
timated to be worth on the average,
1859 year For 1912 the farm income
OF these farms averaged $3.50, and for
1913 the average was S7t9. These farms
are located in a hilly section, where
the soil is not especially fertile.
The 100 farmers in Clinton county
Indiana, being on better land than the
Ohio farmers, made a corresponding
better showing. Their farm incomes
averaged 1856 for the seven years and
their labor incomes, 1858. Their re-
turn on capital invested was ST per-
cent, and food. fuel and house rent fur
nished by the farm amounted to S425.
The average farm income Of these
farms increased from 1882 in 1910
to S2,97S in 1918.
The farm income of the so Wiscon-
sin farms averaged 1929 for the five
years. 1913 to 1918, the labor income
was S408, and the return on the in
vestment, AZ percent. The average |
farm income ranged from S1.079 in |
1913 to 1890 in 1915
Specialists Of the department who |
conducted these investigations declare
that while the results will not justify |
making flat congratulations as to what |
farm profits are for the country as a |
whole. they feel they should have |
weight in the consideration of the
general problem as Indicative of the /
.rend of farm returns in representa-
i've farming sections.
These experts point out that though |
arm incomes in most cases showed a
marked increase during the years 1913
md 1918 as compared with incomes
or 1912 and 1915, such increases are
more apparent than real, In view of
he decrease in the purchasing power
if the dollar
The turnover for the recent years
vas larger than for the earlier years,
,ut the returns were relatively little
anger if measured in terms of the
Kings it would buy rather than in
erms of dollars and cents.