The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-06-29
FIGURES PROVE
THAT FARMERS
INCOME SMALL
Absolute Proof That Producers
Of Idaho are mot Profiteers
Shown ConcIusiveIy by Twin
Falls Results

DoiSc, >pudnO,, june Z0.-PrOOf that
farmers are not profteers is contained
in study of data collected last win
ter from zoo. irrigated farm in Twin
Falls county, the average of labor
earnings on these farms for the year
was 1898. On the S. farms that spec
ialized in wheat the farmers lacked
nine cents bushel of receiving i
reasonable wage for their labor.
These interpretation of the figures
are made by c. c. Taylor, farm man.
agement demonstrator of the Univer-
sity of Idaho extension division. The
statistics were collected by Byron
Hunter, farm management investiga-
tor of the university, in cooperation
with the federal office Of farm man.
agement.
Eight-acre farms were the mos,
profitable, Mr.. Taylor's analysis show
ed. Wheat was most profitable on the
largest farms, an dunproftable on the
small ones. The cost of producing
wheat averaged $l.92 bushel.
Labor Earning is Small
THE figures, which are scientifically
accurate, as applied to irrigated farms
near Twin Falls in 1919, show mat the
farm about 80 acres in size are tho
most profitable farms in the area, says
statement by Mr.. Taylor. There
were three groups smaller in size
which made smaller profits and one
group larger than 80 acres which made
smaller profits, on the average.
Farm profits are measured by la.
Dor earnings, being the net amount
remaining for the farmers labor after
deducting all expenses and 7 per cen,
interest on his investment. 1t in.
cludes the products contributed by the
farm toward the living of the far.
mer's family. On the average, the
labor earnings of these 200 typica
farms was 1898. The farms about *
in size made $3.50 while the farm.
about 40 ac,es in size averaged $500
"The above information is sufficient
denial of certain statements published
in our larger cities implying that tn.
farmers are a party to the profteer
ing which became so prevalent A.
further evidence, the data from 5.
farms which specialized in whea
showed that the total cost of produc
wheat averaged $l.o2 per bushel. TIL,
basic price which these farmers re
ceived was $l.S3, or 9 cents less thar
the actual cost. In other words
these farmers lacked 9 cents per bush
ell of receiving a reasonable wage 70
their labor.
Wheat Runs Close
"A detailed study of these whea
: cost figures showed wide differenc
on individual farms, ranging from les
than $1.2O to over $500 per bushe
Most of the wheat was produced a
from $1.40 to 500 per bushel. Draw
ing line at the $l.83 cost, include
: only 40 per cent of the wheat farmer
and AS per cent of the production
Experience has shown that, normally
from 80 to 90 per cent of the produt
ton of any product must be at
profit or else production will dccreas
Such a limit is known as the "bul
line cost" and in this case the lir
is found to be at $3.50 per bushel /,
include so per cent of the productio
and at $3.50 per bushel to include 6
per cent. The price of Sl.83 receive
last year was considerably belo
either one of these figures.
THE farmers on the largest farm
grew wheat at the lowest cost, a,
eraging Sl,S4 per bushel while it Co
the farmer on the smallest farms a
average of 1928 per bushel. Figure
on the acre basis, the average cos
were $67 and $o2, respectively.