The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1921-04-06
LOWERING COSTS OF
FARM PRODUCTION.

moro TO do with the financial returns
that may be expected on the farm
than on the moisture available or otn-
er natural forces, for in regard to the
latter there seems to be a general
belief that we are in for a good sea-
son.
The first optimistic sign of the
present season is the lowering OF
farm wages. There seems to be
plentv of men available who will go
to work at a wage the farmer can al
ford to pay. Last year II was difficult
to get men at any figure. There are
many farmers in the valley who PAID
as high as 500 a month for their
men last year and at that received
Indifferent. service. This season con-
ditions have changed, farmers simply
refuse to pay the high wages and the.
farm bureau has gone on record as
favoring $40 for single men and 500
for man and wife where both work.
These are figures on which the farm
CfS Call COliG Oub SfCh'
In other ways the cost Of putting in
the crop has come down. Seed grain
is low as compared with what it was
last year, alfalfa and other grass
seeds are selling at just about half
what they did year ago. Feed oats
is but little over a dollar, whereas
a year ago we paid $685. to feed our
horses. Hay last spring was from
$40 to $50 and this year it is as low
as $40. So the story goes. This
past year the farmer paid high prices
for putting in their crops and har-
vesting them, then came the drop
leaving the farmers to hold the sack.
This year farmers will make money
on prices that last year meant loss,
and it is in keeping down the costs OF
production that the best chance lies
for credit returns from the farms.
Last year, according to a govern
ment income tax expert, there were
less than 10 per cent Of the farmers
in the country who made enough to
paw an income tax. That is an un-
healthy condition for the country and
is reflected in every line of business.
But with decreased production costs
and the chance Of wheat and other
crops staying up to reasonable prices
the farmers have a chance to more
than come out even. Of course no
one is venturing to predict what the
markets will be this fall, but it is
within the bounds Of reason to expect
them to stay somewhere around their
present figures, and in the case OF
cattle, hogs and sheep, to increase
somewhat. If that is true the farm
ers of the valley should make some
money, particularly those who raise
livestock, Off therein lie the bes
profits. COS
1t is interesting to note the reduc-
tions that have come about in the line
of farm machinery. Manufacturers
of machinery are announcing sub
stantial reductions in prices of farm
; implements, the American Farm Blu
: reau Federation having received in
( formation concerning price cuts a.
follows:
The International Harvester com
pany, Is per cent on plows, seedin
& machines, wagons and miscellaneou
3 tools; 500 on threshers and CON
8 bines, from $3.50 to $3.50 on tractor
q and from $40 to $25 on gasoline Ell
q gines.
z The ]. I. Case Plow Works con
9 pany, approximately Is per cent Q
4 all its lines.
2 The Observation-Disclosures con
8 pany, Is per cent on wagons ar
2 gears, vehicles, tractor plows. ha
q presses, grain drills and gas engine
= from $3.50 to $155 on tractors.
3 The La Crosse Plow company,
q per cent on moldboard tractor pic
y and drill.
The A. F. Myer company, 10 p
cent on grain elevators.
The Sharples Separator compan
m 20 per cent on cream separators.
F. E. Myers and Bros, approx
mately Is per cent on pumps, h
b tools, door hangers, clamps, mercha
rs disc, conveyors and store ladders.
The Papec Machine company,
Is percent on ensilage machinery.
The Bates Machine and Tract
company, $225 on its tractor.
The Vulcan Plow company, 20 7
cent on plows, with the exception
M tractor plows and pulverizers.
Bateman companies, Is per cent
implements, except mowers.
The Champion corporation, abe
12.2 per cent.
The S. L. Allen company, from
TO Is per cent.
The Oliver Chilled Plow compa
: 10 per cent on outside lines hand
by the company's branch houses.
The Slower Manufacturing CO
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