The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-01-13

lnsffieiency and EfIcisncy-Extrems
Types but True Ones.
these same farmers could make more
money with higher yields Profits in
crease Mt least until Yields are OBJ
tanned considerably above the aver
sge for the region, bur beyond this
limit very high yields are liable TO be
obtained AT the expense of farm prof
its
Quality Of Live Stoek Important.
ON farms where live stock is an i'm
portant enterprise, the quality OF the
stock Is very important. on major
'ty of farms, except in the South and
certain of the Western states. more of
the crops are fed to live stock than
are sold direct. On mahy farms the
animals are the market for the crops,
hence the production OF these is a
most important factor in farm profits.
The hest Of corn and hny crops VIII
count for little when fed 10 animals
that make returns below the market
prices for these crops. ON the other
hand. good live stock on the individual
farms may not be profitable II not fed
and cared for economically.
The exceedingly diverse nature of
farm operations makes vice opportun-
ity for inefiicicncy 20 enter into their
performance. In factory with mod
ern machinery Il man is expected to do
certain amount OF work, and in
many instances the machine sets the
pace for him. Generally the worker
on the farm must he his own loss and
must set his own pace. lie must also
work under most adverse weather con-
ditionS at certain times. Often
great deal of work must he devoted
TO things which add little or nothing
10 the profits OF the business. Ii re-
quires twice as much time for some
men az compared with others TO do
certain kind of work. Work may also
he so organized that given amount
OF effort accomplishes more than the
average. The efficient use of horse
labor is also very important and bears
close relation to size Of business.
On the one-man farm the horses must
necessarily be unemployed every time
the farmer finds 1t necessary To do
work not requiring horse labor. On
the larger farms the work can be so
arranged as 10 have one man keep the
horses busy while others attend to
the work where horse labor is not
needed.
WeII-Balsneed Farm Profitable.
A well-balanced farm business is
nearly always profitable. The farms
that are as good or better than the
average Of their community in all four
of the factors here mentioned seldom
fail TO make good profit. Thus, If
farm is devoted to II type OF farm
ing adopted to it's conditions, if it is
as good or better than the average in
size OF business, yield of crops produc-
ton OF live stock, and efficiency in the
use OF labor, and is adequately and
economically equipped, il is almost |
certain to be profitable. The weak |
est factor is the one that needs atten-
ton in improving the business. If the
qudlly vi the lNe StoCh II hlSh' Sicat
er Improvement I'm the farm business |
can usually be obtained by devoting |
to developing the size Of the |
business or sale OF cash crops, or in
creasing labor efficiency, rather than !
by further improving the quality Of |
live stock.
The Department Of Agriculture has |
recently prepared bulletin" A Meth |
cd of Analysing the Farm Business"
for farmers who wish to organize their
operations on an economic basis. This |
bulletin and other printed matter on
the subject may be had by interested
persons free.