East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-03-08
FARMERS ANTICIPATE
CONTINUED from page 1.o

NAV be necessary, will be harvesting.
Many elements enter into the cost
of producing bushel of wheat, but
one well posted man gave 1t as his
opinion that the 1922 wheat will be
produced at cost of 20 per cent less
than for 1921. His estimate is that
in Umatilla county the cost will range
from rs cents to one dollar the
bushel.
I'VE already have saved some on
wages during summer fallow and
seeding time" he saiu. other tn,nsr
we have to use and buy are down
some, so at the present we are little
ahead of the game. think We can
save more during harvesting this sum-
mer, but that remains to be seen."
Sherman Costs High.
During 1921. the department of ag-
riculture conducted survey of farm
profits on q group of wheat farms in
Sherman county, and the figures Sc
cured byNthe investigators show that
the average cost of growing one bushel
of wheat there was $3.50. The farms
included in the survey had an aver
age production of 20 bushels to the
aci,e as against % bushels to the acre
that Umatilla county farms showed.
And yield, the figures disclose, was
the most important figure In arriving
at cost. On some of the lower yielding
places, the cost went up to about
three dollars the bushel, and on the
ranches where either conditions or
the farmers superior ability caused
heavier yields, the cost was proper
tionately lower.
The average receipts from II wheat
ranches there were $4,000. The av-
erage operating expnses wer $4,000.
In oprating expenses is included mon
ey necessary for taxes, interest on
mortgages and interest for money
borrowed for operation.
The man who has been studying this
report on costs in the neighboring
county estimates that the cost OF a
bushel of wheat in Umatilla county
under average conditions for 1922 will
be about rs cents without adding any
thing tothis for interest on the invest
ment.
Farmers have adopted rule OF
strict economy in their operations
This has not not been caused by any
brand of wisdom peculiar to them, II
is pointed out, but by the pressure ol
necessity which has made 1t incum'
/, bent on the tiller of the soil to spend
as little as possible until he can make
a profit which his to do with as M
wishes. One man analyzed the situa
tion under the following heads:
"Take machinery for instance. Bet
ter care Is being taken Of 1t than eve
before. More Of 1t is being housed
| than used to be the case, and tn
amount of farm repair work beinl
done greatly exceeds what used to b.
done. High costs for machinery am
the excessive expense of repairs ev
plain why farmers are doing all 0
this work possible themselves. Re
pairs in many cases save purchasing
new implement, and economy is tn
olAwar cry. WI.
!, Tractor fuel Is down some, but
will have to come down more. ~
noticed too, that as we must shay
closer we are producing a lot NOR
feed on our farms. That is goo
Indication. t@
"On the item of labor, think "
will save 25 per cent this year. w
always have paid too much Tor hai
vesting in this county. Our attitud
has been that the work has TO D
! done and we must see that II Is dom
So we have thought less of cost tha
I we should and more of getting the 10
finished. Board for men Is dow
some. Where 1t is necessary to MI
machine work done in harvesting IN
cost win be less. Our seed cost on
average was only about one-half whit
il was for the 1921 crop.
Sacks were about eight cents
1921, and on that item we can expe
I little il any reduction. We can coul
4 on taxes remaining high and SON
I other items Of overhead will not con
down much.
Z 'It is also true that farmers are g
: ing to stay closer to their farms tn
year than they ever have before. In n
= opinion, and doubt whether quite
Z many motor-cars will be operated
4 have been used hy ranchers in Il
, past. OF course, we are not going
q take any backward steps, but where
4 ia possible to cut out the use Of ol
car. / expect that to be done.'