The Washington times., 1925-08-11
D. c. To BENEFIT
If FARMERS
PROSPER
Department of Agriculture
Forecasts Profitable
Crop Year
By RICHARD HATTON

DV At1OLAE21bA& AA4A4 OAN
It is a long way from Washing
ton, D. C. to the great agricultural
States. Nevertheless, what is TAX
ing place in the farm sections Of
the country today will have q ire
mendous effect upon Washington
business in due time, for, when
crops are good, business in general
is good and when business in gen.
eral is good, business in Washing
ton is good. Therefore, Washing
ton, as a business center as well
as a political center is interested
in the condition Of the farms Of the
country.
The farmer is entering the crop
year in better condition than last
year and, according to the conclu
sion Of the Department Of Agricul-
ture the farmer made money in
1924. while at present it is not
possible to give absolute figures. 1t
is possible to make a fair estimate
OF this years crop provided there
does not occur some unforeseen in
fluence which viii upset condition
and calculations,
The latest estimate of the Depart
ment of Agriculture shows that the
yield Of many principal crops will
be lower than last year. The esti-
mated 1925 wheat yield is $4,000, 900
bushels compared with S73, 900 900
bushels last year. The corn crop Is
above 5000, 900 900 bushels, according
to the latest survey Of prospects.
Last year the crop was 2, 437, 900, 900
bushels. The potato, oat. hay and
rye crops are under last year. The
tobacco and barley crops a,e above
last year.
OF course a large crop which must
sell below the cost Of production
crop which sells at a better figure
figures other than the estimate of
the total crop.
1t is world conditions which set
the price of wheat. The world acre
age this year is about the same as
last. One large wheat raiser the
United States, has crop smaller
than last year. It will take greatly
increased yields in other countries
to bring the total world yield up
TO the 1924 mark therefore. Eleven
wheat-raising countries, including
the United States, have an estimat-
ed total Of 1865, 000, 900 bushels in
prospect, compared with 1862 .000.-
900 bushels last year. Also, the
country this year on July / was
less than last year-and well under
the 1920-24 average.
After some months of stuNey the
department has computed tile cost of
raising principal crops during 1924.
The 1925 cost probably will not vary
greatly from the 1924 figure Wheat
cost to raise $1.22 per bushel. It's
average value at the farm gate was
SLAB per busheI. Corn cost SO
cents a bushel compared to a farm
value of $1.10 a bushel. II the
farmer should make such margin
on corn this year his profit on the
one crop would be more than $780,
100000. He probably could make
such a margin even with lower
price for with a high yield his
cost per bushel would be somewhat
less.
The Agriculture Department also
has compiled statistics from thou
sands Of farms, so that 1t is pos
sible to show the distribution of
the average farm dollar. Branches
of other industries and trades have
been treated previously in a similar
way.
IuS FARMER pays Tor MS materials
5l.1 cents of each dollar. His Ia
Dor is represented by 1877 cents.
Thus the cost OF goods sold is 47.4
cents. His margin after allowing
for interest, taxes and miscellaneous
charges is 24.7 cents. This is a
margin on turnover higher than in
any other callings. It should be
said, however, that the farmer has
but one turnover a year where
other callings may turn over sew
eral times.
The analysis of the cost of raising
corn also is interesting in view Of
the large crop anticipated for the
present year. The Agriculture De-
partment shows that corn cost the
farmer an average of $500 per
acre. The largest item in this was
that Of land rent, which was $5.97
per acre.