EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 9 



on the farms in Michigan than a year ago and that 91 per cent of 

 those leaving the farms did so to better their financial condition, 

 6 per cent because of old age, and 3 per cent because of other causes. 

 During the year ending February, 1920, it is estimated that 22,000 

 workers net left the New York farms; in 1921, 24,000 net. For 

 the year ending February, 1922, this number had decreased to 3,000, 

 the explanation being that the unemployment in the cities during 



1921 caused many persons to move to the farms. For the year end- 

 ing February 1, 1923, this movement had swung back, and the net 

 movement to the cities was 26,000. It is reasonable to believe that 

 a similar movement from the farms to the cities is general through- 

 out the country, although reliable figures such as have been quoted 

 with reference to New York are not available for other States. 

 Perhaps the movement has not been so large in some other States 

 as in Michigan and New York, which are so highly industrial. 



PlNANClAIi DIFFICULTIES. 



This year the Department of Agriculture instituted an inquiry 

 through both bankers and farmers as to the number of farm owners 

 and farm tenants who lost their farms or property through fore- 

 closure or voluntary relinquishment. 



It was found that of the owner farmers in 15 corn and wheat 

 producing States on an average over 4 per cent had lost their farms 

 through foreclosure or bankruptcy, while nearly 4.5 per cent had 

 turned over their farms to creditors without legal process, making 

 a total of about 8.5 per cent who had lost their farms with or with- 

 out legal proceedings. In addition, more than 15 per cent were in 

 fact bankrupt, but were holding on through leniency of their cred- 

 itors. Considered by groups of States, the percentage of owner 

 farmers who lost their farms since 1920 was found to be as follows : 

 For 5 east North Central States, nearly 6 per cent ; for 7 west North 

 Central States, over 9 per cent; and for 3 Mountain States, nearly 

 20 per cent. The percentage of tenants who lost their property ran 

 materially higher. 



The records of the Department of Justice indicate that in the pre- 

 war years 5 per cent of all bankruptcy cases were farmers, but in 



1922 it had grown to 14 per cent. In some of these States, where in 

 pre-war years the farmers' bankruptcy cases represented about 7 per 

 cent of all such cases, this percentage in 1922 had risen to nearly 30. 



