20 AXNTAI. KKI'OltrS OK DKPAHTMENT OK A(ilU("ULTURE. 



demand from the public frencrally, but more especially from farmers 

 and farm oiganizations, for the results of these studies, and it has 

 been repeatedly urfijed that they should be extended and others 

 undertaken. There is ur^rent need of cost studies with reference to 

 such crops as corn, oats, su<;ar beets, beans, rice, etc., and there is 

 equal need of adequate and comprehensive studies relating to the 

 organization of various types of farms and ranches. 



Such studies furnish the farmer information which enables him 

 to reduce expenses or otherwise to increase his profits. If he makes 

 full use of it, he will be in position to adjust his operations from 

 time to time to those enterprises which will yield a satisfactory profit, 

 to add to his individual income, and, ultimately, to influence the 

 prosperity of his community. Cost studies also inform the general 

 public regarding the cost of producing farm products and should 

 tend to bring about a more general realization, on the part of the 

 consumer, of the necessity of paying prices which will adequately 

 reward the farmer and secure the necessary supplies in the markets. 



THE FARM LABOR PROBLEM. 



The seriousness of the farm labor problem is everywhere realized. 

 It has been present in more or less acute form for more than a decade 

 and failure to recognize its complexity has resulted in many unwise 

 attempts to solve it. Thoroughgoing scientific study of the whole 

 problem is needed as a basis of action, but such a study has been 

 impossible up to this time because of the lack of funds. During 

 the present fiscal year, only $5,000 is available for the purpose. 

 While this sum is entirely inadequate to cover the whole field, a 

 promising beginning has been made and sufficient funds should be 

 provided for the prosecution of the work on a more comprehensive 

 basis. 



FARM FINANCE. 



The financial problems of the farm have become more and more 

 involved, until to-day they rank in importance with the financial 

 problems of commercial industries. While an excellent beginning 

 has been made in the studj'^ of farm-mortgage credit, farm insur- 

 ance, and personal credit, sufficient funds are not available to deal 

 adequately with many matters about which information is needed, 

 including the methods employed and results obtained by farmers in 

 attempts to improve their credit through united and cooperative 

 action; life insurance in relation to farm finance, covering the use 

 of life insurance contracts as a means of improving the credit of the 

 farmer; methods of taxation as they affect agriculture; crop and 

 live stock insurance, the need of such protection and the agencies 

 offering it ; and the place of accident and liability insurance in farm- 

 ing operations. 



