480 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



with reference to tlie farm practices in relation to the control of this 

 weevil. 



In all of these farm organization studies a number of manuscripts 

 have been prepared dealing with the more important findings. The 

 most pertinent problems will be continued during the ensuing year, 

 as it seems that such investigational work is of prime importance, 

 even in these days of great emergency when no effort should be ex- 

 pended except such as promises immediate results. 



COOPERATIVE FARM MANAGEMENT INVESTIGATIONS IN THE 



SOUTHERN STATES. 



In January, 1917, the Office of Farm Management entered into an 

 agreement with the Office of Extension Work, Soutli, this depart- 

 ment, and subsequently into practically identical agreements with 

 the extension divisions of a number of the agricultural colleges in 

 the Southern States, for cooperative investigations and extension 

 work in farm management. The finances of the project are sliared 

 to a greater or less extent by all parties to the agreement. 



The main object of this cooperation is to assist the State extension 

 divisions and county agents in the Soutliern States (a) in ascer- 

 taining the relative importance of the principal factors that influence 

 profits and losses on the farm and (5) in demonstrating to farmers 

 practical and efficient methods of summarizing and analyzing the 

 business of their farms as a means of measuring profits and losses 

 incurred in managing them and in deciding upon readjustments that 

 promise to increase the net income. 



Under this agi'eement a farm-management specialist has been 

 appointed to take charge of the work, and State farm-management 

 specialists are assigned to the various Southern States as available 

 funds and opportunity for cooperation present themselves. The 

 State farm-management specialists act with and tlirough the county 

 agents and work among the farmers in the two-fold capacity of in- 

 vestigators and teachers. As investigators they make studies of 

 the prevailing farm practices and methods of management in com- 

 munities of 20 to 100 fnrms to find out the degree to which these 

 practices and methods underlie successful farming. As teachers they 

 instruct the farmers in the importance of these economic facts and 

 principles and assist them in so shaping their practices and manage- 

 ment as to conform more nearly, if possible, to these principles. They 

 also instruct the farmer in making inventories of his land, imple- 

 ments, stock, and supplies, and in keeping records of his business 

 transactions through the j'ear and from year to year. These yearly 

 records are then made the basis for measuring the degree to which 

 his individual management conforms to economic law and the best- 

 known practices for the community, and also as a basis for deter- 

 mining such adjustments in his practices as promise to increase the 

 net income of his farm. 



Since the inauguration of this project various degrees of coopera- 

 tion have been established with six States, and five other States are 

 practically ready for cooperation when finances will permit. 



