REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE OFFICE OF FARM 



MANAGEMENT. 



Department of Agriculture, 



Office of the Secretary, 

 Office of Farm Management, 

 Washington, D. C, September 15, 1916. 

 Sir : I am submitting herewith the annual report of the Office of 

 Farm Management covering the work clone and results accomplished 

 during the year just closed. 

 Respectfully, 



W. J. Spillman, Chief. 

 Hon. D. F. Houston, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



The principal problems under investigation by this office, with 

 the more important results obtained during the past year, are as 

 follows : 



Because of the recent rapid increase of tenant farming in those 

 sections where land values have been increasing markedly the proper 

 form of contract between landlord and tenant has become a problem 

 of general interest. The Office of Farm Management has had this 

 problem under investigation during the past year, and now has the 

 data necessary for a publication on this subject for two important 

 agricultural regions. 



In connection with the preparation of an atlas of American agri- 

 culture, the office is also tabulating the facts concerning the per- 

 centage of tenantry in all sections of the country, and the changes 

 in this percentage in recent years. 



The Office of Farm Management is studying the conditions under 

 which the production of beef cattle and sheep can be made profitable. 

 The results of this study indicate that under present conditions the 

 production of baby beef on corn-belt farms gives fairly satisfactory 

 economic results, while even the production of feeders can be made 

 profitable with good management. 



These investigations also indicate that, in some localities at least, 

 a small flock of sheep may serve to increase the net profits of the farm 

 even where the usual cost-accounting methods would indicate a loss 

 on the enterprise. 



In connection with the dairy industry, the problem of suitable 

 labor is ever present. This makes tho place of the milking machine 

 in the organization of the dairy farm a major problem. During the 

 past year an investigation has been made of the effect of the milking 

 machine on the organization of farm labor, and a manuscript on this 

 subject has been prepared for publication. 



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