218 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REFOKT OF THE FARM MANAGEMENT SECTION, 



Dean R. S. Shaw, 



College. 

 Dear Dean Shaw : 



I wish to make the following" report for the work of the Farm Manage- 

 ment Section of the Experiment Station for the year ending Jnne 30, 1922, 

 which work has been under the immediate charge of Mr. F. T. Riddell. 

 In approaching a discussion of this work it is well to state briefly the 

 farm management problem. 



The 196,000 farmers of Michigan preside over as many independent 

 business units, and each one is dependent for his success: 



1. Not only upon his health, thrift, and energy, but 



2. Upon knowing which is the most profitable type of farming 

 for his section. 



3. Upon knowing which is the most profitable combination of 

 crops, and live stock under the limitation of his capital, and 



4. Upon having usable data to guide him in investment choices. 



As each farm business is a growing organism, changing from year to 

 year, and as each farm manager is always approaching a set of experiences 

 new to him, the business experiences of other fai'mers farther advanced up 

 the "agricultural ladder" are of inestimable value as a guide. The fact 

 then is that a series of progressing conditions are encountered as a farmer 

 moves up the "agricultural ladder," whether he starts as a farm laborer, 

 a poorly equipped tenant, the owner of a small encumbered farm or even 

 should he be so fortunate as to inherit a well equipped farm free from debt. 



There are three ways of moving along this unfamiliar road : 



1. The manager may move without a guide excepting only such 

 guidance as comes from his limited opportunity of observation. 

 A percentage of such farmers will fall into expanding lines of 

 farming and prosper, those fortunate by inheritance will be 

 able to maintain themselves, and still others by sacrificing 

 their standard of liviug will pay out on a modest farm home, 

 while man}' will fail. 



2. The manager may do his own experimenting and investigating. 

 While this is the method pursued by establislied busi- 

 ness institutions, it is too costly for so small a business unit 

 as a farm and more particularly for a beginning farmer. This 

 is attempted, however, by an occasional farmer, who, because 

 of the expense involved, usually fails to prosper, and thus 

 brings "scientific farming" into disrepute in his community. 



3. The experimenting may be carried on at the Agricultural 

 College and may be extended to farmer*; through the public 

 school system, the extension service, and the agricultural 



