THE farmer's income. 6 



THE AVERAGE FARM INVESTMENT. 



The average area of the American farm m. 1910 was 138.1 acres. 

 Of this area 75.2 acres are classed as improved land. The average 

 area devoted to crops is 49.77 acres. The total average mvestment 

 per farm is $6,443.67, the amount in farm buildmgs being $994.33 

 and that m implements and machinery, $198.88. 



RECEIPTS. 



The data for the receipts of the farmer are obtained entirely from 

 the census returns. In this calculation the farm is credited with 

 the total value of dairy products, wool, mohair, eggs and poultry, 

 honey and wax, and domestic animals sold and slaughtered, with 

 the exception of the milk and cream consumed on the farm where 

 it is produced. This latter item is not given in the census returns. 

 Whatever its value it should be added to the farm income. 



The farm is also credited in Table I with the total value of all 

 the crops produced except that part fed to live stock. This valuation 

 is arrived at in the foUowtng manner: 



The amount of corn, oats, barley, hay, and forage sold is deducted 

 from the total value of these crops, it bemg assumed that the re- 

 mainder is fed on the place and accounted for in the live-stock product 

 listed earlier in the table. The value of that portion of these crops 

 which is fed to live stock is then deducted from the total value of 

 all the crops, the remainder being credited to the farm. The farm 

 is thus credited with the butter, cheese, eggs, poultry, honey, meat, 

 fruits, A'egetables, bread, etc., consumed on the farm where it is 

 produced, and the value of these products thus consumed on the 

 farm is included in the farm mcome. 



As stated already, any income the farmer may secure by work 

 done outside his farm or from any other outside source is to be 

 added to the net income given in Table I. 



EXPENSES. 



The only important item of expense not enumerated in the table 

 is- the sum expended annually in the purchase of live stock. Of 

 the other expense items the amount for labor, fertilizers, and feed 

 are given dii-ectly in the census returns. 



The expense for the maintenance of buildings is placed at 5 per 

 cent of the value of the buildings. This is only an estimate, but 

 it is based on rather extensive investigations by the Office of Farm 

 Management and is believed to be approximately correct. 



The cost of maintenance, including repairs, of implements and 

 machinery is placed at 20 per cent of their cash value. This esti- 

 mate is based on extensive investigations by the Office of Farm 



[Cir. i;!2] 



