516 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BEPLANNING A FAEil IN CENTRAX IIXINOIS. 



For the purpose of illustration, the problem of an 80-acre farm reported 

 to the Office of Farm Management from central Illinois may be taken. The 

 owner stated that his farm was located on the black prairie corn land 

 common to that section of the State, that it was valued at $150 to $175 an 

 acre, would rent for $5 an acre cash, and that it had been cropped with 

 corn and oats for many years until the average yields were about 35 

 bushels of corn per acre or 20 bushels of oats. 



In 1908 the actual yields were 24 bushels of corn and 12 bushels of oats 

 per acre. The total income of the whole farm, estimating crops at average 

 prices, was less than $450 for the year, from which it will be readily seen 

 that the labor and capital invested are not very handsomely rewarded. In 

 fact, if the labor on the farm were hired the farm would be run at a con- 

 siderable loss. Valuing the farm at $12,000, the interest alone at 5 per 

 cent is $600. 



This farm was chosen for illustration because it is typical of large 

 farming areas in parts of the Middle States and because the price of the 

 land has outgrown the system of farming in vogue. 



In the future management of this farm three propositions are open to 

 the owner: (1) Continue the old method of farming and lose money; (2) 

 rent the land out at $5 per acre cash and permit the land to be further 

 robbed of soil fertility and impoverished; and (3) change his plans to meet 

 the new conditions and farm rationally and profitably. 



In replanning this farm it was decided as a preliminary to make gen- 

 eral estimates of the returns that might Ise expected if the farm were 

 operated along any one of the following lines: 



(1) A grain and hay farm, with a three-year rotation of corn, oats and 

 hay. 



(2) A grain and clover-seed farm, with a three-year rotation of corn, 

 oats, and clover for seed. 



(3) A grain and clover farm, with a four-year rotation of corn, corn, 

 oats, and clover. 



(4) A sheep farm. 



(5) A hog farm. 



(6) A dairy farm. 



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN REPLANNING THE FARM. 



Among the first things essential to know in replanning a farm is what 

 can reasonably be expected from the farm if properly handled. Judgment 

 on this point will be considerably influenced by what is being done by good 

 farmers on similar land elsewhere under like conditions. 



The usual crops grown in the vicinity and the usual rotation on most 

 of the farms of the neighorhood are corn and oats. But very little hay 

 is raised, notwithstanding both clover and timothy do well, nor is much 

 stock fed. Some colts are raised, but most of the grain is sold direct to 

 the elevator. 



