COST OF GROWING CORN 299 



Hiram Sibley estate at Sibley, Illinois, a notable exam- 

 ple of large and well-managed farming operations, has 

 accurate records of cost of producing its crops. 

 The manager, Mr F. A. Warner, has submitted the 

 following showing of the cost of growing a crop of 

 sixty acres of corn upon that estate : 



COST OF PRODUCING CORN ON SIBLEY ESTATE, SIBLEY, 



ILLINOIS 



Fall plowing, 45 acres at $1 per acre.. .$45.00 



Spring plowing, 15 acres at $1 per acre. 15.00 



Breaking stalks on 15 acres 3.00 



Disking on fall plowing, 45 acres 18.00 



Harrowing 10.50 



Seed corn, 9 bushels at 75 cents 6.75 



Planting 12.00 



Harrowing after planting 10.50 



Cultivating three times 78.00 



Thinning and weeding 10.00 



Husking, at 2 1-2 cents per bushel.... 62.25 

 Shelling and hauling, at 2 1-2 cents per 



bushel 62.25 



Total cost $333-25 



Taxes 20.00 



Insurance and repairs 10.00 



$363.25 

 Cost per bushel (41.5 bushels per 



acre) 146 



This cost is figured on the basis of the actual ac- 

 complishment per day's labor, labor being charged at 

 the rate of $2.50 per day for man and team and 50 

 cents per day for extra horses where used. This wage 

 includes board and keep of man and team. 



The crop was 2490 bushels, making the average 

 yield per acre 41.5 bushels, and the cost per bushel 

 14.6 cents. The land was valued at $80 per acre, or 

 $4000 for the field, and if interest be allowed upon this 

 investment at the rate of 6 per cent, it raises the cost 



