Figure 2. This field would not qualify as "idle farm land" in this study. It is too stony for 



cultivation and would provide little pasture. 



by progressive farmers in that area, in sufficient amount to justify its use 

 by such farmers, and which could be operated with modern equipment and 

 methods." This is a fairly loose definition and one which may be interpreted 

 somewhat differently by different people. However, it is one that permitted 

 covering considerable territory with sufficient accuracy for the over-all 

 picture. 



Next, when is farm land idle? It was soon found that more land was 

 partially idle than was completely idle. Most open land had the hay cut or 

 a few animals pastured on it. It was decided that land would be included in 

 the study if it were totally idle agriculturally or if it were being so lightly 

 used that continuation of the same degree of usage could be expected to 

 lead to agricultural abandonment in a few years — or, in simpler terms, 

 land that was on its way out. 



Size Classification of Idle Places. The places containing such land were 

 classified into three size groups, according to how their possible agricultural 

 use was affected by the amount of farm land in them. These sizes are de- 

 fined in terms of dairv farm usage since that is the most common kind of 

 farming requiring any large amounts of land. The groups were designated 

 as "'commercial size", "doubtful commercial size", and "less than commercial 

 size". "Commercial size" as used here means a size of farm which appears 

 to have sufficient tillage and pasture land to provide pasture and roughage 

 for at least 20 cows plus young stock replacements under average intensity 

 of use. In general, this is taken to mean at least 40 acres of tillage plus 40 

 acres of pasture with some allowances for obvious differences in land quality. 

 "Doubtful commercial size" means the place might possibly, but probably 

 would not, support a 20-cow herd. "Less than commercial size", of course, 

 means the place does not have enough land to support a 20-cow herd. It is 

 true that many dairy farms have, less than 20 cows today, but forward-looking 

 farm economists recommend that a young man intending to operate a one- 

 man dairy farm look for a farm that will support 30 cows. 



11 



