FACTORS AFFECTING RETURNS FROM POTATOES 95 



Costs may not only be calculated for other farms but similarly costs may 

 be approximated for particular operations or groups of operations. Although 

 this method is primarily adapted to making comparisons between individual 

 farms, it is easily possible to draw conclusions of significance to entire groups 

 of farms which are similar to the ones compared. 



It is realized tiiat cost statements made in this way do not make a suf- 

 ficient allowance for other crop or livestock enterprises wiiich may conflict 

 with potatoes in their use of labor or materials. The farmer should try to 

 apportion his own labor, tlie available labor of other members of the familj", 

 and other resources among the various farm enterprises so as to get the 

 largest possible return. If he is definitely limited as to the amount of any 

 of the factors of production, he should try to apportion all the factors so as 

 to get the highest average returns from each unit of the limited factor. This 

 will involve a comparison of the probable alternative returns from the fixed 

 farm resources if used by different enterprises at a particular time, as well 

 as a comparison of the probable returns from varying amounts of labor and 

 materials that can be bought at a particular time. 



Thus a change in the method of conducting the potato enterprise may 

 involve a consideration of the effect of the change on other enterprises. How- 

 ever, this is not a serious limitation to the use of these data, provided the 

 point is kept in mind. 



Conclusions 



1. The competitive position of the individual Massachusetts potato grower 

 is determined by the degree to which he is able and willing to adjust farm 

 practices to meet changes in price determined by forces largely outside 

 Massachusetts. 



2. The adjustment can be brought about either by changing fertilizer, seed, 

 or other material inputs to secure varying yields; or by using machinery or 

 different technique to reduce man and horse labor. 



3. The variation in the amounts of seed, fertilizer, and other materials used 

 is so great as to make it certain that most farmers can profitably spend 

 nuich time and thought in working out for their own conditions the best 

 amounts of these materials. 



4. The great saving of labor effected by specialized machinery makes its 

 use imperative if the grower would keep his costs as low as his competitors'. 



5. Tlie potato crop is a profitable side line in connection with dairying, 

 market gardening, and for many general farms in Massacluisetts. Potatoes 

 could probably be grown with profit on many farms which do not now include 

 them as a part of the cropping scheme. 



6. In the final analysis, the place of the potato enterprise on any one farm 

 is an individual problem peculiar to tnat farm. The farmers who make the 

 largest net income are usually those who are most efficient in apportioning 

 their own labor, the available labor of members of their families, and their 

 other fixed resources among all the enterprises of the farm. This may some- 

 times mean including a crop such as potatoes, even if conditions seem poor; 

 or it may mean excluding potatoes even though costs are apparently low. 



5M 3- '28 No. 1746. 



