ANNUAL REPORT, 1933 37 



DEPARTMENT OF FARM MANAGEMENT 

 R. L. Mighell in Charge 



Enterprise Relationships and Farm Organization on Selected Dairy Farms 

 in Massachusetts. (R. L. Mighell.) This study is concerned with the economics 

 of the combinations of farm enterprises and of cost factors within each enter- 

 prise. Research along the latter line has taken the form of replanning labor 

 routine and equipment for the most economical and efficient performance of 

 regular daily tasks on dairy farms. In cooperation with W. C. Harrington, of the 

 Agricultural Engineering Department, typical barn plans for 10-, 20-, and 30-cow 

 capacities are being studied from the standpoint of efficient utilization of labor. 

 As a preliminary,- step in this study an imaginary man is conceived of as doing 

 imaginary chores, in a number of imaginary' barns. Each imaginary barn is 

 represented by a blueprint and as the chores are performed on paper, distances 

 are measured, time is estimated, and other considerations of convenience are 

 studied. As a final step, the most hopeful arrangements are checked in actual 

 barns under real conditions. A number of interesting tentative conclusions 

 have already been reached. For example, facing cows out proved to be usually 

 more economical in terms of time and distance than facing cows in, contrary 

 to a widely prevalent belief. 



Another part of this project which is now being emphasized is a study of the 

 economics of pasture improvement. This problem is one of finding the most 

 profitable combination of enterprises and of cost factors such as fertilizer and 

 labor. The study is being developed by using the budget method with t\'pical 

 cases representing conditions under which pasture improvement should or should 

 not be recommended. An attempt is being made to develop a workable plan or 

 method of approach which the individual dairyman can use in solving the problem 

 for his own case. 



Labor Saving Methods and Technique on Vegetable Farms. (R. L. Mighell 

 and R. H. Barrett.) This stud>- represents one of the first attempts in the 

 United States to apply the so-called "Taylor System" of scientific management 

 and time and motion study to agriculture. During 1933 a careful, intensive 

 study has been made of labor-saving technique and equipment for asparagus, 

 one of the important vegetable crops in Massachusetts. Supervised records, 

 motion pictures, and close study and observation of typical farm set-ups, and of 

 suggested changes have yielded significant results. In one important asparagus 

 area a complete change in the type of asparagus bunching equipment and tech- 

 nique has been recommended as a result of the study. This change is now being 

 adopted by growers in this area, with considerable saving in time and effort 

 devoted to the task of bunching. 



Economical Use of Labor in Silage Production on Dairy Farms. (R. L. Mighell 

 and R. H. Barrett.) Continuing an intensive study of various types of wagons 

 used in filling silo, initiated in 1932, motion pictures and time records were taken 

 in September and October 1933. The time and motion records show clearly that 

 the low down wagon saves an immense amount of human time and effort on such 

 tasks as silo filling. The underslung type of low down wagon is apparently the 

 simplest and easiest to make, and can be easily constructed by an^' farmer. 

 Dump carts and other high wagons still in use by many New England farmers 

 are very wasteful of time and energy both in loading and unloading. 



Tests and observations on a few farms indicate that a mowing machine with a 

 5-foot cutter bar may prove very satisfactory for cutting silage corn in the field. 



