( 35 ) 



labor," the farm does not go out of production, as is com- 

 monly assumed. In most cases the large farm is divided and 

 operated by several tenants or owners as family-sized units. 

 The family-sized units are not so spectacular, but together 

 produce about as much food as the large unit. 



Less spectacular, but frequently cited, are the sales of 

 the typical family-sized farms. It is again erroneously con- 

 cluded that such sales arise mainly because of labor shortages 

 and will result in decreased food production. 



A certain number of sales always occur because old men 

 retire and young men start farming. The only aspect of the 

 present situation that calls for explanation is the acceleration 

 in the number of these sales. Normally, young men went into 

 debt to start farming, spent most of their time paying off the 

 debt, and when the farms were cleared of debt, the operators 

 were ready to retire and move to town. The rate at which 

 they left farms depended on the profitableness of agriculture. 

 During the prosperous years from 1910 to 1920, about 22 to 



24 per cent of the farmers on Illinois farms were over fifty- 

 four years of age. As a result of the agricultural depression, 

 the percentages rose to 31 and 35 respectively in 1930 and 

 1940. Consequently, in 1943 there were many more than the 

 usual number of old men operating farms. With the improve- 

 ment in prices and the abundant harvest, farm income has 

 risen sharply. This has enabled the older operators to liqui- 

 date their debts and retire. 



The same factors control the rate at which young men 

 start farming. With the prosperity from 1910 to 1920, over 



25 per cent of the operators were under thirty-five years of 

 age. In 1930 and 1940 the proportion of young men declined 

 to 18 and 17 per cent respectively. Consequently, at the pres- 

 ent time in Illinois and in most of the better agricultural 

 areas of the United States there is an accumulation of po- 

 tential farmers. 



