62 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The time spent in growing even an average crop in reason- 

 ably large areas pays the highest wages of any farm work. 

 If a farmer has a large area of crops, it not only indicates a 

 good-sized business, but indicates that the farmer is doing 

 a large amount of work that pays well. 



Crop Yields. 

 Increased yield per acre is important, but not nearly so 

 important as is usually assumed. Table 11 shows the rela- 

 tion of yield to labor income, when 100 per cent represents 

 the average yield of the region. 



Table 11. — Relation of Crop Yields to Labor Income, 574 Farms. 



Percentage Yield. 



Average 

 Percentage. 



Number 

 of Farms. 



Labor 

 Income. 



75 or less, 



76 to 85, 

 86 to 95, 

 96 to 105, 



106 to 115, 

 116 to 125, 

 Over 125, 



67 



81 

 90 

 101 

 110 

 120 

 138 



58 

 60 

 102 

 116 

 103 

 66 

 69 



$165 

 219 

 663 

 570 

 878 

 951 



1,090 



An increased yield per acre makes the business larger, 

 and if not carried too far is a good thing. After one secures 

 yields of perhaps a fifth better than the neighbors on the 

 same soil he must be careful that his cost per bushel for the 

 increased crop is not more than the increase is worth. If 

 the neighbors on the same soil get II/2 tons of hay per acre 

 it may pay to grow 2 tons. If, under these conditions, one 

 wishes 3 tons, it can usually be grown at less cost per ton 

 on two acres than on one acre. This is the reason why the 

 acres of crops have more influence on ftrofits than does the 

 yield per acre. 



Production per Cow. 



All dairy products are produced on a very close margin 

 of profit. It is very easy to feed cows so as to lose all that 

 one has made by raising crops. Table 12 shows the rela- 

 tion of receipts per cow to profits. Those farmers who get 



