THE BALANCE BETWEEN FARM PRODUCTION AND 



MARKET DEMANDS IN CHESHIRE COUNTY, 



NEW HAMPSHIRE 



BY 



H. I. Richards, Assistant Agricultural Economist, Bureau of Agricultural 

 Economics, United States Department of Agriculture 



AND 



H. A. Rollins, Extension Assistant in Horticulture, University of New 

 Hampshire. 



SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 



Cheshire County, with its decreasing number of farms and decreasing 

 agricultural production, together with increased transportation costs on 

 receipts of food commodities and a growing number of summer residents, 

 has been chosen as typical of the changes that are taking place in agri- 

 cultural production over a large part of New Hampshire and New England. 



GENERAL. 



1. Aside from its supply of whole milk, apples, bush fruits and sweet 

 corn, the county does not feed itself. 



2. A small number of crop acres per farm, irregular-shaped fields ill 

 adapted to the use of large machinery, and a labor demand for crop 

 production coming principally during one month of the year make the 

 efficient and economical operation of many farms difficult. 



3. Employment in industries constitutes an important source of income 

 for many farm residents. It offers an alternative opportunity to the 

 operation of the farm. 



4. Many farm residents are old men, who have retired on the farms 

 they own. 



5. A number of abandoned farms are so small, or with a tillage area 

 so rocky, that a general increase in prices of farm products would not be 

 likely to cause their recultivation. 



TIMBER. 



1. The center of timber production in the United States is moving 

 away from the center of population. Transportation charges increase 

 with longer hauls, and give those producers close to the market a greater 

 advantage in growing timber. Since 1850 stumpage prices in New 

 Hampshire have increased from 50 cents per thousand feet to $12, and 

 further increases in transportation costs together with reduction in 

 supply of timber are likely to cause a continued increase in prices. 



2. The production of timber is profitable at present prices. 



3. There is likely to be an increasing demand for the reduction of taxes 

 on growing timber as the lumber situation becomes more acute. 



4. Owners of abandoned farms and of farms which cannot be operated 

 economically should find timber production profitable. 



