40 \. II. Agk. ExPEKiMEXT STATION' [Bulletin 260 



Table 31 — Di-Htribution of expenses, 395 farms. 



Item.* Amount. Per cent. 



Feed and beddinj^ 



Hired labor and board 



Unpaid labor and board (except operator ) 



Li\ estock 



Miscellaneous 



Taxes 



Other farm machinery: KeiJairs and depreciation 



Buildings: IJepairs, allowance for depreciation (2%) .. 



Farm motors : Repairs, license, depreciation 



Gasoline and oil 



Insurance 



Milking machines : Repairs and depreciatitjn 



Total $2,924 100.0 



* Decreases in inventory of livestock or supplies are not included here. They 

 were deducted from the increases to get the net increases for Table 30. No de- 

 creases in the inventory value of cows due to a change in price level or to cyc- 

 lical changes were allowed. 



Because of the relative size of the grain bill on such farms as these, 

 this item is one of the first to receive consideration in regard to cut- 

 ting expenses. One may conclude that he should curtail the use of 

 grain. This is a negative economy when milk prices are as good as 

 they were in 1929. It involves a decrease in production per cow, and 

 production is one of the most important factors related to profits. 



The substitution of home-grown grain for purchased feed is a fur- 

 ther possibility. There are many considerations involved here, but the 

 final criterion is whether one can get as much pay for grooving grain as 

 he can for keeping more cows and buying grain or for raising cash 

 crops. 



This involves problems in threshing and grinding grain, as well as in 

 raising. A consensus of opinion seems to be lacking. Corn for grain is 

 doubtless out of the question. Naturally good yields obtained in this 

 section may justify the raising of oats, or oats and barley, provided that 

 with a little neigliborliood co-operation a snuill threshing machine and 

 a community crusher or grinder may be economically maintained. A 

 little adventuring and study might lielp to settle this problem. 



Oats seldom show a profit wlien all labor is charged at full price, but 

 they do have the advantage of interfering very little with other work 

 and of providing some employment for labor and teams when other 

 business is not pressing. Oat straw for bedding on the farm is no 

 longer a very decided asset. Plenty of hay can be obtained at bedding 

 prices. However, there is a tendency among farmers in this area to buy 

 considerable bedding in the form of sawdust. Chopping the straw or 

 hay with a i)ower cutter might provide a more convenient bedding ma- 

 terial. It would certainly enhance the value of manure in contrast to 

 the use of sawdust. 



Probably the surest and best ways to curtail feed costs are through 

 shorter rotations providing more legumes in the form of clover, and 



