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REQUIREMENTS OF FIELD CROPS. 3 



requirements which have been determined for these individual areas 

 can be applied safely in estimating costs and in working out read- 

 justments in the organization of the farm when ordinary practices 

 are followed, further study is needed to show requirements for special 

 practices. For example, in typical wheat regions wheat may be 

 grown by what is known as the summer fallow method, or it may be 

 stubbled in after wheat, or it may be grown after some other crop, 

 the land having been plowed and a suitable seed bed prepared. 

 The requirements are not the same for all these cases. To provide 

 the wheat farmer with specific directions, it would be necessary to 

 get data on the labor and material requirements in growing and 

 marketing the crop under the special conditions, or, better still, to 

 gather detailed enterprise records in typical areas where these 

 conditions prevail. 



Cost-accounting records available for several of the crops included in 

 this discussion make it possible to show the distribution of man labor 

 and horse labor throughout the year. Such information is a distinct 

 aid in combining crop enterprises so as to utilize the available farm 

 labor economically. These facts often provide the key for increased 

 efficiency in the management of labor, and a corresponding increase 

 in the profits is the result. A knowledge of the quantity of labor 

 and time required is necessary in adjusting crop production to market 

 demands and in revising cropping systems. If labor is relatively 

 high-priced, and a given crop requires a large quantity of labor in 

 its production, the operator may be in a position to decide that this 

 enterprise should be curtailed somewhat, in view of the price situa- 

 tion. On the other hand, the cost of labor and the market outlook 

 may warrant the expansion of an enterprise, and the basic require- 

 ments should indicate the more important changes which will have 

 to be made in the program of work. 



Many farmers are keeping complete accounts of the farm business. 

 After reviewing the returns for several years it may appear desirable 

 to expand certain enterprises in order to increase farm profits. How 

 will this expansion affect the organization of the farm ? The answer 

 to this question may be found, in part by analyzing the individual 

 farm record, and in part by consulting the labor distribution charts 

 for different crops in various parts of the country published herewith. 

 Such a review will enable the farm operator to determine with a 

 reasonable degree of accuracy whether he can meet the proposed 

 adjustments with the supply of labor available. He will also be in a 

 position to approximate his seed and other material requirements, 

 and if the contemplated change is decided upon, can make due 

 arrangements for procuring the necessary supplies in season. 



Two terms used in this bulletin require a brief explanation, namely, 

 "operating expense" and " total cost." Operating expense, as 



