FARMIISrG IN SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY. 17 



Sources and amount of receipts : 



Wheat $700 



Tobacco : 506 



Hay , 700 



Clover seed 450 



Dairy 508 



Heifers-*- 140 



Stock cattle 555 



Sheep 210 



Hogs 328 



Thrashing for neighbors 530 



Increased inventory 150 



Total : 4,777 



The receipts amounted to $16.14 per improved acre. About 34 per cent of 

 receipts are from live stock, fairly distributed to stock cattle, hogs, sheep, and 

 dairy cows. The balance of receipts are fairly distributed to wheat, tobacco, 

 hay, clover seed, and outside labor. This distribution would put the farm in the 

 class of diversified general farms. 



In spite of low crop yields for wheat and tobacco, this farm was 

 fairly successful for its size. Yields less than normal for two im- 

 portant cash crops — wheat and tobacco — while having a large influence 

 in lowering profits, did i^ot prevent business success, because much 

 larger profits than usual were made on live stock. For every $100 

 worth of feed consumed, live stock netted the farm $201. This was 

 one of the most highly diversified farms studied. Six of the 11 

 sources of income were nearly of equal value. Diversity is one of the 

 important factors influencing profits in farming. No better illus- 

 tration of this principle could- be given than the results on this farm. 



While strong in diversity and quality of the live-stock business, 

 there were some weak points in the organization of this farm. Stand- 

 ards based on the most successful farming would have required 20 

 to 25 acres of tobacco instead of 11 acres. Best standards would have 

 required also more live stock. Instead of the equivalent of thirty- 

 seven 1,000-pound animals, the number should have been at least 50. 



Forty acres of land was idle, showing that the farm was having 

 difl&culty in maintaining fertility. Idle land on the farm is an im- 

 portant negative factor in profitable farming in this locality. It 

 frequently determines profit or loss. 



A 1,091-ACRE DIVERSIFIED GENERAL FARM. 



Improved area acres 952 



Crop area do 602 



Pasture area__ ^ do 320 



Idle land- _do 30 



Business statement : 



Value of owner land, 203 acres, at $75 $15, 225 



Value of rented land, 888 acres, at $80 71, 040 



Working capital . 12, 312 



