2 BULLETIN 341, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



RESULTS. 



The more important of the fundamental principles of farm man- 

 agement brought out clearly in this study, and amply confirming 

 similar studies, are : 



The type of farming followed in any given case must be adapted 

 to local soil, climatic and labor conditions, and especially to local 

 conditions with reference to markets and market facilities, as well 

 as to the business conditions existing on the individual farm. 



When the conditions affecting the agriculture of a region have 

 remained stable for a considerable period local agricultural practice 

 tends to become approximately what it should be for best results* 

 provided the practice which gives the best immediate returns does 

 not unfavorably affect soil fertility. When conditions change, even 

 slightly, if the change is permanent, local farm practice begins to 

 change and ultimately adapts itself to the new conditions. 



Success in farming, measured in terms of the family income and 

 standard of living, is directly proportional to the magnitude of the 

 farm business, although the per cent of profits on the farm investment 

 is, within wide limits, independent of the magnitude of ' business. 

 With the types of farming generally adapted to this locality many 

 of the farms found in this survey are too small to permit a satisfac- 

 tory standard of living. 



In the matter of yield of crops per acre, the point of diminishing re- 

 turns is reached on a considerable proportion of farms. Profits in- 

 crease as yields increase until the yields are considerably above the 

 average for the locality, but beyond this increased yields are obtained 

 at the expense of farm profits. 



In quantity of product per dairy cow, the point of diminishing re- 

 turns is not reached in ordinary farm practice. Hence, on dairy 

 farms, quantity of product per cow is, on the average, a more im- 

 portant factor of success in farming than yield of crops per acre. 



It is both easier and more profitable to increase low acre yields 

 than high ones, and a small product per cow than a large one. In 

 other words, profits can be increased most easily by attention to the 

 weakest points in a system of farming. The more vital the weak- 

 ness the greater the increase in profits that can easily be made. 



With a given type of farming, under given conditions, there is a 

 certain way of dividing acreage among the several enterprises of the 

 farm which is more profitable than any other way; that is, there is 

 a most profitable acreage for each crop. Similarly there is a most 

 ■profitable proportion of income from each source. If the acreage of 

 any crop or the proportion of income from any enterprise be greater 

 or less than this optimum, the profits of the farm as a whole are 

 lowered thereby. 



