GBOWIXG SUGAR BEETS IN UTAH AND IDAHO. 3 



to offering suggestions for a few districts where the beet growers 

 were experiencing difficulty in producing satisfactory yields. Sub- 

 sequently it was felt that information of this character would be of 

 value in planning agronomic experiments that w^ould have a direct 

 bearing upon some of the more urgent problems engaging tne atten^ 

 tion of the beet grower. The field practice of one district has fea- 

 tures which can be adopted with profit in another, and if enough 

 farms are studied many general questions with reference to soil and 

 crop management can be answered. This project was organized 

 not only for the acquirement of information relating to the produc- 

 tion of sugar beets, but it was also developed in such a way as to 

 provide growers with an adequate statement concerning the labor 

 requirements of the crop. With these data available, a fan average 

 cost of producing sugar beets in these three districts has been 

 determined. 



In working out the cost figures, the man labor was calculated 

 by using an average rate per hour, the latter being based upon the 

 actual wages paid in 1914 and 1915. In order to place aU records on 

 the same basis, no account has been taken of the compensation for 

 supervision of the farm business. The work of each operator has 

 been charged against the crop as if some person had been hired to 

 do each task. Likewise, the hoi*se-labor cost was computed on the 

 basis of the average price paid by farmers in the respective districts. 



Costs reported are apphcable to the years 1914 and 1915. In 

 order to bring the various items down to date, the hours of man and 

 horse labor should be multiphed by the prevaiUng man and horse 

 rates; hkewise, necessary changes should be made where increases 

 or decreases have occurred in cost of materials, use of land, or other 

 costs. 



PROCEDURE. 



The survey method was adopted in procuring the records that 

 supply the data for this discussion. A schedule was prepared to 

 meet the requirements of the investigation, and these blanks were 

 used by well-trained enumerators who visited the grower and obtained 

 careful estimates covermg the business of the farm for the preceding 

 year. The operator was also asked to describe the implements that 

 were employed in handling the beet crop. Furthermore, statements 

 were obtained concerning the size of the crew and the normal time 

 required in performmg the various operations. The individual record 

 was therefore compiled by settmg down answers to a series of ques- 

 tions dealing particularly with the problems of sugar-beet production. 

 Although very few men keep actual records of the daily work on the 

 farm or of the busmess transactions which are made from time to 



