2 BULLETIN 654, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



total receipts on 178 farms out of a total of 627, and contributing 

 24.9 per cent of the total receipts of all the farms studied. It is 

 also one of the most profitable enterprises, both farm income and 

 farmer's wages rising with the percentage of receipts from dairying. 

 Dairying can be made more profitable by improving the system of 

 pasturing and keeping up the thrift of the alfalfa fields; also by im- 

 proving the dairy herds. 



Fig. 1. — Map of Arizona, showing location of regions studied fshaded areas). 



Growing alfalfa for hay ranked next in popularit}^ to dairying, 

 when judged by the number of farmers engaged in it, but it was 

 not so profitable except with maximum yields, which must approach 

 7 tons per acre, and at prices approaching $10 per ton. Both farm 

 income and farmer's wages decrease as the percentage of receipts 

 from hay increases. 



The production of alfalfa seed for the market is highly profitable 

 in Yuma Valley, but the enterprise has not been developed in the 

 other two valleys. 



