CHAPTER X 



THE COST OF GROWING CORN 



In the past, corn growers as a class have not kept accurate figures 

 regarding the cost of production. Profits have accrued because of the 

 margin between the cost of production and the selling price. 

 The fertility of the soil, the cheapness of labor, and the access to 

 larger areas, were factors which tended toward profits, no matter how 

 small the crop. The reverse of these conditions has driven men to 

 thinking and figuring. No such large areas are now available for de- 

 spoliation in extensive slipshod methods. Labor demands almost ex- 

 cessive payment for the number of hours actually employed. The 

 virgin soil no longer yields abundantly year after year without re- 

 turn of manure and rotation of crops. 



The solution of the problem is increased yield and economy of 

 production. Conservation of the soil fertility by feeding the crops on 

 the farm, thus returning nearly all of the elements of plant food in 

 an available form, better cultural methods, eradication of weeds, the 

 use of labor-saving machinery and the breeding of the best corn adapt- 

 ed to the locality, will accomplish these results. Some estimates 

 are here given regarding the cost of producing corn in different parts 

 of the corn belt. 



COST OF PRODUCTION DEFINED 



According to the Farm Management investigators of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture a farm can not properly be called 

 successful unless : 



First— It pays a fair rate of interest on the investment. 



Second — It returns fair wages for the farmer's labor. 



Third — It maintains at the same time the fertility of the soil. 



In other words, three factors are always involved in crop produc- 

 tion, namely, the capital, the man and the soil. These must necessarily 

 be considered in figuring the cost of production, and in determining 

 profit and loss. 



