of hogs, including production of feeder pigs for shipment to the eastern Corn 
Belt, increased in 1955 and 1956, especially on the larger farms. Cattle and 
poultry numbers remained about the same as in previous years. 
The value of farm real estate has not changed, on the average, during 
the last 2 years. Investment in machinery continued the increase that has 
occurred for several years, although at a slower rate. The trend to mechanized 
production of all commercial crops, except tobacco, has been accomplished on 
most farms, This has resulted in a decrease in work animals and in labor re- 
quired for production of these crops. 
Cash farm expenditures have remained fairly constant for several years, 
except for the year 195) when additional labor expense was required for the 
large tobacco crop. The additional expense required for the increased use of 
machinery has been partly offset by a decrease in labor expense. In 1952, 
when prices and costs were nearer parity than for any recent year, the area- 
type farm had $2.09 receipts per $1.00 expense. For 1955, the most unfavorable 
income year since 192, cash receipts per $1.00 of total cash expenditures for 
farm purposes was $1.72. The relationship improved in 1956 to $1.88 receipts 
per $1.00 expense. These lower returns for 1956 and notably in 1955 were 
largely the result of a reduction in production of tobacco on family-operated 
tobacco-livestock farms, The effect of the reduction would have been much more 
severe had it not been for a 19-percent increase in prices of leaf from 195 
to 1955 and again a 7-percent increase from 1955 to 1956. 
