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DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



degree, the cost of production, and to some degree, the margin of profit 

 which may be secured. In consequence, this phase of the farm business 

 becomes one which may be affected by direct work and education of the 

 individual. It is this feature of the business of farming which determines 

 to a very large degree the prosperity of the farmer, of the state and 

 of the nation. Although it represents but one part of the whole, it is 

 that part which is most capable of great development. But bear in mind 

 that this may not be in terms of total increases in production, but rather 

 in efficient production. 



Need of Greater Efficiency 



The question of the need of greater efficiency is best answered by 

 the results of the farm business in the United States. A careful estimate 

 based upon the farm operations for 1913 shows that the average labor 

 income per farm was $318.22. That is, that this sum plus the farm 

 home garden and all farm supplies other than milk and cream, represents 

 the total earnings of the farmer and his family. The returns vary in the 

 different sections of the United States, but the average is comparatively 

 low in every section. 



If a country is to prosper, have good schools, roads, homes, and public 

 improvements, the income of the farmer must be increased. The business 

 must pay a greater return. And again, I wish to call attention to the 

 fact that it does not follow that this means increased crop or livestock 

 production. It does mean more efficient production. Compare the results 

 for the United States or any section with groups of successful farms, for 

 these may be found in every community, and the importance of an ef- 

 ficient agriculture is readily determined. 



Several surveys have been made in various sections of the United 

 States to determine the factors affecting efficiency in the farm business. 

 From these surveys comparisons may be obtained which show to a marked 

 degree the result of efficiency as applied to the farm business. In an 

 investigation of the three groups of farms located in townships in Indiana, 

 Illinois and Iowa, it was found that, "One farmer out of every twenty-two 

 received a labor income of over $2,000 per year. One farmer out of every 

 three paid for the privilege of working his farm, that is, after deducting 

 5 percent interest on his investment, he failed to make a plus labor 

 income." A similar investigation in three townships in New York indi- 

 cated that, "One-third of the farm owners made less than hired men, 

 one-third made about the same as hired men, and one-third made more 

 than hired men." With slight changes, it is found that this statement 

 is approximately correct in apparently prosperous sections, while the per- 

 centage of unprofitable farms increases in the less prosperous sections. 



Cause of "No Profits." 



The conclusions drawn from a careful study of the farm business in- 

 dicate that the "unprofitable" farmer fails to make a profit because of neg- 

 lect of a few simple principles. The difference between the successful and 



