Sept. 1894.] COST OF GROWING WHEAT IN THE UNITED STATES. 3 



I._COST OF GROWING WHEAT IN THE UNITED 



STATES. 



In consequence of the numerous inquiries relative to the cost 

 of raising the principal cereals, a careful investigation has been 

 made by the Department of Agriculture of the United States as 

 to the cost of raising the staple products, corn and wheat, in 

 that country. It is stated in the March Report of the Statistician 

 of the Department that the results of this investigation are 

 considered to be of unusual economic importance in view of the 

 low prices of wheat prevailing throughout the world, and it is 

 added that the time has come to sound a note of warning to 

 American farmers against the exclusive dependence on this crop 

 in favour of a more diversified culture. 



The following items were considered in making' an estimate 

 of the total cost of raising wheat, viz., rent of land, manure, 

 seed, labour, and marketing of the crop, The item labour 

 includes the expenses incurred in the preparation of the soil, and 

 in sowing, harvesting, threshing, and housing. 



The results have been derived from individual estimates made 

 b}:^ over 25,000 practical farmers, and indicate an average cost 

 per acre for the entire country of 4Ss. 8^d. A second set of 

 replies was received from over 4,000 experts, the graduates of 

 various agricultural colleges now engaged in farming, and the 

 estimate made by these gentlemen tallies very closely with the 

 above, being 47s. lOd per acre. 



The follovfing statement shows in detail the cost of producing 

 wheat in the dilFerent sections of the United States as ascer- 

 tained from the returns obtained from the farmers: — 



Sections. 



Cost per Acre. 



Rent of 

 Land. 



Manures, 



Seed. 



Labour. 



Market- 

 ing. 



Total. 





s. d. 



s. d. 



s. d. 



£ s. d. 



s. d. 



£ 5. d. 



New England 



14 8 



18 41 



9 0 



1 16 11 



5 34 



4 4 3 



Middle States - 



16 81 



21 6 



5 10 



1 8 04 



3 S 



3 15 9 



Southern States - 



11 71 



8 SI 



3 101 



0 18 1 



3 34 



2 5 7 



Western States - 



10 11 



7 81 



3 10 



10 2 



2 9 



2 5 44 



Mountain region 



16 2 



11 3 



3 111 



1 7 10 



6 74 



3 5 10 



Pacific states 



13 91 



10 11 



4 34 



1 3 91 



5 54 



2 18 3 



Average for the United States - 



11 81 



9 0 



4 0 



1 0 10 



3 2 



2 8 84 



A 2 



