dice 
COST OF PRODUCING WINTER WHEAT IN GREAT PLAINS. 15 
tition for farm labor at that time. Farmers in the wheat areas farther 
west paid a relatively higher wage than was paid in the areas farther 
east where the wheat acreage was smaller and the competition for 
labor less keen. 
Horse power rate——The horse power rates are flat rates for each 
county studied and are based ey on farmers’ estimates and 
partially on records relative to the cost of keeping horses which were 
available for some of the regions in which this investigation was 
made. (See Table 10.) 
Seed and seed treatment.—The value of seed wheat per bushel is 
an average of the estimates of individual farmers visited. Some grow- 
ers bought high-grade recleaned seed and some used their farm supply 
for sowing. ‘The figures given include the value of any materials used 
for seed treatment. All farm-produced seed was charged at its farm- 
sale value at planting time. (See Table 10.) 
Manure and straw.—VThe proportion of the value of the manure and 
straw that should be charged to the year in which the application is 
made depends so much on the soil and other influencing factors that it 
is difficult to determine, but it is apparent that there is a residual 
value that should be taken into account. In the case of wheat, when 
applied directly, 50 per cent of the estimated value was charged; when 
applied to the crop immediately preceding, 30 per cent was charged, 
and when two other crops preceded, 20 per cent was charged to the 
wheat. | 
The figures on manure values are the estimates of individual farm- 
ers visited and would seem to indicate that its regional value depends 
primarily on the amount of moisture available to make it valuable as 
a plant food. The estimated values varied from an average of 51 
cents per ton in Woodward County, Okla., to $2.21 per ton in Pike 
County, Mo. (See Table 10.) 
Commercial fertilizer.—Since the fertilizer used on wheat was of a 
kind that became readily available as a plant food, the total value was 
charged to the year’s crop. 
The range in cost of fertilizer was from $30 to $50 per ton with an. 
average cost of about $39 per ton. (See Table 10.) 
TaBLE 10.—Prices of labor and materials, winter wheat, 1920. 
Labor rates per hour. Materials. 
Preparation Harvesting : 
State and county. and seeding. |and marketing.| geeg |Binder |Manure| Fer- 
pe twine and. tilizer 
bushel.|__ Per straw per 
Man. | Horse. | Man. | Horse. pound. jper ton.) ton. 
Missouri: 
ike Wout tive ear $0.27 | $0.17 | $0.46] $0.17] $2.17] $0.18 | $2.21] $39.00 
CarrolliCounty: 2s see . 30 alles . 56 eile Dee) 5 eS Ise OS ieee ale 
Nebraska: 
Gave Countyencc 225-55 ee -32 15 55 15 2516 Salty Tei |eeeseige 
ClayiCount ys ese eee eee 20 15 . 60 .15 2.15 eG Pet o\ Oi ae esta 
Cheyenne County-s.-- =. -4-----.- . 50 SAl¢ . 68 li, 2. 10 .19 S04 | Sa aaeee 
Kansas: 
Rhomas County ee epee tere . 38 old 13 old Pee Als’ eald ESC eres es 
MePherson County ............... .38 1G) . 68 51155 2. 28 . 16 BOGS asec ses 
Pawnee County. 2... .524-5-.2 -<- 31 215 50) «15 2.19 -18 Di | hanes 
Oklahoma: 
Canfield: County= +5445 4s2e ae . 36 ald . 58 sali Pos ls} 5 ike iil Sa ee 
Woodward County............... . 30 aly, . 65 SiG 2. 06 ol7/ Sill, Seer es 
