FARM MANAGEMENT ON IRRIGATED FARMS 57 
FARM NO. 1, A 20-ACRE CROP FARM 
Description of the farmer and This resources. — This farm is representa- 
tive of many of the smaller farms in the area, on which alfalfa and 
potatoes are the principal crops grown and little livestock is kept. 
Uniform, good crop yields and good markets, on the average, have 
contributed to the unimportance of livestock on this farm. In 1922, 
8.5 acres was devoted to alfalfa, 5.7 acres to potatoes. 3 acres to new 
seeding of alfalfa, and 1.5 acres to corn for grain. (See Table 26.) 
The farm is well equipped with the necessary machinery to conduct 
a crop system of farming. Buildings for livestock, however, are not 
sufficient to care for a further expansion in the livestock enterprise. 
One-half month of outside labor was used in the farm business in 
1922, nine days of which was paid back in exchange, labor by the 
operator. The operator is 55 years old and has a mortgage on his 
real estate amounting to 48 per cent of the estimated real-estate 
value. 
Results from present organization. — The income was very low on 
this farm in 1922. Cash receipts amounted to $585, of which hay 
contributed 73 per cent and potatoes 19 per cent. After deducting 
cash expenses, only SI 78 was left from the farm receipts with which 
to pay debts and living expenses of the family. In addition to re- 
ceipts the family had the use of farm-furnished products estimated 
to be worth $387. 
PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE TO THIS FARM 
Good crop yields of high quality are essential to economical 
production, especially on such farms as this, where practically no 
livestock is kept to utilize cheap and low-grade crop products which 
can not be sold to advantage. This farmer had a particularly bad 
year for potatoes. Not only were prices the lowest in many years, 
but the operator had an unusually large percentage of cull and low- 
grade potatoes. Only 20 per cent of the potato production was 
sold. A small part was utilized by the livestock on the place, and 
the remainder went to waste. 
A large part of the poor results from the potato crop on this farm 
was due to planting poor, locally grown seed. The experience of the 
best potato growers in the area shows the need of planting only the 
best seed potatoes, which usually must be obtained from other 
regions. Since it is always easier to sell high-grade products, it is 
especially important that quality of production be kept in mind to 
insure the best possible demand for farm products at the highest 
market value. 
Probable prices for crop products need to be carefully considered 
in planning good farm organization for this farm. Like many other 
hay and potato growers in the valley, this farmer based his acreage 
largel} 7 upon relative profits for the previous year. The poor results 
from the potato enterprise in 1922, caused by poor quality and low 
prices, led this farmer to plant only enough potatoes for his own 
in 1923. Good alfalfa-hay prices in 1922 encouraged an expansion in 
the alfalfa acreage the following year. In 1923 prices were good for 
potatoes and poor for alfalfa hay, the same as for the crop year 1921 . 
It seems therefore that the average income on this farm could be con- 
siderably improved by maintaining a more uniform acreage of alfalfa 
and potatoes each year. 
