s 
BULLETIN 1296, U. 3. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE 
It is a matter of common observation that the prices of farm 
products, wages of farm labor, and other conditions which affect the 
different enterprises are constantly changing. Therefore, farmers 
who would obtain the greatest returns from farming must from time 
to time make some adjustments in the production of their crops and 
livestock. Moreover, the variable climatic conditions of this area 
affect the proportion of the sown wheat acreage that is harvested 
and the yield per acre and have therefore constituted the primary 
cause of great variations in the percentage of grain acreage in wheat. 
PRODUCTION OF CORN, HOGS, AND CATTLE IN McPHERSON COUNTY, 1S77-1920 
NUMBER OF 
HOGS AND 
CATTLE 
THOUSANDS 
4-5 
uc 
35 
30 
20 
I 5 
I O 
number cr 
\AJ1 Caff/e 
bJ 
CORN 
PRODUCTION 
THOUSANDS OF 
BUSHELS 
4-, 500 
4-. 00 
Number- cf A S * 
m 
f-foqs , \: 
^V-rv-V 
/\ 
\. -\-/— \ r 
V \/ it 
il 
\ 
3.000 
2.000 
I .500 
— I J, 000 
500 
1875 1880 1885 1890 1895 1900 1905 19J0 1915 1920 
Fig. 5.— There is a close relation between the quantity of corn produced in MePherson County and the 
number of hogs grown. In years of good corn yields "more sows are kept for breeding purposes and more 
pigs raised. Five-year moving averages are used, and the curves for hogs and cattle are lagged one year 
behind the curve of corn production 
The economic factors which affect the profitableness of different 
lines of production in this area will continue to change. Climatic 
conditions will also continue to fluctuate from year to year. For 
these reasons it is important that the farmers of the area give more 
attention to the selection and combination of those enterprises which 
will give the largest long-time net returns, rather than allow their 
prosperity to depend upon the combinations of unusually favorable 
conditions which seldom prevail. 
