FARMING IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE DISTRICT. 
17 
STAPLE CROP FARM. 
Near the center of the irrigated district is a staple crop farm which 
produces some truck and a few hogs as side lines. This farm is per- 
haps better managed than the average, but an analysis of the business 
shows where certain improvements in organization can be made. 
The farm comprises 100 acres, of which 95 acres is crop land, on 
which were produced during the year 113 acres of crops. The real 
estate investment amounts to $20,000, of which the house represents 
$500 ; barn, $100 ; and other buildings, $100. At the beginning of the 
year of this study the farm was stocked as follows : Six head of work 
stock, worth $680 ; 1 cow, $75 ; 6 brood sows and 30 other hogs, $390 ; 
and poultry, $38. The machinery and tools considered necessary for 
the cultivation of this irrigated farm were valued at $258. The 
cash on hand required to run the business amounted to $500. Feed 
on hand at the beginning of the year was worth $30. The total in- 
vestment of the farm was therefore $21,971. 
A considerable variety of crops was produced, the acreage, yield, 
and sales of each being as follows: 
Staple crop farm: Acreage, yields, and sales of crops. 
Crop. 
Acres. 
Unit of yield. 
Total 
yield 
harvested. 
Sales. 
Corn 
80.0 
4.5 
1.5 
1.0 
1.0 
.5 
5.0 
10.0 
7.0 
2.5 
4, 550 
24 
(a) 
(») 
30 
2 
5 
48 
850 
$1 407 
Ton. 
Ton. 
do 
do 
do 
Alfalfa 
725 
425 
Stock sales 
614 
255 

Total 
113.0 
3 426 
a Plowed under. 
b New. 
The principal items of expense for the year's business were : Hired 
labor, $800; feed bought, $100; seed, $70; crates, hampers, etc., $106; 
and irrigation water, $320. The total expenses for the year, includ- 
ing depreciation, were $1,573. 
When expenses are deducted from receipts the farm income is seen 
to be $1,853. The operator valued his own labor at $720. When this 
is deducted from the farm income there is left a net farm income of 
$1,133. This represents a return of 5 per cent on the farm investment 
of approximately $22,000. 
This farm produced second crops on 19 per cent of its crop land. 
Each work animal covered the equivalent of 19 acres of crops. 
Slightly more than 41 per cent of the receipts were from the sale of 
