42 
BULLETIN 1271, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
obtained with no artificial inoculation. The practices in putting up 
alfalfa hay are practically the same as with tame hay. All alfalfa on 
these farms is hauled directly to the barn. None is stacked in the 
field. Except for a few small fields used as hog pasture, a first crop 
is cut on all fields. A second crop is cut on three-quarters of the 
acreage and a third crop on at least half. Where a second or third 
crop is not cut, the field is usually pastured. Occasionally a small 
amount is cut for seed. 
LABOR REQUIREMENTS FOR ALFALFA PRODUCTION 
The labor requirements for alfalfa are presented in Tables 33 and 
34. The principal factor causing variations in the requirements for 
this crop was yield. This is well illustrated in the first cutting 
requirements. The labor requirements increased directly with the 
yield except in cases of farms 14 and 21. On farm 14 the labor was 
disproportionately high because of the use of family labor. The fact 
that the requirements for the second cutting were lower than those 
for the first further illustrates this point. Where alfalfa is cocked 
before hauling, the hauling requirements are lessened, but the total 
labor required for the crop is increased. 
Table 33. — Man-labor requirements per acre, by operation for alfalfa, 1921 
Farm No. 1 
Acres 
per 
farm 
Yield 
per 
acre 
Hours per acre 
Mowing 
Raking 
Cocking 
Hauling 
Total 
First cutting : 
15 
7.6 
5.0 
6.8 
5. 1 
8.0 
2.8 
2.9 
5.7 
Tons 
0.7 
.8 
.5 
1.2 
1.5 
1. 1 
1.7 
2. 1 
1.05 
1.10 
1.17 
1.96 
1.07 
1.08 
1.38 
1.58 
0.79 
.30 
.59 
.79 
.75 
.54 
1.03 
.26 
0.20 
2.24 
3.14 
1.46 
4.32 
5.40 
5.73 
5.86 
4.21 
4 34 
10... 
4. 54 
21 
1.46 
4. 68 
1 
7.07 
11.. 
7 22 
14 
3." 77" 
7.35 
16 
8. 27 
6 
9.82 
Average: 
8farms, 1921 
5.5 
5.2 
5.1 
1.2 
1.4 
1.4 
1.28 
1.10 
1.04 
.63 
.57 
.64 
1.66 
2.07 
3.75 
3.30 
4.06 
7.32 
4 farms, 1920.. 
7. 04 
9 farms, 1922... 
5. 74 
Second cutting: 
10 
5.0 
7. 6 
2.9 
5.7 
6.8 
2.9 
4.4 
.3 
1.0 
1. 1 
1.2 
.6 
1.0 
1.4 
.75 
1.05 
.72 
.88 
1.61 
1.03 
1.15 
. 55 
.66 
.72 
.44 
.66 
.60 
1.84 
2.87 
3.16 
2.64 
4.14 
4.13 
1. 90 
3. 55 
14 
4. 31 
6 
4. 48 
21 
4.91 
lf> 
5. 17 
11 
.46 
5. 74 
Average: 
7farms, 1921 
5.0 
4. 1 
4. 9 
.9 
( 2 ) 
.9 
1.07 
.91 
.80 
.58 
.42 
.57 
1.93 
2.58 
1.70 
2.60 
6.16 
2farms, 1920 
3.03 
7 farms, 1922 
3.97 
Third cutting: 
21 
6.8 
5. 7 
4. 4 
2.9 
7.6 
.4 
'.% 
.4 
.8 
1.46 
. 79 
1.15 
1.03 
1.25 
.59 
.53 
.46 
.69 
1.05 
1.61 
2.46 
2.29 
2.76 
2. 63 
3. 66 
6 
3. 78 
ll 
3. 90 
Ifl 
4. 48 
IB 
4.93 
Average: 
Manns, 1921... 
5.5 
2. 2 
6. 6 
.6 
.5 
1.17 
1.35 
.03 
.69 
.90 
.33 
1.48 
2.30 
1.80 
1.42 
5.64 
1 farm. 1920 
4.05 
B farms, 1022 
238 
1 Farms arc arrayed in order of total man-labor requirements, beginning with the lowest. 
J Yield Included In first cutting. 
