marketing problems are
numerous and must be handled intelligently. The profits from
this type of farming are somewhat uncertain though under favorable
conditions they may be large. One of the advantages lies in
the quick returns from the capital invested. Many garden
crops mature within six weeks to two months from the time they are
planted and are usually sold for cash. Gardening does not
offer employment in the North throughout the year, and unless a
greenhouse or hotbed business can be built up with it, there is often
lack
[Fig. 13.--Green houses and cold frames enable the gardener to start his crop early and provide winter work, thus giving employment to labor over a greater part of the year.]
of employment for labor through a part of the season. It is not adapted to a new country but follows the development of large markets in the vicinity of large cities.
[Fig. 13.--Green houses and cold frames enable the gardener to start his crop early and provide winter work, thus giving employment to labor over a greater part of the year.]
of employment for labor through a part of the season. It is not adapted to a new country but follows the development of large markets in the vicinity of large cities.
37. Fruit Growing.
Fruit growing like vegetable growing is an intensive form of farming calling for high capitalization and requiring a large amount of labor per acre. It is adapted to somewhat larger land areas than truck gardening, and a family can handle from five to forty acres and often more where fruit growing is made the specialty. Great care is required in the management of the orchards in most localities.Types of Farming
47
While this type of farming is often urged as particularly remunerative and easy, the opposite is usually the case. No type of farming calls for greater watchfulness, more careful attention to details, or more business ability, than fruit growing. Where the best of care is given it may be made a very profitable business. Like truck farming it is not particularly adapted to a new country, though modern transportation methods have to a large extent improved the facilities for marketing the crop. Apple growing will pay in some places between
[Fig. 14.--A fruit farm. Fruit raising is attractive to many people and in sections adapted to it gives good returns on the money invested.]
$50 and $150 per acre.* Under the most favorable conditions it may pay four or five times as much in favorable years.
*See Cornell Bulletin No. 220.
depleting the fertility rapidly. Wheat growing in the West, especially in the Plan regions along the Pacific Coast, is another example of single crop farming. There is no limit to the size of the farm that can be handled, as the climate is particularly favorable, the dry season at harvest time permitting the grain to stand for a great length of time without injury. Corn growing in the Middle West and South is another example of extensive single crop or dominant crop growing.
[Fig. 15.--A poultry and fruit farm. A combination of poultry raising and fruit growing gives a good distribution of labor through the year and fully occupies the land.]
In the vicinity of large cities or markets, hay raising is a common type of farming. Because of the low cost of handling land in hay this is one of the most remunerative types of single crop farming. It also has the advantage of being the least exploitative. Hay land is not likely to wash as badly as cultivated land and the humus content of the soil is less likely to be consumed because the land is not tilled as frequently. Where the hay is sold, manures or fertilizers must be supplied to keep up the production.
Tobacco growing, as followed in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and some of the other southern states, is
While this type of farming is often urged as particularly remunerative and easy, the opposite is usually the case. No type of farming calls for greater watchfulness, more careful attention to details, or more business ability, than fruit growing. Where the best of care is given it may be made a very profitable business. Like truck farming it is not particularly adapted to a new country, though modern transportation methods have to a large extent improved the facilities for marketing the crop. Apple growing will pay in some places between
[Fig. 14.--A fruit farm. Fruit raising is attractive to many people and in sections adapted to it gives good returns on the money invested.]
$50 and $150 per acre.* Under the most favorable conditions it may pay four or five times as much in favorable years.
38. Crop Growing.
The single crop system such as cotton, wheat, corn, or tobacco raising requires much less equipment per acre than either truck farming or fruit growing, and can be carried on in a more extensive way. The average cotton farm in the South contains twenty to thirty acres and will grow, when properly managed, $400 to $500 worth of cotton. It is necessary to use a fertilizer in connection with cotton growing to keep up the production as it is an exploitive type of farming,*See Cornell Bulletin No. 220.
48
Farm Management
depleting the fertility rapidly. Wheat growing in the West, especially in the Plan regions along the Pacific Coast, is another example of single crop farming. There is no limit to the size of the farm that can be handled, as the climate is particularly favorable, the dry season at harvest time permitting the grain to stand for a great length of time without injury. Corn growing in the Middle West and South is another example of extensive single crop or dominant crop growing.
[Fig. 15.--A poultry and fruit farm. A combination of poultry raising and fruit growing gives a good distribution of labor through the year and fully occupies the land.]
In the vicinity of large cities or markets, hay raising is a common type of farming. Because of the low cost of handling land in hay this is one of the most remunerative types of single crop farming. It also has the advantage of being the least exploitative. Hay land is not likely to wash as badly as cultivated land and the humus content of the soil is less likely to be consumed because the land is not tilled as frequently. Where the hay is sold, manures or fertilizers must be supplied to keep up the production.
Tobacco growing, as followed in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and some of the other southern states, is
Types of Farming
49
(c) A farmer sells $400.00 worth of wheat; $200.00 worth of
barley; 30 tons of hay at $8.50 per ton; 20 hogs at $15.00 per head,
and 10 head of cattle at $52.50 per head.another form of single crop
farming that is adapted to small scale farming. Five acres
per man is the usual size. Tobacco growing is particularly
destructive of soil fertility and great attention must be given to the
matter of supplying organic matter. Commercial fertilizers
have been used and in fact have been thought indispensable in tobacco
growing.
[Fig. 16.--A field of tobacco in full leaf.]
Potash especially is demanded by the crop. Tobacco growing is remunerative when properly conducted, but calls for high grade management and business ability.
Rice growing along the Atlantic coast and Gulf states; sugarcane growing in the Gulf coast states; and hopraising in certain favored localities, are still other forms of single crop growing that are remunerative under certain favorable conditions. All are more or less exploitive of soil fertility and uncertain, as any single crop system of farming must be.
In most parts of the United States, a dominant crop system is better than any single crop system of farming because if the main crop fails there will be sufficient supplementary crops to provide for a reasonable amount of income or at least provide for a living for the family until another crop can be raised.
[Fig. 16.--A field of tobacco in full leaf.]
Potash especially is demanded by the crop. Tobacco growing is remunerative when properly conducted, but calls for high grade management and business ability.
Rice growing along the Atlantic coast and Gulf states; sugarcane growing in the Gulf coast states; and hopraising in certain favored localities, are still other forms of single crop growing that are remunerative under certain favorable conditions. All are more or less exploitive of soil fertility and uncertain, as any single crop system of farming must be.
In most parts of the United States, a dominant crop system is better than any single crop system of farming because if the main crop fails there will be sufficient supplementary crops to provide for a reasonable amount of income or at least provide for a living for the family until another crop can be raised.
39. Mixed Stock and Crop Farming.
In the northern states at least, and in the southern states to a large extent, mixed crop growing and live stock raising will be found advisable. The proper arrangement of crops in rotation aids in the maintenance of production to some extent. If these crops can be fed on the farm to live stock which is adapted to the locality and the market, quite as great profit can be made from the50
Farm Management
crops by marketing them
through the medium of live stock as by selling direct. When
the manure from the live stock is returned to the farm, the physical
condition of the soil is maintained and the chemical elements of the
soil built up to some extent. Such farming allows for the
employment of labor throughout the year and provides a steady income.
[Fig. 17.--Live stock raising is replacing grain raising in many parts of the United States.]
This type of farming is adapted to large or small farms, the size of the business often being determined by the amount of labor available to care for the live stock. It allows for the selection of a dominant crop or live stock products suited to the demands of the market. While it does not pay so large a margin per acre as some of the intensive single crops, the returns form mixed stock and crop farming are much more certain. Under this system the average farm family can care for the products from eighty to one hundred-sixty acres of land. When well managed, and the corps and live stock properly proportioned, they may handle farms of two hundred forty acres or more in size to advantage. Gross returns from the farms so handled should be $15 to $25 per acre.
1. When 50% of the total receipts from a farm come from one source, as live stock, or grain and hay, or fruit, it is classified as a stock farm, or a grain and hay, or a fruit farm.
Where 50% of the receipts does not come from any one source it is classified as a general farm.
Classify the following farms:
(a) Mr. A sells from his farm $200.00 worth of milk; $175.00 worth of cattle; $74.00 worth of hogs and $150.00 worth of grain.
(b) A man sells $500.00 worth of milk; $800.00 worth of apples and $150.00 worth of grain and hay.
[Fig. 17.--Live stock raising is replacing grain raising in many parts of the United States.]
This type of farming is adapted to large or small farms, the size of the business often being determined by the amount of labor available to care for the live stock. It allows for the selection of a dominant crop or live stock products suited to the demands of the market. While it does not pay so large a margin per acre as some of the intensive single crops, the returns form mixed stock and crop farming are much more certain. Under this system the average farm family can care for the products from eighty to one hundred-sixty acres of land. When well managed, and the corps and live stock properly proportioned, they may handle farms of two hundred forty acres or more in size to advantage. Gross returns from the farms so handled should be $15 to $25 per acre.
40. Live Stock Farming.
In certain sections of the United States live stock has been made the main line of production. Live stock farming includes the production of beef cattle; the production of sheep; hogs; dairy cattle; horses; and poultry. Some conditions call for the production of only one class of live stock. Other conditions will permit the combinationTypes of Farming
51
of two or more kinds. Stock raising of any kind calls for high capitalization in buildings and live stock equipment. It carries large risks and demands a large amount of labor. This field particularly calls for managing ability on the part of the farmer. Unless live stock is well bought, properly matured and finished, and well sold, there is likelihood of loss. Where good management is given, however, live stock raising is one of the most remunerative types of farming and provides a certain income. Dairying especially is looked upon as providing a sure income when conducted in the vicinity of good markets. With cows of high yielding qualities it is possible with good management, to secure a good income.
1. Have the pupils determine by conferring with their parents the main sources of income and the approximate amount of each crop or product from their respective farms. Have them determine the per cent of income from each source and name the type of farming followed.
2. Arrange a debate on the question: "Resolved that this locality is better adapted to dairying than to grain raising." or "Resolved that this locality is better adapted to corn raising than to fruit growing." Considerations: climate, soil, distance to market, market demand, labor supply, plant diseases, etc.
of two or more kinds. Stock raising of any kind calls for high capitalization in buildings and live stock equipment. It carries large risks and demands a large amount of labor. This field particularly calls for managing ability on the part of the farmer. Unless live stock is well bought, properly matured and finished, and well sold, there is likelihood of loss. Where good management is given, however, live stock raising is one of the most remunerative types of farming and provides a certain income. Dairying especially is looked upon as providing a sure income when conducted in the vicinity of good markets. With cows of high yielding qualities it is possible with good management, to secure a good income.
Exercises for Pupils
1. Have the pupils determine by conferring with their parents the main sources of income and the approximate amount of each crop or product from their respective farms. Have them determine the per cent of income from each source and name the type of farming followed.
2. Arrange a debate on the question: "Resolved that this locality is better adapted to dairying than to grain raising." or "Resolved that this locality is better adapted to corn raising than to fruit growing." Considerations: climate, soil, distance to market, market demand, labor supply, plant diseases, etc.
Problems
1. When 50% of the total receipts from a farm come from one source, as live stock, or grain and hay, or fruit, it is classified as a stock farm, or a grain and hay, or a fruit farm.
Where 50% of the receipts does not come from any one source it is classified as a general farm.
Classify the following farms:
(a) Mr. A sells from his farm $200.00 worth of milk; $175.00 worth of cattle; $74.00 worth of hogs and $150.00 worth of grain.
(b) A man sells $500.00 worth of milk; $800.00 worth of apples and $150.00 worth of grain and hay.
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Farm Management
2. It requires about 10 years to bring an apple orchard into profitable bearing. The care of the orchard during this time and the interest on land worth $50.00 an acre will amount to $125.00 an acre. For the first five years after coming into bearing the orchard returns a net profit of $100.00 an acre per year. What will an owner have made an acre per year for the 15 years?
3. The yields of certain crops were as follows: potatoes 90 bushels; wheat 17 bushels; hay 2 tons, and corn 40 bushels. The cost of producing them per acre, exclusive of interest on land, was for potatoes, $23.36; corn, $11.79; wheat, $5.40, and hay, $3.65. Interest rate 6%. Which is the most profitable, raising potatoes at an average price of 50¢ per bushel; corn at 41¢ per bushel; wheat at 90¢ a bushel, or hay at $10.00 per ton? The potato land is worth $60.00; corn land, $60.00; wheat land, $40.00, and hay land, $35.00.
4. A farm survey in New York indicates that the most profitable farms return at least 25% of their receipts from farm crops.
If a farmer sells $150 worth of wheat; $225 worth of corn; $65 worth of hay; $50 worth of miscellaneous crops, what would be his total receipts on the above basis?
2. It requires about 10 years to bring an apple orchard into profitable bearing. The care of the orchard during this time and the interest on land worth $50.00 an acre will amount to $125.00 an acre. For the first five years after coming into bearing the orchard returns a net profit of $100.00 an acre per year. What will an owner have made an acre per year for the 15 years?
3. The yields of certain crops were as follows: potatoes 90 bushels; wheat 17 bushels; hay 2 tons, and corn 40 bushels. The cost of producing them per acre, exclusive of interest on land, was for potatoes, $23.36; corn, $11.79; wheat, $5.40, and hay, $3.65. Interest rate 6%. Which is the most profitable, raising potatoes at an average price of 50¢ per bushel; corn at 41¢ per bushel; wheat at 90¢ a bushel, or hay at $10.00 per ton? The potato land is worth $60.00; corn land, $60.00; wheat land, $40.00, and hay land, $35.00.
4. A farm survey in New York indicates that the most profitable farms return at least 25% of their receipts from farm crops.
If a farmer sells $150 worth of wheat; $225 worth of corn; $65 worth of hay; $50 worth of miscellaneous crops, what would be his total receipts on the above basis?
References
Types of Farming in the United States.--Year Book U.S. Department of Agriculture 1908, pages 351-366.Copyright © 2007 by Tumbledown
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