Cost functions in relation to farm size and machinery technology in southern Iowa

This study was designed to (a) estimate the relationship between farm size and per-unit crop production costs for selected machinery combinations and farm situations in a southern Iowa area and (b) compare certain of the empirical results of this study with the agricultural structure of the study area. Budgeting techniques were used to estimate the relationship between crop acreage and crop production costs. Estimates of average costs per dollar of crop product were made for five machinery combinations and for crop acreages varying from 40 to 640 acres on three different soil mixtures in the Shelby- Grundy- Haig soil association area. These three soil mixtures are referred to as hilly, average and upland farms. Cropland, as a proportion of total land, increases from approximately 30 percent on the hilly farm to 70 percent on the upland farm. Two budgeting models were considered. In model I, only cropland was considered. In model II. pasture production marketed through a beef- cow enterprise was considered along with cropland. Changing from model I to model II had relatively little effect upon the basic budgeting results or cost relationships

What Farm Adjustments in Southern Iowa?

Farm sizes and numbers have been changing more rapidly in southern Iowa than elsewhere in the state, and the rate of change has been increasing. Will the rate slow down, increase or stop? When? This analysis provides some clues

Why the Rapid Farm Adjustments in Southern Iowa?

A study of the relative crop production costs for different machinery and land combinations illustrates the kinds of pressuures that are at work in the area as farm operators attempt to acheive the cost economies possible

Rising Land Prices: Are They Always Good?

Landowners like the idea of rising land prices. Yet higher land costs can reduce the net income of the farm operator. For the greater the return to the land, the less remains as pay for labor and management

Cost functions in relation to farm size and machinery technology in southern Iowa

This study was designed to (a) estimate the relationship between farm size and per-unit crop production costs for selected machinery combinations and farm situations in a southern Iowa area and (b) compare certain of the empirical results of this study with the agricultural structure of the study area. Budgeting techniques were used to estimate the relationship between crop acreage and crop production costs. Estimates of average costs per dollar of crop product were made for five machinery combinations and for crop acreages varying from 40 to 640 acres on three different soil mixtures in the Shelby- Grundy- Haig soil association area. These three soil mixtures are referred to as hilly, average and upland farms. Cropland, as a proportion of total land, increases from approximately 30 percent on the hilly farm to 70 percent on the upland farm. Two budgeting models were considered. In model I, only cropland was considered. In model II. pasture production marketed through a beef- cow enterprise was considered along with cropland. Changing from model I to model II had relatively little effect upon the basic budgeting results or cost relationships.</p

What Farm Adjustments in Southern Iowa?

Farm sizes and numbers have been changing more rapidly in southern Iowa than elsewhere in the state, and the rate of change has been increasing. Will the rate slow down, increase or stop? When? This analysis provides some clues.</p

AN ANALYSIS OF LABOR USE FOR ALTERNATIVE FLUE-CURED TOBACCO HARVESTING AND CURING SYSTEMS

The most profitable harvesting and curing system for flue-cured tobacco and the amount of farm labor required for various wage rates for hired labor were analyzed in this study. Labor use was estimated both for individual farms and for the study area. Data were collected in Census Subregion 17, North Carolina, to describe four farm situations and eight alternative harvesting-curing systems for tobacco that represented a wide range of capital-labor ratios. The most profitable harvesting-curing systems were determined for each farm situation for wage rates for hired labor varying from 1967 levels to a maximum of $4.00 per hour. The analysis was conducted for two lengths of run. In the short run, adequate conventional curing barns were assumed to be present on the farms. In the long run, all curing facilities were assumed to be variable. At 1967 wage rates, the results were the same for both lengths of run for each farm. At higher wages some differences in results for the two lengths of run were noted. Substitution of several alternative systems for the most profitable system had little effect on net revenue in many cases. The impact of the adoption of the mechanical harvesting, bulk curing system on labor use in the study area was estimated. With complete adoption the quantity of labor could be reduced 40 percent. The time period estimated for adoption of this system by 91 percent of the farmers varied from 15 to 60.5 years from 1967 depending upon the lag and the harvester price assumed. If farm numbers continue to decline at the present rate, farm size could be sufficiently large for mechanical harvesters to be profitable. Also, if the reduction in the number of farm workers continues at the same rate, the impact of adoption on the labor market may be slight

ORGANIZATION OF TOBACCO FARMS UNDER ACREAGE AND ACREAGE-POUNDAGE CONTROL PROGRAMS, CENSUS SUBREGION 17, NORTH CAROLINA

The objective of this report was to describe changes in the structure and organization of flue-cured tobacco farms which occurred following replacement of the acreage control program with an acreagepoundage program. Farmer survey data from Census Subregion 17 for 1964 and 1967 were analyzed. An average farm, constructed from the data, was used to compare the organization of farms under the two control programs. In addition, five farm sizes were delineated based on acreage of cropland in 1964 and 1967 so that changes in farm organization for farms with different resource situations could be estimated. Only minor changes in tobacco practices occurred following the change in Government programs from acreage to acreage-poundage controls. Tobacco varieties were changed, plant population per acre and fertilization levels were reduced slightly, but use of most technical innovations such as new chemicals remained constant