Cropping Systems

Many different cropping systems are used in South Dakota. In part of the “West-River” country it is customary to raise equal acreages of corn and small grain diced in on the corn stubble the next year. Very little plowing is done. In Spink County, typical of the north-western part of the State, there are three acres of small grain for each acre in corn. Surveys in Brown County and Jones County in 1921 show very different cropping systems prevailing in those counties

Home Supplies Furnished by the Farm

One hundred fifty years ago a farm family raised practically all of its food and made most of its clothing as well as the simple tools that were used in farm work. Then came the opening up of the West, the building of railroads and the invention and general use of modern farm machinery. Crain, livestock and livestock products were raised in large quantities and sold. Part of the money from these sales was used to buy the clothing, household equipment and food which had previously been made or raised on the farm. No one today would care to go back to homespun clothes and wooden plowshares, but many people do feel that we have gone too far in the other direction and that the farm should be made to contribute a larger share of the family living than it now does

Inventories and Depreciation Accounts

Inventories are an essential part of a farm record. Taken at the beginning and end of the year, they show whether one has been increasing or decreasing the among of livestock, grain, feed, and supplies on hand. An increase in inventory represents income, even though it is not in the form of dollars and cents. A decrease in inventory means that some of the livestock, grain, etc., produced in previous years has been sold or used. Since this was not produced during the current year, it should be considered an expense and deducted from the gross income as such

Efficient Livestock and Profits from Farming with a Special Reference to Economical Pork Production

Sales of livestock and of livestock products constitute an important part of the receipts on most South Dakota farms. Records on 126 farms in Brown and Jones Counties in 1921 show that in brown County 37 percent and in Jones County 80 percent of the cash receipts were from these sources. South Dakota is so far from the terminal markets that nearly all of the roughage and a large part of the coarse grain produced in the State is fed to livestock and marketed in the form of beef, pork, butterfat and eggs. It follows that, on any particular farm, the productiveness of the livestock, or the efficiency with which they convert feed-stuffs into marketable food is an important factor affecting profits

Farm Layout and Field Arrangements

Farm layout involves the location of the fields with respect to the farmstead and public highways, the size, shape and number of fields, and the location of hog-lots, feed yards, etc. In arranging or re-arranging a farm layout the most important considerations are convenience and economy of operation. An ideal farm layout is so arranged that there shall be a minimum of time consumed, no retracing of steps and no lost motion in doing the routine work of the farm

High Crop Yields and Profits from Farming

Crop yields have a direct bearing upon farm profits. Granting that there are many factors affecting crop yields and crop prices that are beyond the control of the individual farmer, it is still true that those men whose crop yields are somewhat above the average for their localities make the largest profits. This is true in all parts of the country and for all crops as is shown by the following table covering 3130 farms in 12 states. This table shows the average labor income on farms having poor crop yields, medium or average yields and good crop yields. In each farm account book records were kept on these farms from 3 to 7 years and dependable averages secured. Labor income is what the farm operator earns for his labor and skill as manager after paying all expenses and deducting 5 per cent interest on the capital invested in the business

Cooperative Marketing

”In marketing farm products, cooperatively or otherwise, certain things must be done. Most of these necessary steps are included in the following:1. The commodity must be assembled or concentrated.2. It must be graded or standardized.3. Part of the crop must be warehoused or processed.4. The market operation must be financed.5. Transportation must be provided6. Expert salesmanship must be brought into play.7. The commodity must be distributed to consumers.”The above mentioned steps coming between the growing and the consuming of a crop are at present largely conducted by the so-called middlemen. By looking over the list it is seen that the “middleman” includes the railroads, bankers, jobbers, retailers, warehousemen, and in the case of some commodities the manufacturers, in addition to speculators. Of course almost any one of those mentioned might also sometimes speculate in the commodity

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Exhibits and Demonstrations for Junior Farm Management Clubs

The State Fair Board offers attractive cash premiums for exhibits made by members of Fa.rm Ma1:1agement Clubs. These exhibits consist of two sketches of the member\u27s farm showing location and arrangement of fields and buildings and a copy of their account book with entries complete to August 15 or later. One sketch should picture the farm as it is now and the other as it would appear after any changes had been made. These sketches should be on cardboard 11 by 22 inches or 22 by 28 inches in size. Additional account books will be furnished by the Extension Service to members desiring to exhibit at the State Fair. These books will be numbered so that members need not put their names on their exhibits