Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 121, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1917 — FARMING NOW A BUSINESS [ARTICLE]

FARMING NOW A BUSINESS

The Modern Day Farmer Applies Business Methods and Seeks More Than a Living on the Farm. I* - A nation-wide cry Is being made for more economy and greater production, and probably never was the need of foodstuffs equal to that of the present. Grain prices are the highest in the nation’s history and today the agricultural fields of America offer inducements un equaled in any other line of commerce or business. The ideal life is that close to nature, enjoying the freedom of God’s great outdoorsand •fulfilling a duty to humanity bj’ producing from a fertile soil that which is essential to the very existence of a less fortunate people who are actually starving to death for foodstuffs that can be produced so economically in the United States and Canada. High prices for all grains, undoubtedly, will be maintained for a number of years, and it appears a certainty that the agriculturist will reap a bounteous return for his labor and at the same time carry out the demands of patriotic citizenship. A wrong conception has been generally noticed as to “Life on the Farm.” "it has been, to a large extent, considered as only living for those who are satisfied with merely a comfortable existence. Such a wrong Impression has been created, in a measure, by the lack of systematic business principles to farming in general. But today farming and agriculture have been given a supremacy in the business world and require the same advanced methods as any other line of commerce. In no other business does a system adoption pay better than on the farm, and It is certain that there Is no other line of work, that, generally speaking, needs It as much. The old Idea of getting a living off the farm and not knowing how It was made and following up the details of each branch of farming to get the maximum of profit, at the least expense, Is fast being done away with. Farming is now being considered as a business and a living is not sufficient for the modern agriculturist; a small per cent on the Investment Is not enough, the present-day farmer must have a percentage return equal to that of other lines </ business. The~prices for produce are high enough, but the cost_of producing has been the factor, In many places, that has reduced the profit. It is the application of a system to the cost of various work on the farm that It Is possible to give figures on profits made In grain-growing in Western Canada. Mr. C. A. Wright of Milo, lowa, bought a hundred and sixty acres of land In Western Canada for $3,300 in December, 1915, and took his first crop from it in 1916. After paying for the land in full and the cost of cultivating it and marketing the grain, he sold his grain at $1.55 a bushel (a low price compared with the present market), had a surplus of $2,472.67. His figures are as follows: . z

4,487 bushels worth $1.55 at Champion $6,954.85 —$6,954.85 Threshing bill 11c per bushel 493.57 Seed at 95c.. 144.00 Drilling . 160.00 - Cutting 160.00 Twine- 50.00 # Shocking 40.00 lla tiling to town —=, 8c ..... 134.61 Total cost 1,182.18 Cost of land 3,300.00 $4,482.18—54,482.18 \ Net profit after paying for farm and all c05t..... $2,472.67 S. Joseph and Sons of Des Moines? la., are looked upon as being shrewd, careful businessmen. Having somespare money on hand, and looking for a suitable Investment, they decided to purchase Canadian lands, and farm them. With the assistance of the Canadian Government Agent, at Des Moines, la., they made selection near Champion, Alberta. They put 240 acres of land in wheat, and in writing to Mr. Hewitt, The Canadian Government Agent at Des Moines, one of the members of 'the firm says: “I have much pleasure In advising you that on our farm five miles east of Champion, in the Prov:ince of Alberta, Canada, this year (1916) ive harvested and threshedlO,600 bushels of wheat from 240 acres, this being an average of 44 bushels and 10 pounds to the acre. A considerable portion of the wheat was No. 1 Northern, worth at Champion, approximately $1.85 per bushel, making a total return of $19,610, or an average of $81.70 per acre gross yields. And by aid of a thorough systernwere at about 25 cents a bushel?* Messrs. Smith & Sons of Vulcan. Alberta, are growers of wheat on a large scale and have demonstrated that there is greater profit in Western Canada wheat-raising than probably 1q any other business anywhere. Speaking of their experience Mr. Smith flays! . _ “j have three sections of land at the present time and am farming yearly 1,200 to 1,400 acres of land. My returns from the farm for the past two jears have been around 200%, that IS

for every dollar I have spent I have received three, now I do not know where you can do that well. "This Is surely the country for the man with the ptnall capital as the land is still reasonable in price, payments in long term and work of all kinds for every nnm to do. I feel that if I was turned out here without a dollar that In less than ten years I could own a section of land and have It we equipped.” . Western Canada’s soli and climate Is suitable to graining large ahd profitable yields of wheat. Many so large that those not acquainted with the facts hesitate to believe the reports sent out by the farmers in that country. As an evidence of thglr sincerity in reporting correct yields affidavits of a couple of grain growers are reproduced. 4 “I, Newell J. Noble, of the town of Nobleford, Province of Alberta, do solemnly declare that from 1,000 acres of wheat on the said farm there was, in the season of 1916, threshed 54,395 bilshels of wheat, being at the average of 54 bushels and 23 pounds per acre. And that from 394.69 acres of oats on the said farm, there was threshed In the said season of 1916, 48,506 bushels of oats, being at the average of 122 bushels and 30 pounds per acre. “And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously, believing it to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath and by virtue of The Canada Evidence Act.” NEWELL J. NOBLE. A Woman Takes Affidavit as to Yields.—On January 4, 1917, Mrs. Nancy Coe of Nobleford made oath as follows : In the matter of yield of wheat, oats and flax on my farm for harvest of 1916, i’ Nancy Coe, of the town of Nobleford. Province of Alberta, do solemnly declare that I threshed from 115 acres on my farm 6,110 bushels of wheat (machine measure, Which it is believed will hold out in weights fully —about three-fourths of the crop already having been weighed), being at the average of 53 bushels and 8 pounds per acre, and that from 48 acres of flax on stubble ground, I threshed 993 bushels of flax, being at an average of 20 bushels and 38 pounds per acre, and that -from 5.06 acres of oats I threshed 586 bushels machine measure, being at an average of 115 bushels and 27 pounds per acre. —Advertisement. -c You can easily recognize the early shortcake by Its strawberry mark.