Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1918 — FACTORS IMPORTANT IN FIXING PROFITS [ARTICLE]

FACTORS IMPORTANT IN FIXING PROFITS

Size, Diversity and Productiveness Are Essential to Successful Farm Business. • * The factors most important In determining the profits in farming are size, diversity, and productivity of the business, according to W. E. Grimes, assistant professor of farm management in the Kansas State Agricultural College. “Of these factors, the one which confronts farmers is diversity of business,” said, Mr. Grimes. “Too many farmers derive the greater part of their Income from one enterprise, which if it falls leaves them without resources. “Seasons vary while the requirements of different crops are constant. Seasons which are unfavorable for one crop are often favorable for another. The farmer-who .is following diversified farming methods usually has a good yield of some crop. “Another difficulty of importance to the farmer who grows only one crop is that he has an abundance of work during rush seasons and has little to do at other times. Under present conditions labor is scarce. Often by growing a combination of crops he can distribute his labor throughout the summer season. u “In the wheat growing sections farmers should plant part of their ground to crops for feed and keep sufficient live stock to utilize them. Live* stock furnish work throughout the winter and often enable the farmer to hire a farm hand for the year. “Feed crops usually do not conflict seriously with wheat harvests and distribute farm labor throughout the summer season more uniformly. They will yield a profit when fed to live stock. Roughage which is of little value otherwise may also be fed. Keeping live stock 18*the most economical method of maintaining the fertility of the soil and only practical method for nearly all sections of the state.

Better diversity in business of the average farmer will Increase the profits, establish farming on a safer business basis and enable the farmer to safeguard against the danger of complete failure in any year and aid in overcoming the present scarcity of labor.?