Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1899 — Corn Raised at 13 Cents. [ARTICLE]

Corn Raised at 13 Cents.

A Statement From W. C. Smalley, of Carpenter Township. Remington, Ind. Feb. 27, ’99. Mr. Editorr We feel that some one should champion the cause of that “careful farmer” from Carpenter Tp. who is assailed by Mr. Halstead in your columns about raising corn, who seems to think that corn cannot be produced for less than 20c in this county. We have kept a careful account of the cost of producing corn, as well as hay and oats, for four years past, and do not find it has ever reached the 20c mark. We use a double gang plow and a harrow 16 ft. in width, with these one man can plow five acres per day or harrow forty. I keep a separate account with each field, and have them free from stones, as this is a saving of both machinery and time. Here is a statement of one field for the year 1896 as it appears on my books. tfOST OF RAISING 20 ACRES. 4 days’ plowing 1 man 4 horses 1£ days pulverizing, 1 man 4 horses 4.88 days harrowing 1.62 days planting, 1 man 2 horses 3.88 day’s harrowing. % 1.62 2 bushels seed 1.00 2 days Ist plowing, 2 men 4 horses 9.00 2nd plowing 2 men 4 horses.. 6.75 3rd plowing 2 men 4 horses.. 6.75 husking 19.30 taxes on land 10.00 Interest on value of land at 6 per cent 60.00

Total cost of 20 acres of corn $131.30 Receipts of .20 acres, 1,000 bushels at 18 cents per bushel......... $180 Profits on 20 acres... 48.70 Cost of producing, per bushel In the above statement the land is estimated at $50 per acre, but is not for sale at that price, however. It is well tiled and that year one man and myself cultivated eighty three acres of corn in four fields, the average cost of my whole crop was a little less than fourteen and one fourth cents per bushel. One of the fields was tough sod and we spent some time in getting it in shape. The season was also unfavorable for sed and the yield was 45 bu. per acre. I believe if more time be spent on land before planting than was spent on this the yield will be correspondingly larger. In 1897 we used the roller with good effect, both before and after planting. I fasten the weeder behind the roller and one man or boy and two horses can go over twelve acres per day which I consider is equal to one plowing if done at the right time. It will be noticed we oharge $1.25 per day for a man, this is greatly in excess of what would be paid a man working by the month. I paid a man sl6 that year. The husking seems very low, as indeed it is, being less than 2c per bu. I hired a great deal of it by the day. The amount charged is the total cost however. The charge of 50c per day per horse is big pay. Taxes have been 50 cents per acre, we are on the Remington gravel road which was a tax on my whole farm of 200 acres of forty dollars per year in addition to the regular tax. This corn is estimated at 18c per bushel. I sold some corn at that price that year but fed a big part of the crop to hogs which I sold at 3c this would bring the price of corn up to 30c. We would be glad to hear from others who have kept a strict acoount (not approximately) and

hear what they have to say on the subject, we do not claim to know it all but believ§ we, as farmers, like the manufacturer, must reduce the cost of production in ever£ way possible. Now I think corn can be produced at something near 13 cents, one year with another, on good tiled land with improved machinery. A farmer farming in any other way can no more compete with the one who does than a merchant with a small stock can compete with the big department stores who buy in large quantities and take advantage of every cash discount. I take an inventory of my stock, grain, and implements every year and keep a strict account of my expenses, believing the farmer as well as the merchant should do this that he may know exactly his financial condition. Now let us have a similar statement to this from Bro. Halstead. Yours truly, W. C. Smalley.