The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 1, 1920, Page 13

A\ » i What It Costs to’ Raise Alfalfa Oregon Farmer Gives Result of Experience as Compared With Nelghbor s Estimate 7}]DITOR Nonpartisan Lead- er: Some time ago I asked a very industrious farmer, one who does not believe in organizing or know how to keep books, what he thought it cost him to pro- duce a ton of alfalfa. As alfalfa is all he produces he should have some idea about it, but he answered that he did not know, but that so far as he could figure out it would be some- where ‘about $5, so whatever he re- ceived above that figure was net profit. He figured it about like this: g‘u,i‘ldmg charges and maintenance 5220 - Labor during haying ... 150 Hay for horses ,......... 200 reciation on mnchmery. ‘ete.. Total expenses 379 160 tons of alfalfn at $20 in the stack $3,280 nses 22 0o ) L A e P e R U R $2, » Cost of producing a ton of alfalfa, $4. 93 Then I showed him the following estimate, according to my accounts, as corrected by the county agent: Interest on '$10,000. investment at 89 $ 800 Deprecmtlon. seed, buildings, machinery, - horses, ‘etes i, vl it etde s venen 200 Building. clmrga "and ‘maintenance of irrigation system ... .i.ciiiiiiiiiee 200 Hay for two horses for .12 month; . 200 ¥Farm help during yVing Liiciaeel 150 Fxrmers salary, 12 months at 3125 per 00 b T 34.090 > $4,499 Estimated "crop from 40 acres, faur tons per acre, 160 tons. Per ton Actual cost of production, four tons per acre, plus 109 net profit ........... $28.00 Coat of production based on five tons per cost of production based on six tons per acre 18.74 As this winter proved to be the hardest winter for many ycars we re- ceived an average of $20 per ton baled, or possibly $16-$18 in the stack. Some sold as low -as $14 baled, or $10 in the stack, while practically all the farmers had sold out when the prices reached $24 in the stack. If $20 in the stack is all we can gét in an exceptionally cold season, what are we going to do if the winter should furn warm and we are offered $10 in Seeing Ourselves Enghsh Editor Says Government of the United States World’s Worst Tyranny z] DITOR Nonpartisan Lead- & | er: Find inclosed an ex- tract from the January 7 number of the Labor Leader (Great Britain). This is not the most caustic comment I have read from abroad, but a good sample. In my judgment it will do us good to know what outside observers have to say about the wholly revolutionary prac- tices of our government the past ‘two years.. In my judgment we can not afford the reputation Palmer, Burle- son, Hoyne, Wood and the like are giv- mg us in the eyes of the world. O F. CARPENTER. Madlson, Wis. The clipping referred to states: “The government of the United States is evidently in a. panic about . bolshevism. Last week-end a series of raids were ‘made upon organiza- tions suspected of being engaged in revolutionary propaganda and some thousands of suspects were arrested. “A ‘person does not. need to hold very adyanced views in the United States to be suspected of revolution- ary aims. Though that country is ADVERTISEMENTS Will pay big money to men with autos. Install Rldee:ee the BETTE! THAN AIR INNER TIRE. Cheaper than tubes, a llghl resilient substance guaranteed ten years. Equip your car at agent's price, Sell to lrlendn. The bulinnl of (he (uture. RIDEEZEE CO.. ST PAUL, MINN. tackers and Sweep Rakes the stack? Are we to sell it at little o ek b more than one-third of the cost of pro- duction or will we have to figure the cost of production like that neighbor of mine? I would like to have the Leader ex- plain how - the manufacturers and merchants figure their cost of produc- tion and try and have the.farmers fig- ure theirs the same way. In my first estimdte I allowed a sal- ary to the farmer for only six months, because that is all the time he actual- 1y works on the alfalfa, but others claim that lawyers, barbers, merchants and, in fact, all with similar varying work-hours, base their salary .on a whole year, whether they work all of the time or not, so why not- the farm- er? Besides, the work here in the winter is only temporary. As soon as the farms are improved there will be no more work during the winter, then of course we will have to go into the dairy business so as to have employ- ment the year around and so as not to rob the soil, but at the present |- prices of cream we will get only the manure for the winter’s work, as our additional investment, labor and taxes will ‘eat up the extra profit. Last season I tried to raise hairy vetch seed and believe I have invent- ed a system by which I can figure on about $200 per acre for a limited area, but the seed business is rather a gam- ble and only a limited number of farm- ers can take advantage of the pres- ent high prices, and then those who try it do not know whether they have lost or won on the seed until they re- ceive their checks. " If the farmers, the states or even the national government could fix the prices on farm products, based on actual cost, and of course fix the prices on:everything else the same way, then the farmers would have a good show. As it is the dealers and the weather man fix the prices according to sup- ply and demand and the farmer has to figure his cost of production to suit the price he receives or sell his prod- ucts below the cost of production. ADOLF SKOUBO. Boardman, Ore. as Others See Us guarunteed. Sn]d direct atmanu- Awroxim-uly m,ooo usen nre ri ce. 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