F farm arm earnings reach new peak 1947 19 47 total income higher than any similar period in country s history washington trends so tar far in 1947 indicate the year may bring the highest annual farm earnings in history according to officials who worked on the reports they say the american farmer Is taking in more money than ever before despite mounting production costs ih in iha a survey prepared by the department part ment of agriculture it was estimated that total cash receipts for farmers during the first eight months of 1947 reached billion dollars a 21 per cent gain over the same period of 1946 a record year great gross income between january I 1 and the end of august the report showed agriculture as an industry had a greater gross income than in any corresponding sp period in history but the higher income is not all clear gain tor for the farmer the report added his operating costs are continuing to increase in 1946 the expenses of operating farms went up 9 per cent no estimate was made tor for 1947 expenses the average farm operator realized a net income of 2541 from agriculture and government payments m ants in 1946 11 after the payment of taxes and other expenses the report said this was 19 per cent more than in 1918 1915 the farm payments program expired june 30 this year farmer income skyrocketed sky rocketed this year because of continuing unprecedented demands for his products the report showed eating more meat bleat the american consumer for instance Is eating more meat per capita then than he has since 1911 also he has more money most of the farmers income gain the report observed could be attributed tri buted to an increase of 24 per cent to in prices one authority on livestock de scribed ascribed the situation this way consumers with more money than ever before are demanding more meat this has kept meat prices up consequently livestock products which include meat meat products dairy and poultry accounted for billion dollars in farm income during the first eight months of 1947 an increase of 80 per cent over the 1946 period the report said that wheat went into the market in unprecedented volume and at unusually high prices one authority said that the export iemand demand was the primary factor in I beeping wheat prices at top levels this year he H said al european grain fields were wrecked by the war and europe suffered buffered from unfavorable growing conditions