Show RECORD OUTPUT farm fa productivity increases Ine leasus CHICAGO measured on a 2 volume basis farm arm output in recent years has been 30 to 35 per cent higher than the 1835 1935 39 average according to an article in the northern trust comp company anys monthly publication the gain it is pointed out was recorded despite a decline ot of 10 per cent in the number of farm arm workers although generally favorable weather and longer hours in the fields aided in the production record the article contends that more important factors were greatly increased mechanization of fa tanning rm ing methods wider use of improved crop varieties of the hybrid type shifts to crops and livestock requiring relatively less labor per unit of output and increased use of fertilizer and lime tor for soil enrichment approximately twice the amount ot of fertilizer erti lizer used 10 years ago Is being used now use of lime has increased threefold and acreage planted with hybrid seed corn for example has increased from less than 5 per cent of the total corn acreage 10 years ago to more than 65 per cent now since the yield from hybrid seed Is about 20 per cent greater than from common strains the effect upon overall output Is clearly evident further farm productivity was increased because production of meat animals requiring about one third as much labor per unit of production as dairy products product has gained the tremendous advance in mechanization aniz aniza Stion tion of farming methods is one of the most important factors in bringing about the record production of recent years however the article stated between 1940 and 1944 tractor production increased more than 25 per cent mechanical corn pickers more than 35 per cent and grain combines and milking machine installations more than 50 per cent increased productivity and lowered costs coming from mechanization give hope that the farmer may through increased per capita production attain the same standard of living as the industrial worker does with the large assortment of tools provided tor for him the article concluded |