| OCR Text |
Show Farm Production Costs ' Farm production costs have nearly near-ly tripled since the pre-war years of 1935-39, according to U. S. department de-partment of agriculture statistics. , These costs totaled 14.9 billion dol-, dol-, lars in 1947, compared with 5.2 bil-; bil-; lion before World War II's outbreak. out-break. Farm wages are now three and a half times the 1935-39 average. aver-age. Meanwhile, farm prices have slumped and many economists expect ex-pect a further easing in months ahead. Corn and wheat are already 25 to 40 per cent under their early 1948 peaks. Farmers can best meet the impact im-pact of higher production costs and lower prices by good soil manage- I PRODUCTION I COST'S 1055-50 ) AVERAGE I I W .ment that steps up crop producing efficiency and lowers output costs per unit. Good soil management Involves no magic or mystery. It simply means playing fair with the soil by returning organic matter and plant nutrients used up by constant crop production. Organic matter can be restored by growing deep-rooted legumes such as alfalfa or sweet s clover in the rotation and plowing them under for green manure. When the soil is restocked with organic matter and plant food you will get higher yields and you will cut your production costs. |
