According to these figures the cost for labor of raising the crop and the cost of harvesting was almost exactly the same, each being a little less than $3 an acre. THE COST OF PRODUCING FARM CROPS The Minnesota station has determined the cost of growing the staple farm crops on 45 farms in different sections of the State. The total expense per acre for an average of six years is shown in the following table, not including land rental or cost of marketing. COST OF PRODUCING FARM CROPS IN MINNESOTA. Spring wheat, land fall plowed $5.54 Oats, land fall plowed 5.80 Barley, land spring plowed 6.89 Maize, husked from standing stalks 9.41 Hay, timothy and clover 3.68 Potatoes, land not fertilized 23.36 Potatoes, land fertilized 34.72 Some years ago the writer made an estimate of the cost of producing maize, oats, wheat and clover hay in a four-course rotation on a tenant farm in central Pennsylvania. The soil was a heavy clay and required plowing for each crop, except, of course, the hay crop, one acre a day being considered a good day's work. Counting the expense of man and team at $2 per day, the labor cost per acre was found to be $7 for maize, $5.10 for both wheat and oats, and $2.30 for hay, or an average of about $4.90 per acre for the four crops. The interest on the capital invested in operating this farm, exclusive of the land, was estimated at $1.45 per acre. INFLUENCE OF YIELD UPON THE COST OF PRODUCTION The Illinois station has prepared a set of estimates upon the cost of producing an acre of maize, showing variations in cost due to differences in yield. In these estimates, instead of making a charge for the actual cost of manure or fertilizer applied, an estimate is made of the value of the plant food removed. COST OF PRODUCING ONE ACRE OF MAIZE IN ILLINOIS AS MODIFIED BY YIELD. Yield Yield Yield Yield 50 bu. 75 bu. 100 bu. 35 bu. Disking $0.40 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40 Plowing 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Preparation .75 .75 .75 .75 Planting .15 .15 .15 .15 Seed .35 .35 .35 .35 Cultivation 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Plant food 1.02 1.53 2.04 .71 Husking 1.25 1.87 2.50 .88 Marketing 1.00 1.50 2.00 .70 ----- ----- ------ ----- Cost per acre $6.92 $8.55 $10.19 $5.94 Cost per bushel .14 .11 .10 .17 The average yield per acre in Illinois for 12 years preceding date of this estimate was 35 bushels per acre; the average price per bushel during the same period was 32 cents.