Forty Years of Farm Cost Accounting Records

Abstract

PAST history does not reveal to us the origin of the desire for knowledge about farm costs. Casual reference to farm costs and the desirability of accurate records of costs are found scattered through agricultural literature from the time of the Romans to the middle of the nineteenth century. None of these references, however, indicate carefully recorded data on costs or a comprehension of suitable methods of attack on that subject. Following the establishment of agricultural colleges in America and more particularly the organization of experiment stations in connection with colleges, during the decade 1880 to 1890 more active interest in the subject is indicated. Weston of Illinois (Bulletin 50, page 55) refers to a report of the United States Commissioner of Agriculture in 1870 which contains a statement by a Mr. J. T. Burroughs concerning the cost of growing crops in Madison County, Illinois. He also refers to inquiries concerning the cost of producing corn and oats in Illinois in 1885, 1886 and 1887 as reported by the Illinois State Board of Agriculture for 1886 and 1887. Tables of yields and costs were published by the Board for all counties of the state indicating the estimated yield, acreage, price per bushel, value of crop, cost of production and profit or loss on the crop. He states also that the United States Department of Agriculture in 1893 in response to numerous inquiries relative to the cost of raising the principal cereals, circulated a questionnaire among 28,000 practical farmers asking for estimates of the cost of raising corn and oats. These estimates were compared with replies to the same questionnaire by 4,000 graduates of various agricultural colleges who were engaged in farming. The demand for information about the cost of producing various