An Appraisal of Income Stability of Certain Farm Organization Types in Adams County 1930-1949

Farm income is not only of vital importance to the individual farmer but to society as a whole because of the multiplier effects of the farmer’s purchasing power on national consumption and production. An analysis was made of farm income adequacy in one Nebraska county for a 20 year period. The objective was to see whether farm income could be stabilized above a minimum adequate level by organizational adjustments in Adams County. After the organizational adjustments were made, rent and capital return in relation to income inadequacies that still occurred were investigated. In this study different types of crop and livestock organizations were budgeted. Climactical and cost-return variance was used as it occurred in the period 1930-50. Technology was assumed at the 1949-50 level. Crop yields were based on crop rotation experimental data which was taken from North Platte and Lincoln experiments, and was then adjusted between areas on a regression of yield against rainfall basis. Hybrid corn and commercial fertilizer, with their consequent yield increases, were assumed to be used during the entire period. Advisor: H. W. Ottoso