United States census of agriculture: 1954

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DEPOSITORY

Vol. ill - pt. 9 ch.

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION
IN THE UNITED STATES

(A COOPERATIVE REPORT)

Cotton Producers and
Cotton Production

B«ton Public JLibrary ^ f 3 H' '^ I "^^ ^/

Superintendent of Documents ,^ <*^//

SPECIAL REPORTS aug26 1957 ^/,^

1954

Census

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Agriculture

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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

WASHINGTON • 1956

p ■^^.■.

U. S. Department of Agriculture

Ezra Taft Benson, Secretary

Agricultural Research Service

Byron T. Shaw, Adminiitrafor

U. S. Department of Commerce

Sinclair Weeks, Secretary

Bureau of the Census

Robert W. Burgess, Director

United States

c

ensus

of

Agriculture:

1954

Volume III
SPECIAL REPORTS

Part 9

Farmers and Farm Production in the United States

(A Cooperative Report)

Chapter 11

Cotton Producers and
Cotton Production

CHARACTERISTICS OF FARMERS and FARM PRODUCTION •
PRINCIPAL TYPES OF FARMS •

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Robert W. Burgess, Director

AGRICULTURE DIVISION
Ray Hurley, Chief
Warder B. Jenkins, Assistant Chief

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
Byron T. Shaw. Administrator

FARM AND LAND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH
Sherman E. Johnson, Director

PRODUCTION ECONOMICS RESEARCH BRANCH
Carl P. Heisig, Chief

SUGGESTED IDENTIFICATION

U. S. Bureau of the Census. U. S. Census of Agriculture: 1954. Vol. Ill, Special Reports

Part 9, Farmers and Farm Production in the United States.

Chapter II, Cotton Producers and Cotton Production

U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C, 1956.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.
or any of the Field Offices of the Department of Commerce, Price 40 cents (paper cover)

PREFACE

The purpose of this report is to present an analysis of the cliaracteristics of farmers and farm production
for the most important types of farms as shown by data for the 1954 Census of Agriculture. The analysis
deals with the relative importance, pattern of resource use, some measures of efficiency, and problems of
adjustment and change for the principal types of farms.

The data given in the various chapters of this report have been derived largely from the special tabula-
tion of data for each type of farm, by economic class, for the 195-4 Census of Agriculture. The detailed
statistics for each type of farm for the United States and the principal subregions appear in Part 8 of Volume
III of the reports for the 1954 Census of Agriculture.

This cooperative report was prepared under the direction of Ray Hurley, Chief of the Agriculture Divi-
sion of the Bureau of the Census, U. S. Department of Commerce, and Kenneth L. Bachman, Head, Produc-
tion, Income, and Costs Section, Production Economics Research Branch, Agricultural Research Service of
the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Jackson V. McElveen, Agricultural Economist, Production, Income, and Costs Section, Production
Economics Research Branch, Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, super-
vised a large part of the detailed planning and analysis for the various chapters.

The list of chapters and the persons preparing each chapter are as follows:

Chapter VI Western Stock Ranches and Live-
stock Farms
Mont H. Saunderson,
Western Ranching and Lands

Consultant,
Bozeman, Mont.

Chapter VII Cash-grain and Livestock Pro-
ducers in the Corn Belt
Edwin G. Strand,
Production Economics Research

Branch,
Agricultural Research Service,
United States Department of
Agriculture.

Chapter VIII. ^ Part-time Farming
H. G. Halcrow,
University of Connecticut.

Chapter IX Agricultural Producers and Pro-
duction in the United States —
A General View
Jack,son V. McElveen,
Production Economics Research

Branch,
Agricultural Research Service,
United States Department of
Agriculture.

The editorial work for tliis report was performed by Caroline B. Sherman, and the preparation of the
statistical tables was supervised by Margaret Wood.

Chapter I Wheat Producers and Wheat

Production
A. W. Epp,
University of Nebraska.

Chapter II Cotton Producers and Cotton

Production
Robert B. Glasgow,
Production Economics Research

Branch,
Agricultural Research Service,
United States Department of

.Agriculture.

Chapter III Tobacco and Peanut Producers

and Production
R. E. L. Greene,
University of Florida.

Chapter IV Poultry Producers and Poultry

Production
William P. Mortenson,
University of Wisconsin.

Chapter V Dairy Producers and Dairy Pro-
duction
P. E. IVIcNaU,
LTniversity of Wisconsin.

December 1956

UNITED STATES CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE: 1954

REPORTS

Volume I. — Counties and State Economic Areas. Statistics for counties include number of farms, acreage, value, and farm operators;
farms by color and tenure of operator; facilities and equipment; use of commercial fertilizer; farm labor; farm expenditures; livestock and
livestock products; specified crops harvested; farms classified by type of farm and by economic class; and value of products sold by soiu^ce.

Data for State economic areas include farms and farm characteristics by tenure of operator, by type of farm, and by economic class.

Volume I is published in 33 parts.

Volume 11. — General Report. Statistics by Subjects, United States Census of Agriculture, 1954. Summary data and analyses of
the data for States, for Geographic Divisions, and for the United States by subjects.

Volume III. — Special Reports

Part 1. — Multiple-Unit Operations. This report wiU be similar to
Part 2 of Volume V of the reports for the 1950 Census of Agri-
culture. It will present statistics for approxuiiately 900
counties and State economic areas in 12 Southern States and
Missouri for the number and characteristics of multiple-unit
operations and farms in multiple units.

Part 2. — Ranking Agricultural Counties. This special report will
present statistics for selected items of inventory and agricul-
tural production for the leading counties in the United States.

Part 3. — Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, and
U. S. Possessions. These areas were not included in the 1954
Census of Agriculture. The available current data from vari-
ous Government sources will be compiled and published in
this report.

Part 4. — Agriculture, 1954, a Graphic Summary. This report will
present graphically some of the significant facts regarding
agriculture and agricultural production as revealed by the 1954
Census of Agriculture.

Part 5. — Farm-Mortgage Debt. This will be a cooperative study
by tlic Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department
of Agriculture and the Bureau of the Census. It will present,
by States, data based on the 1954 Census of Agriculture and a
special majl survey conducted in January 1956, on the num-
ber of mortgaged farms, tlie amoinit of mortgage debt, and the
amount of debt held by principal lending agencies.

Part 6. — Irrigation in Humid Areas. This cooperative report by
the Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department of
Agriculture and the Bureau of the Census will present data ob-
tained by a mail survey of operators of irrigated farms in 28
States on the source of water, method of applying water, num-
ber of pumps used, acres of crops irrigated in 1954 and 1955,
the number of times each crop was irrigated, and the cost of
irrigation equipment and the irrigation system.

Part 7. — Popular Report of the 1954 Census of Agriculture. This
report is planned to be a general, easy-to-read publication for
the general public on the status and broad characteristics of
United States agriculture. It will seek to delineate such as-
pects of agriculture as the geograpliic distribution and dif-
ferences by size of farm for such items as farm acreage, princi-
pal crops, and important kinds of livestock, farm facilities,
farm equipment, use of fertilizer, soil conservation practices,
farm tenure, and farm income.

Part 8. — Size of Operation by Type of Farm. This will be a coop-
erative special report to be prepared in cooperation with the
Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Dei^artment of Agri-
culture. This report will contain data for 119 economic sub-

regions (essentially general type-of-farming areas) showing the
general characteristics for each type of farm by economic class.
It will provide data for a current analysis of the differences
that exist among groups of farms of the same type. It will
furnish statistical basis for a realistic examination of produc-
tion of such commodities as wheat, cotton, and dairy products
in connection with actual or proposed governmental policies
and programs.
Part 9. — Farmers and Farm Production in the United States.
The purpose of this report is to present an analysis of the
characteristics of farmers and farm production for the most
important types of farms as shown by data for the 1954 Census
of Agriculture. The analysis deals with the relative importance,
pattern of resource use, some measures of efficiency, and prob-
lems of adjustment and change for the principal types of farms.
The report was prepared in cooperation with the Agricultural
Research Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

The list of chapters (published separately only) and title
for each chapter are as follows:

Chapter I — Wheat Producers and Wheat Production
II — Cotton Producers and Cotton Production
III — Tobacco and Peanut Producers and Production
IV — Poultry Producers and Poultry Production

V — Dairy Prodzicers and Dairy Production
VI — Western Stock Ranches and Livestock Farms
VII — Cash-Grain and Livestock Producers in the Corn
Belt
VIII — Part-Time Farming
IX — Agricultural Producers and Production in the
United States — A General View
Part 10. — Use of Fertilizer and Lime. The purpose of this report
is to present in one publication most of the detailed data com-
piled for the 1954 Census of Agriculture regarding the use of
fertilizer and lime. The report presents data for counties.
State economic areas, and generalized type-of-farming areas
regarding the quantity used, acreage on which used, and
expenditures for fertilizer and lime. The Agricultural Research
Service cooperated with the Bureau of the Census in the prep-
aration of this report.
Part 11. — Farmers' Expenditures. This report presents detailed
data on expenditures for a large number of items used for farm
production in 1955, and on the living expenditures of farm
operators' families. The data were collected and compiled
cooperatively by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of the Census.
Part 12. — Methods and Procedures. This report contains an
outline and a description of the methods and procedures used
in taking and compiling the 1954 Census of Agriculture.

INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION

Purpose and scope. — American agriculture is exceedingly diverse
and is undergoing revolutionary changes. Farmers and their
families obtain their income by producing a large variety of
products under a large varietj' of conditions as well as from sources
other than farming. The organization of production, type of
farming, productivity, income, expenditures, size, and character-
istics of operators of the 4.8 million farms in the United States
vary greatly. Agriculture has been a dynamic, moving, adjusting
part of our economy. Basic changes in farming have been occurring
and will continue to be necessary. Adjustments brought by tech-
nological change, by changing consumer wants, by growth of
population, and by changes in the income of nonfarm people, have
been significant forces in changing agriculture since World War II.
The transition from war to an approximate peacetime situation
has also made it necessary to reduce the output of some farm
products. Some of the adjustments in agriculture have not pre-
sented relatively difficult problems as they could be made by the
transfer of resources from the production of one product to another.
Others require substantial shifts in resources and production.

Moreover, a considerable number of farm families, many of whom
are employed full time in agriculture, have relatively low incomes.
Most of these families operate farms that are small when compared
witli farms that produce higher incomes. The acreage of land and
the amount of capital controlled by the operators of these small
farms are too small to provide a very high level of income. In
recent j'ears, many farm families on these small farms have made
adjustments by leaving the farm to earn their incomes elsewhere,
by discontinuing their farm operations, and by earning more non-
farm income while remaining on the farm or on the place they
farmed formerly.

One objective of this report is to describe and analyze some of
the existing differences and recent adjustments in the major types
of farming and farm production. For important commodities and
groups of farms, the report aims to make available, largely from
the detailed data for the 195-1 Census of Agriculture but in a more
concise form, facts regarding the size of farms, capital, labor, and
land resources on farms, amounts and sources of farm income and
expenditures, combinations of crop and livestock enterprises,
adjustment problems, operator characteristics, and variation in use
of resources and in size of farms by areas and for widely differing
production conditions. Those types of farms on which production
of surplus products is important have been emphasized. The
report will provide a factual basis for a better understanding of
the widespread differences among farms in regard to size, resources,
and income. It will also provide a basis for evaluating the effects
of existing and proposed farm programs on the production and
incomes of major types and classes of farms.

Income from nonfarm sources is important on a large number
of farms. About 1.4 million of the 4.8 million farm-operator
families, or about 3 in 10, obtain more income from off-farm sources
than from the sale of agricultural products. IMore than three-
fourths of a million farm operators live on small-scale part-time
farms and ordinarily are not dependent on farming as the main
soiu-ce of family income. These part-time farmers have a quite
different relation to adjustments, changes, and farm problems
than do commercial farmers. A description of and facts regarding
these part-time farms and the importance of nonfarm income for
commercial farms are presented in Chapter 8.

Except for Chapter 8, this report deals with commercial farms
(see economic class of farm). The analysis is limited to the major
types of agricultural production and deals primarily with geo-
graphic areas in which each of the major types of agricultural
production has substantial significance.

Source of data. — Most of the data presented in this report are
from special compilations made for the 1954 Census of Agriculture,
although pertinent data from research findings and surveys of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture, State Agricultural Colleges, and
other agencies have been used to supplement Census data. The
detailed Census data used for this report are contained in Part 8 of
Volume III of the reports of the 1954 Census of Agriculture.
Reference should be made to that report for detailed explanations
and definitions and statements regarding the characteristics and
reliability of the data.

Areas for which data are presented. — Data are presented in
this report primarily for selected economic subregions and for the
United States. The boundaries of the 1 19 subregions used for the
compilation of data on which this report is based are indicated by
the map on page vi. These subregions represent primarily general
type-of-farming areas. Many of them extend into two or more
States. (For a more detailed description of economic subregions,
see the pubUcation "Economic Subregions of the United States,
Series Census BAE; No. 19, published cooperatively by the Bureau
of the Census, and the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, U. S.
Department of Agriculture, July 1953.)

DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS

Definitions and explanations are given only for some of the more
important items. For more detailed definitions and explanations,
reference can be made to Part 8 of Volume III and to Volume II of
the reports of the 1954 Census of Agriculture.

A farm. — For the 1954 Census of Agriculture, places of 3 or
more acres were counted as farms if the annual value of agricultural
products, exclusive of home-garden products, amounted to $150
or more. The agricultural products could have been either for
home use or for sale. Places of less than 3 acres were counted as
farms only if the annual value of sales of agricultural products
amounted to $150 or more. Places for which the value of agricul-
tural products for 1954 was less than these minima because of crop
failure or other unusual conditions, and places operated at the time
of the Census for the first time were counted as farms if normally
they could be expected to produce these minimum quantities of
agricultural products.

All the land under the control of one person or partnership was
included as one farm. Control may have been through ownership,
or through lease, rental, or cropping arrangement.

Farm operator. — A "farm operator" is a person who operates
a farm, either performing the labor himself or directly supervising
it. He may be an owner, a hired manager, or a tenant, renter, or
sharecropper. If he rents land to others or has land cropped for
him by others, he is listed as the operator of only that land which
he retains. In the case of a partnership, only one partner was
included as the operator. The number of farm operators is con-
sidered the same as the number of farms.

VIII

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Farms reporting or operators reporting. — Figures for farms
reporting or operators reporting, based on a tabulation of all farms,
represent the number of farms, or farm operators, for which the
specified item was reported. For example, if there were 11,922
farms in a subregion and only 11,465 had chickens over 4 months
old on hand, the number of farms reporting chickens would be
11,465. The difference between the total number of farms and the
number of farms reporting an item represents the number of farms
not having that item, provided the inquiry was answered
completely for all farms.

Farms by type. — The classification of comrrifercial farms by
type was made on the basis of the relationship of the value of
sales from a particular source, or sources, to the total value of all
farm products sold from the farm. In some cases, the type of
farm was determined on the basis of the sale of an individual farm
product, such as cotton, or on the basis of the sales of closely re-
lated products, such as dairy products. In other cases, the type
of farm was determined on the basis of sales of a broader group of
products, such as grain crops including corn, sorghums, all small
grains, field peas, field beans, cowpeas, and soybeans. In order to
be classified as a particular type, sales or anticipated sales of a
product or group of products had to represent 50 percent or more
of the total value of products sold.

The types of commercial farms for which data are shown, to-
gether with the product or group of products on which the classi-
fication is based are:

Product or group of products amount-
ing to 50 percent or more of the
Type of farm value of all farm products sold

Cash-grain Corn, sorghum, small grains, field

peas, field beans, cowpeas, and
soybeans.

Cotton Cotton (lint and seed).

Other field-crop Peanuts, Irish potatoes, sweet-
potatoes, tobacco, sugarcane, sug-
ar beets for sugar, and other
miscellaneous crops.

Vegetable Vegetables.

Fruit-and-nut Berries and other small fruits, and

tree fruits, nuts, and grapes.

Dairy Milk and other dairy products.

The criterion of 50 percent of the
total sales was modified in the
case of dairy farms. A farm for
which the value of sales of dairy
products represented less than 50
percent of the total value of farm
prod\icts sold was classified as a
dairy farm if —

(a) Milk and other dairy prod-

ucts accounted for 30
percent or more of the
total value of products
sold, and

(b) Milk cows represented 50

percent or more of all
cows, and

(c) Sales of dairy products, to-

gether with the sales
of cattle and calves,
amovmted to 50 percent
or more of the total
value of farm products
sold.
Chickens, eggs, turkeys, and other

poultry products.
Cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, goats,

wool, and mohair, provided the

farm did not qualify as a dairy

farm.

Poultry.

Livestock farms other than
dairy and poultry.

Product or group of products amount-
ing to 50 percent or more of the
Type of farm value of all farm products sold

General Farms were classified as general

when the value of products from
one source or group of sources
did not represent as much as 50
percent of the total value of all
farm products sold. Separate
figures are given for three kinds
of general farms:
(a) Primarily crop.
(6) Primarily livestock.
(c) Crop and livestock.

Primarily crop farms are those for
which the sale of one of the
following crops or groups of
crops — vegetables, fruits and
nuts, cotton, cash grains, or other
field crops — did not amount to
50 percent or more of the value
of all farm products sold, but
for which the value of sales for
all these groups of crops repre-
sented 70 percent or more of the
value of all farm products sold.

Primarily livestock farms are those
which could not qualify as dairy
farms, poultry farms, or livestock
farms other than dairy and
poultry, but on which the sale
of livestock and poultry and
livestock and poultry products
amounted to 70 percent or more
of the value of all farm products
sold.

General crop and livestock farms are
those which could not be classi-
fied as either crop farms or live-
stock farms, but on which the
sale of all crops amounted to at
least 30 percent but less than 70
percent of the total value of all
farm products sold.

Miscellaneous This group of farms includes those

that had 50 percent or more of
the total value of products ac-
counted for by sale of horticul-
tural products, or sale of horses,
or sale of forest products.

Farms by economic class. — A classification of farms by eco-
nomic class was made for the purpose of segregating groups of
farms that are somewhat alike in their characteristics and size of
operation. This classification was made in order to present an
accurate description of the farms in each class and in order to
provide basic data for an analysis of the organization of agriculture.

The classification of farms by economic class was made on the
basis of three factors; namely, total value of all farm products
sold, number of days the farm operator worked off the farm, and
the relationship of the income received from nonfarm sources by
the operator and members of his family to the value of all farm
products sold. Farms operated Ijy institutions, experiment sta-
tions, grazing associations, and community projects were classified
as abnormal, regardless of any of the three factors.

For the purpose of determining the code for economic class and
type of farm, it was necessary to obtain the total value of farm
products sold as well as the value of some individual products
sold.

The total value of farm products sold was obtained by adding
the reported or estimated values for all products sold from the
farm. The value of livestock, livestock products except wool and
mohair, vegetables, nursery and greenhouse products, and forest

INTRODUCTION

IX

products was obtained by the enumerator from the farm operator
for each farm. The enumerator also obtained from the farm
operator the quantity sold for corn, sorghums, small grains, hays,
and small fruits. The value of sales for these crops was obtained
by multiplying the quantity sold by State average prices.

The quantity sold was estimated for all other farm products.
The entire quantity produced for wool, mohair, cotton, tobacco,
sugar beets for sugar, sugarcane for sugar, broomcorn, hops, and
mint for oil was estimated as sold. To obtain the value of each
product sold, the quantity sold was multiplied by State average
prices.

In making the classification of farms by economic class, farms
were grouped into two major groups, namely, commercial farms
and other farms. In general, all farms with a value of sales of
farm products amounting to $1,200 or more were classified as
commercial. Farms with a value of sales of $250 to $1,199 were
classified as commercial only if the farm operator worked off the
farm less than 100 days or if the income of the farm operator and
members of his family received from nonfarm sources was less than
the total value of all farm products sold.

Xand in farms according to use. — Land in farms was classified
according to the use made of it in 1954. The classes of land
are mutually exclusive, 1. e., each acre of land was included only
once even though it may have had more than one use during the
year.

The classes referred to in this report are as follows:

Cropland harvested.- — This inoludes land from which crops
were harvested; land from which hay (including wild hay) was
cut; and land in small fruits, orchards, vineyards, nurseries, and
greenhouses. Land from which two or more crops were reported
as harvested was to be counted only once.

Cropland used only for pasture. — In the 1954 Census, the
enumerator's instructions stated that rotation pasture and all
other cropland that was used only for pasture were to be in-
cluded imder this class. No further definition of cropland
pastured was given the farm operator or enumerator. Per-
manent open pasture may, therefore, have been included under
this item or under "other pasture," depending on whether the
enumerator or farm operator considered it as cropland.

Cropland not harvested and not pastured. — This item includes
idle cropland, land in soil-improvement crops only, land on
which all crops failed, land seeded to crops for harvest after
1954, and cultivated summer fallow.

In the Western States, this class was subdivided to show
separately the acres of cultivated summer fallow. In these
States, the acreage not in cultivated summer fallow represents
largely crop failure. There are very few counties in the West-
ern States in which there is a large acreage of idle cropland or
in which the growing of soil-improvement crops is an important
use of the land.

In the States other than the Western States, this general
class was subdivided to show separately the acres of idle crop-
land (not used for crops or for pasture in 1954) . In these States,
the incidence of crop failure is usually low. It was expected
that the acreage figure that exchided idle land would reflect
the acreage in soil-improvement crops. However, the 1954
crop year was one of low rainfall in many Eastern and Southern
States and, therefore, in these areas the acreage of cropland not
harvested and not pastured includes more land on which all
crops failed than would usually be the case.

Cultivated summer fallow. — This item includes cropland
that was plowed and cultivated but left unseeded for several
months to control weeds and conserve moisture. No land
from which crops were harvested in 1954 was to be included
under this item.

Cropland, total. — This includes cropland harvested, cropland
used only for pasture, and cropland not harvested and not
pastured.

Land pastured, total. — This includes cropland used only for
pasture, woodland pastured, and other pasture (not cropland
and not woodland).

423019—57 2

Woodland, total. — This includes woodland pastured and

woodland not pastured.

Value of land and buildings. — The value to be reported was
the approximate amount for which the land and the buildings on
it would sell.

Off-farm work and other income. — Many farm operators receive
a part of their income from sources other than the sale of farm
products from their farms. The 1954 Agriculture Questionnaire
included several inquiries relating to work off the farm and non-
farm income. These inquiries called for the number of days
worked off the farm by the farm operator; whether other members
of the operator's family worked off the farm; and whether the
farm operator received income from other sources, such as sale
of products from land rented out, cash rent, boarders, old age
assistance, pensions, veterans' allowances, unemployment com-
pensation, interest, dividends, profits from nonfarm business,
and help from other members of the operator's family. Another
inquiry asked whether the income of the operator and his family
from off-farm work and other sources was greater than the total
value of all agricultural products sold from the farm in 1954.
Off-farm work was to include work at nonfarm jobs, businesses,
or professions, whether performed on the farm premises or else-
where; also, work on someone else's farm for pay or wages. Ex-
change work was not to be included.

Specified facilities and equipment. — Inquiries were made in
1954 to determine the presence or absence of selected items on
each place such as (1) telephone, (2) piped nmning water, (3)
electricity, (4) television set, (5) home freezer, (6) electric pig
brooder, (7) milking machine, and (8) power feed grinder. Such
facihties or equipment were to be counted even though tem-
porarily out of order. Piped running water was defined as water
piped from a pressure system or by gravity flow from a natural
or artificial source. The enumerator's instructions stated that
pig brooders were to include those heated by an electric heating
element, by an infrared or heat bulb, or by ordinary electric bulbs.
They could be homemade.

The number of selected types of other farm equipment was also
obtained for a sample of farms. The selected kinds of farm
equipment to be reported were (1) grain combines (for harvesting
and threshing grains or seeds in one operation); (2) cornpickers;
(3) pickup balers (stationary ones not to be reported) ; (4) field
forage harvesters (for field chopping of silage and forage crops);
(5) motortrucks; (6) wheel tractors (other than garden); (7)
garden tractors; (8) crawler tractors (tracklaying, caterpillar);
(9) automobiles; and (10) artificial ponds, reservoirs, and earth
tanks.

Wheel tractors were to include homemade tractors but were not
to include implements having built-in power units such as self-
propelled combines, powered buck rakes, etc. Pickup and truck-
trailer combinations were to be reported as motortrucks. School
buses were not to be reported, and jeeps and station wagons were
to be included as motortrucks or automobiles, depending on
whether used for hauling farm products or supplies, or as passenger
vehicles.

Farm labor. — The farm-labor inquiries for 1954, called for the
number of persons doing farmwork or chores on the place during
a specified calendar week. Since starting dat<;s of the 1954 enumer-
ation varied by areas or States, the calendar week to which the
farm-labor inquiries related varied also. The calendar week was
September 26-October 2 or October 24-30. States with the
September 26-October 2 calendar week were: Arizona, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,

X

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Wasliington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. States with the October
24-30 calendar week were : Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North
Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Farmwork was to include any work, chores, or planning necessary
to the operation of the farm or ranch business. Housework,
contract construction work, and labor involved when equijiment
was hired (custom work) were not to be included.

The farm-labor information was obtained in three parts:
(1) Operators working, (2) unpaid members of the operator's family
working, and (3) hired persons working. Operators were consid-
ered as working if they worked 1 or more hours; unpaid members
of the operator's family, if they worked 15 or more hours; and
hired persons, if they worked any time during the calendar week
specified. Instructions contained no specifications regarding age
of the persons working.

Regular and seasonal workers. — Hired persons working on
the farm during the specified week were classed as "regular"
workers if the period of actual or expected employment was 150
days or more during the year, and as "seasonal" workers if the
period of actual or expected employment was less than 150 days.
If the period of expected employment was not reported, the
period of employment was estimated for the individual farm
after taking into account such items as the basis of payment,
wage rate, expenditures for labor in 1954, and the type and
other characteristics of the farm.

Specified farm expenditures. — The 1954 Census obtained data
for selected farm expense items in addition to those for fertilizer
and lime. The expenditures were to include the total specified
expenditures for the place whether made by landlord, tenant, or
both.

Expenditures for machine hire were to include any labor in-
cluded in the cost of such machine hire. Machine hire refers to
custom machine work such as tractor hire, threshing, combining,
silo filling, baling, ginning, plowing, and spraying. If part of the
farm products was given as pay for machine hire, the value of the
products traded for this service was to be included in the amount
of expenditures reported. The cost of trucking, freight, and
express was not to be included.

Expenditures for hired labor were to include only cash pay-
ments. Expenditures for housework, custom work, and contract
construction work were not to be included.

Expenditures for feed were to include the expenditures for
pasture, salt, condiments, concentrates, and mineral supplements,
as well as those for grain, hay, and miU feeds. Expenditures for
grinding and mixing feeds were also to be included. Payments
made by a tenant to his landlord for feed grown on the land rented
by the tenant were not to be included.

Expenditures for gasoline and other petroleum fuel and oil were
to include only those used for the farm business. Petroleum
products used for the farmer's automobile for pleasure or used
exclusively in the farm home for heating, cooking, and lighting
were not to be included.

Crops harvested. — The information on crops harvested refers
to the acreage and quantity harvested for the 1954 crop year. An
exception was made for land in fruit orchards and planted nut
trees. In this case, the acreage represents that in both bearing
and nonbearing trees and vines as of October and November 1954.

Hay. — The data for hay includes aU kinds of hay except soy-
bean, cowpea, sorghum, and peanut hay.

livestock and poultry. — The data on the number of livestock
and poultry represent the number on hand on the day of enumera-

tion (October-November 1954). The data relating to livestock
products and the number of livestock sold relate to the sales made
during the calendar .year 1954.

LABOR RESOURCES

The data for labor resources available represent estimates based
largely on Census data and developed for the purpose of making
comparisons among farms of various size of operations. The
labor resources available are stated in terms of man-equivalents.

To obtain the man-equivalents the total number of farm opera-
tors as reported by the 1954 Census were adjusted for estimated
man-years of work olf the farm and for the number of farm opera-
tors 65 years old and over. The farm operator was taken to rep-
resent a full man-equivalent of labor unless he was 65 years or
older or unless he worked at an off-farm job in 1954.

The man-equivalent estimated for farm operators reporting spec-
ified amounts of off-farm work were as follows:

Estimated
Days worked off the farm in 1954 man-equivalent

1-99 days ... 0.85

100-199 days . 50

200 days and over . 15

The man-equivalent for farm operators 65 years of age and older
was estimated at 0.5.

Man-equivalents of members of the farm operator's family were
based upon Census data obtained in response to the question
"How many members of your family did 15 or more hours of farm
work on this place the week of September 26-October 2 (or, in
some areas, the week of October 24-30) without receiving cash
wages?" Each family worker was considered as 0.5 man-equiva-
lent. This estimate provides allowance for the somewhat higher
incidence of women, children, and elderly persons in the unpaid
family labor force.

In addition, the number of unpaid family workers who were
reported as working 15 or more hours in the week of September
26-October 2 was adjusted to take account of seasonal changes in
farm employment. Using published and unpublished findings of
the U. S. Department of Agriculture and State Agricultural Col-
leges, and depending largely upon knowledge and experience with
the geographic areas and type of farming, each author deter-
mined the adjustment factor needed to correct the number of
family workers reported for the week of September 26-October 2
to an annual average basis.

Man-equivalents of hired workers are based entirely upon the
expenditure for cash wages and the average wage of permanent
hired laborers as reported in the 1954 Census of Agriculture.

Value of or investment in livestock. — Numbers of specified
livestock and poultry in each subregion were multiplied by a
weighted average value per head. The average values were com-
puted from data compiled for each kind of livestock for the 1954
Census of Agriculture. The total value does not include the value
of goats. (For a description of the method of obtaining the value
of livestock, see Chapter VI of Volume II of the reports for the
1954 Census of Agriculture.)

Value of investment in machinery and equipment. — The data
on value of investment in machinery and equipment were developed
for the purpose of making broad comparisons among types and
economic classes of farms and by subregions. Numbers of specified
machines on farms, as reported by the Census, were multiplied by
estimated average value per machine. Then the total values ob-
tained were adjusted upward to provide for the inclusion of items
of equipment not included in the Census inventory ot farm
machinerj'.

INTRODUCTION

XI

The estiniatos for average vahie of specified machines and the
proportion of total value of all machinery represented by the
value of these machines were based largely on published and un-
published data from the "Farm Costs and Returns" surveys con-
ducted currently by the Agricultural Research Service, U. S.
Department of Agriculture.' Modifications were made as needed
in the individual chapters on the basis of State and local studies.
The total estimated value of all machinery for all types and
economic classes of farms is approximately equal to the value of
all machinery as estimated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Value of farm products sold, or gross sales. — Data on the
\alue of the various farm products sold were obtained for 1954 by
two methods. First, the values of livestock and livestock prod-
ucts sold, except wool and mohair; vegetables harvested for sale;
nursery and greenhouse products; and forest products were
obtained by asking each farm operator the value of sales. Second,
the values of all other farm products sold were computed. For the
most important crops, the quantity sold or to be sold was obtained
for each farm. The entire quantity harvested for cotton and
cottonseed, tobacco, sugar beets for sugar, hops, mint for oil, and
sugarcane for sugar was considered sold. The quantity of minor
crops sold was estimated. The value of sales for each crop was
computed by multiplying the quantity sold by State average
prices. In the case of wool and mohair, the value of sales was
computed by multiplying the quantity shorn or clipped by the
State average prices.

Gross sales include the value of all kinds of farm products sold.
The total does not include rental and benefit, soil conservation,
price adjustment. Sugar Act, and similar payments. The total

does include the value of the landlord's share of a crop removed
from a farm operated by a share tenant. In most of the tables,
detailed data are presented for only the more important sources
of gross sales and the total for the individual farm products
or sources will not equal the total as the values for the less impor-
tant sources or farm products ha\e been omitted. (For a detailed
statement regarding the reliability and method of obtaining the
valueof farm products sold, reference should be made to Chapter
IXof Volume II of the reports for the 1954 Census of Agriculture.)

Livestock and hvestock products sold. — The value of sales for
livestock and livestock products includes the value of live animals
sold, dairy products sold, poultry and poultry products sold, and
the calculated value of wool and mohair. The value of bees,
honey, fur animals, goats, and goat milk is not included.

The value of dairy products includes the value of whole milk and
cream sold, but does not include the value of butter and cheese,
made on the farm, and sold. The value of poultry and products
includes the value of chickens, broilers, chicken eggs, turkeys,
turkey eggs, ducks, geese, and other miscellaneous poultry and
poultry products sold. The value does not include the value
of baby chicks sold.

Crops sold. — Vegetables sold includes the value of all vegetables
harvested for sale, but does not include the value of Irish potatoes
and sweetpotatoes.

The value of all crops sold includes the value of all crops sold
except forest products. The value of field crops sold includes the
value of sales of all crops sold except vegetables, small fruits and
Ijerries, fruits, and nuts.

1 Farm Costs and Retuiiis. 1955 (with comparisons), Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 158, Agricultural Research Service. U. S. Department of Agriculture, June 1966.

CHAPTER II
COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

CONTENTS

Introduction

Significance of cotton production

Scope and purpose of this report .._

Subregions for which special tabulations are available..
Section 1. — Cotton production by economic class and tj-pe

of farm

The national picture

The picture by regions

Distribution of farms, acreage, and production by eco-
nomic class for all commercial farms

The humid belt rt'gions (Regions I to VI)

The subhumid belt regions (Regions VII and VIII). _
The semiarid and arid cotton production regions (Re-
gions IX and X)

Cotton production on noncommercial farms

Cotton production on cotton farms and on commercial

farms other than cotton farms

Some implications of distribution of cotton production

by economic class and region

Section 2. — Trends in cotton production by regions

Section 3. — Tenure of cotton farms

Proportion of cotton farms operated by croppers

Tenants other than croppers

Face

5
5
6

7

9

9

10

14
14
15

15

15

16

17
18
21
21
22

Section 4. — The land resource and its utilization

Distribution of land, by major uses

Land use and enterprise organization per farm

Total acres per farm

Cropland and cropland use

Cropland utilization

Pasture and woodland

Section 5. — -Labor resources and use

Age of operator

Off-farm use of labor resources

Man-equivalent workers per cotton farm

Total cropland and cotton acres per man-equivalent

Section 6. — Investment on cotton farms

Regional distribution of total investment among eco-
nomic classes

Investment per farm

Investment per acre and per man-equivalent

Section 7. — -Selected measures of farm income and effi-
ciency

Indicated returns per operator and family man-equiva-
lent worker

Investment per dollar of sales

MAPS AND CHARTS

Economic subregions and state economic areas

Acres of cotton harvested as a percent of cropland harvested, 1 954

Cotton farms, number, 1954

Cotton harvested, acreage, for cotton subregions: 1954

Economic regions and subregions for cotton: 1954

Cotton harvested — acreage, 1879 to 1954; and production, 1839 to 1954; for the United States.

Number of farms with less than 25 bales of cotton harvested, for cotton subregions: 1954

Number of farms with 25-49 bales of cotton harvested, for cotton subregions: 1954

Number of farms with 50-99 bales of cotton harvested, for cotton subregions: 1954

Number of farms with 100 or more bales of cotton harvested, for cotton subregions: 1954

23
23

27
27
31
32
38
40
40
42
43
45
46

46
47
48

49

53
53

Page

vi

6

6

7

8

18

34

34

35

35

TABLES

Table— Page

1. — Farms reporting cotton as a percent of all farms and acres of cotton harvested as a percent of cropland harvested, for specified

States: 1930 to 1954 5

2. — Farm cash receipts from cotton and cottonseed as percent of total farm cash receipts, for specified States: 1924 to 1954 5

3. — -Percent distribution of farms reporting cotton, acres of cotton harvested, and bales of cotton produced, by economic class of

farm, for the United States: 1954 and 1949 9

4. — Percent distribution of farms reporting cotton, acres of cotton harvested, and bales of cotton produced, by type of farm, for

the United States: 1954 and 1949 9

5. — Farms reporting cotton, acres of cotton harvested, and cotton production for cotton farms as a percentage of the total for all

commercial farms reporting cotton, for each economic class of farm, for the United States: 1954 10

6. — Number of farms, farms reporting cotton, and acres and bales of cotton harvested, for commercial farms, by economic class

and for noncommercial farms, by regions; 1954 10

7. — -Distribution between cotton farms and commercial farms other than cotton farms, of farms reporting, acres harvested, and

production of cotton on commercial farms, by economic class of farm, by regions: 1954 12

8. — Percent distribution of number of farms and acres and bales of cotton harvested, for cotton farms, by economic class of farm,

by regions: 1954 16

9. — Percent distribution of number of farms reporting cotton and acres and bales of cotton harvested, for commercial farms other

than cotton farms, by economic class, by regions: 1954 16

10. — Cotton acreage, yield per acre, and production for specified 5-year periods, for the United States and regions: 1928 to 1954.. 19
11. — Ratio of change since 1928-32 in acreage, yield, and production of cotton in each region to change for the United States for

specified periods: 1933 to 1954 20

12. — ^Percent distribution of all commercial farm operators, and cotton farm operators in each economic class of farm, by color

and tenure of operator, by regions: 1954 21

3

4 CONTENTS

TABLES— Continued

Table— Page

13. — All land in farms, total cropland, and irrigated land, by economic class of cotton farm, total of ten regions: 1954 23

14. — Land use for cotton farms, by economic class of farm, by regions: 1954 24

15. — Land use on cotton farms per farm, by economic class of farm, by regions: 1954 28

16. — Percent distribution for all commercial farms and for cotton farms in each economic class, by acres in farm, by regions: 1954__ 31
17. — Percent distribution of farms reporting cotton harvested, by acres harvested, for all commercial farms and for cotton farms,

by economic class, by regions: 1954 32

18.- — Percent distribution of cotton farms by acres of cotton harvested, by economic class of farm, by regions: 1954 33

19. — Distribution of farm sales by source, for cotton farms, by economic class, by regions: 1954 36

20. — Average number per farm reporting and percent of farms reporting specified classes of livestock, for cotton farms, by economic

class of farm, by regions: 1954 38

21. — Percent distribution of operators of cotton farms in each age group, by economic class of farm, by regions: 1954 40

22. — Percent distribution of operators of each economic class of cotton farm, by age, by regions: 1954 41

23. — Percent distribution of operators of cotton farms by days of work off farm, by economic class, by regions: 1954 42

24. — Percent of operators of cotton farms vfith other income of family exceeding value of farm products sold, by economic class

of farm, by regions: 1 954 , 42

25. — Total man-equivalent per all commercial farms and per cotton farm, and percent distribution in each economic class of cotton

farm, by type of worker, by regions: 1954 43

26.— Percent distribution of farms reporting specified expenditures for hired labor for cotton farms, by economic class of farm, by

regions: 1954 44

27. — -Acres of cropland harvested and acres of cotton harvested per man-equivalent for cotton farms, by economic class, and by

regions: 1 954 45

28. — Distribution of investment on cotton farms, by economic class, by regions: 1954 46

29. — Total investment and percent distribution of investment per farm for cotton farms, by economic class, by regions: 1954 47

30. — Total investment per acre of all land in farms, per acre of total cropland, and per man-equivalent, for cotton farms, by economic

class, by regions: 1954 48

31. — Total sales, cotton sales, all crop sales, and livestock and livestock products sales per cotton farm, by economic class, and by

regions: 1954 49

32. — Percent of farms reporting and average expenditure for selected items per farm, for cotton farms, by economic class, by regions:

1954 50

33. — Sales minus specified expenses per farm for cotton farms, by economic class, by regions: 1954 61

34. — Estimated interest on investment per farm for cotton farms, by economic class, by regions: 1954 52

35. — Sales per farm minus specified expenses and imputed interest on investment for economic classes of cotton farms, by regions:

1954 52

36. — Sales minus specified expenses (except hired labor) per man-equivalent, for cotton farms, by economic class and regions: 1954. 52
37. — Sales minus specified expenses (except hired labor) and imputed interest on investment per man-equivalent, for cotton farms,

by economic class and regions: 1954 52

38. — Sales minus specified expenses per operator and family worker for cotton farms, by economic class and regions: 1954 53

39. — Sales minus specified expenses and imputed interest on investment per man-equivalent of operator and family workers for

economic classes of cotton farms, by regions: 1954 53

40. — Total investment on cotton farms per dollar of sales, by economic class of farm, by regions: 1954 53

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

Robert B. Glasgow

INTRODUCTION

SIGNIFICANCE OF COTTON PRODUCTION

Cotton production is one of the most important enterprises
found on American farms. It talies place in only 20 of the 48
States, and is of appreciable significance in only 14 States, yet no
other single crop in this country accounts for so large a projjortion
of total farm, sales. Moreover, e.xcept for dairying, no other
single crop or livestock enterprise accounts for half or more of the
total farm sales on so many farms.

Cotton is grown to a varying e.xtent in all of the 19 States that
have some part of their land south of the 37th parallel of latitude,

and a very small acreage is grown in Kansas just north of this
parallel. States in which cotton is not of appreciable significance
are those having southern borders at or near the 37th parallel. In
addition to Kansas, these are Virginia, Kentucky, lUinois, and
Nevada. In Florida, cotton does not loom large in the agriculture
as a whole.

The 14 remaining States in which cotton production is of con-
siderable significance are shown in tables 1 and 2. These tables
also show some data regarding national and State trends, and
some indications of the relative importance of the cotton enterprise
to the agriculture of the country as a whole, and to the agriculture

Table 1. — Farms Reporting Cotton as a Percent of All Farms and Acres of Cotton Harvested as a Percent of Cropland

Harvested, for Specified States: 1930 to 1954

1954

1950

1945

1940

1930

state

Percent
of farms

Percent of
cropland
harvested

Percent
of farms

Percent of
cropland
harvested

Percent
of farms

Percent of
cropland
harvested

Percent
of farms

Percent of
cropland
harvested

Percent
of farms

Percent of

cropland

harvested

Alabama-

60.2
29.4
46.7
8.0
9,6
47.7

4C.2
72.4
6,8
15,9
28,9

22.5
61.3
27.7
43.0
3,3

18,1

24.0
40,1
3U, 7
10,6
1,7
16,4

22 3
35,2

3,4
17.4

9,5

8.8
23,9
13,0
30.2

0, 5

5,7

68,8
16,0
54,9
6,1
9,9
55.7

51, 6
75,9
7.1
14,6
36,5

28,8
67.0
28.9
46.2
4,1

20.6

32,3
42,2
43.4
10,8
2,5
21.9

29.1
45.1
4,8
15 0
14,6

10,3

:m. 2

1.5,9
37,6
0,9

7, 7

64, n
7,6

67,4
3, 1
"8

53.4

61.3
80,0
7 0
8,4
37 1

37,1
69,4
28,4
45,2
3.8

20.8

22,3
21.5
29,5
3,5
1,4
16,4

23 3

35,4

3,1

5,3

11,7

10,6
24,7
11.2
24.0
0.7

5.4

86.6
10, 8
69, 5
4,0
14,3
77 4

76, 2
89,2
6,5
8,3
37 1

48,4
81,1
31,3
65, 3
4,0

20,1

27.1
34,9
31, 1
4,8
3,5
21, 1

26.9
35,2
3.1
5,7
11,6

13,1
27,2
11,0
31, 1
0,8

7,1

90,1
24,3
79.3
3,2
20.7
80,9

79,6
90,2
6,3
11.9
54,2

60,6
83.2
36.0
79,7
8,2

31,6

,50.1
44.1
52.4
4.6
8,5
40.9

47 8

60.8

2 7

9.1

28.2

26.7
47 7
17 1
,54.9
2 2

12.0

Arkansas

Florida

Georgia

Louisiana-

Missouri . _

New Mexico...

South Carolina.

Texas

Virginia

United States

Table 2. — Farm Cash Receipts From Cotton and Cotton-
seed AS Percent of Total Farm Cash Receipts, for SpecI'
FiED States: 1924 to 1954

Alabama. .

Arizona

Arkansas,.
California -

Florida

Georgia

Louisiana

Mississippi

Missouri

New Mexico

North Carolina.

Oklahoma.

South Carolina,

Teimessee -

Texas..

Virginia

United States,.

1924

1929

1934

1939

1944

1949

Per-

Per-

Per-

Per-

Per-

Per-

C€7U

cent

cent

cent

cent

cent

71.8

74.7

72.4

45.8

47 7

42 3

31.6

32.2

28.3

24.1

17.3

36.4

70.1

68,9

67 9

54.4

50.7

56.7

2 4

3,0

4.6

6.4

2 8

11.7

3.0

2.8

2 4

0.4

0.4

0.6

62.0

68.7

58.3

35.2

28.6

23.7

45.8

53.2

48,2

.35.6

31.1

34.3

77.5

78.2

76,3

67.2

70,2

67 9

8.3

6,6

10.4

9,1

7 2

8,0

13.6

15,3

21.1

10,8

14,1

24.0

40.9

30.6

23.3

10.4

13,9

12.6

52.0

40.2

30.9

14.6

14.2

12,8

69.8

64.4

62.1

46.8

44.8

34.4

29. n

30.6

32 1

19.6

21.8

24.8

70.2

52.9

61.2

,30 7

23.6

37 8

3.7

2.8

3.2

0.6

1.1

0.9

16.2

13.4

13.6

8.0

7.5

9.5

Per-
cent
35.3
60.4
50.9
11.4
0.9
21.3

32,3
60,6

8,9
38.7

8,3

9.9
31.1
23.7
38.0

0.5

9,0

Source: USDA, AMS Statistical Bullctm No. 186.
423019—57 3

of the major cotton-producing States.

Tlie fact that the States that grow cotton constitute a vast
contiguous area extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific
precludes consideration of cotton as a regional crop in any usual
sense of that term (see figs. 1 and 2).

Cotton and the salient economic facts and characteristics of
cotton production are of significance to thousands of people who
are not on farms but who are engaged in cotton-oriented services
and processing industries. Problems a.ssociated with cotton pro-
duction even concern all consumers of fibers, for despite the tre-
mendous increase during the last 15 years in the production and
consumption of synthetic fibers, the per capita domestic consump-
tion of cotton has remained relatively stable. In 1954, it ac-
counted for more than two-thirds of all fiber used in the United
States.

A further general fact of widely ramifying import is that, al-
though the United States is, and has long been, the largest single
consumer of cotton, it is also the world's leading exporter of raw
cotton, thus making this commodity a notable factor in the inter-
national trade of the United States.

5

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

<vj5^L^^ OF COTTON HARVESTED AS A PERCENT OF CROPLAND HARVESTED, 1954

'^ (COUNTY UNIT BASIS)

LEGEND

PERCENT

i;:;;-;! UNDER lO ^^ 30 TO 39
^^ 10 TO 19 ^H 40 AND OVER

^^ 20 TO 29 I I NO COTTON

* NO FfARMS

U S OEPflRTMENT OF COMMERCE

MAP NO A54-280

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Figure 1.

COTTON FARMS

NUMBER. 1954

UNITED STATES TOTAL
525,208

BmclU Of Tx cottus

Figure 2.

SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT

It would seem, therefore, that additional information concern-
ing the economic structure, and the resource-use characteristics
of this industry, and of the farms which comprise it, would be

valuable to producers, consumers, handlers, and processors, and
to those responsible for the planning and execution of govern-
mental policy.

Data gathered by the Bureau of the Census have long been a
mainstay of analyses of this type. The Agriculture Census of
lOSi provided, for the first time, special tabulations of farm char-
acteristics for type of farm, cross classified by economic class of
farm. Census types of farms are delineated by the criterion of
the commodity source of 50 percent or more of farm sales. One of
the farm types so established is the cotton farm. This is a farm
on which 50 percent or more of all sales are from cotton and
cottonseed. The economic classes of farms used by Census since
1950 are volume or size-of-business groups classified according to
the value of total sales of farm products. These groups range
from Class I farms, having total sales of $25,000 or more, to
Class VI farms which are characterized by sales of $250 to $1,199.

Analysis of the 1954 Census data made available, for selected
subregious, by the special tabulations of data for cotton farms by
economic class, sheds new light upon the economic structure and
characteristics of the industry of cotton production and of the
farms which comprise it.

Most of this report is concerned with these new data which have
been supplemented by other statistics from the Bureau of the
Census and other sources.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

SUBREGIONS FOR WHICH SPECIAL TABULATIONS ARE
AVAILABLE

The special tabulations for cotton farms by economic class were
made for the 30 subregions in which cotton growing is of con-
siderable importance. The location of these subregions and the
distribution of cotton acreage in 1954 is shown in figure 3.

To facilitate the presentation and analysis of the new data the
selected subregions were grouped into 10 regions (see fig. 4).
Regions I through VI, extending from North Carolina to eastern
Texas, comprise most of the humid area of cotton growing in this
country. Moving west, Regions VII and VIII represent the bulk
of production under subhumid climatic conditions. In Region IX
is found the major part of cotton production under semiarid
climatic conditions. Virtually all cotton grown in subregion 103
is found in the more southerly of the Texas counties included.
Much of the crop in this region is irrigated from wells. Region X
encompasses most of the cotton growing under irrigation in the arid
southwest of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and the arid San
Joaquin Valley of California.

The six regions which comprise the humid climatic belt include
some striking differences. The easterumo.st region (Region I)
represents, in general, cotton production on the Eastern Coastal
Plain of the United States. In some places in this region flue-cured
tobacco and peanuts are more important crops than cotton. The
region, in general, has larger reaches of level land than are to be
found in either of the next two regions to the west.

Adjoining the Eastern Coastal Plain to the west is Region
II, the Southern Piedmont. This region has some stretches of level

land but in general it is hilly, and the characteristic fields are
small and irregular in shape.

The next region to the west. Region III, can perhaps be de-
scribed as midsouthern hilly, with some level land. This region
has rather disparate areas within it. Examples are the Black
Prairie (Black Belt) of Alabama and Mississippi, the Sand Moun-
tain area of Alabama, the brown loam areas of Tennessee and
Mississippi, and the sand-clay hills of Alabama, Mississippi, and
Tennessee.

Immediately to the west of Region III lies the fabulous so-
called "Delta" — the Alluvial Vplley of the Mississippi and Red
Rivers, extending from the "B .(ot Heel" of Missouri to the
sugarcane countr.v of southern Louisiana.

Region V is comprised mostly of the Western Sandy Coastal
Plains of northeastern Texas, northwestern Louisiana, and south-
western Arkansas. It also includes the piney woods of eastern
Texas and west central Louisiana, the so-caUed "Post Oak" area
of east central Texas and the Arkansas River Valley and uplands
of central Arkansas. It is in some respects the western counterpart
of Region III.

The final region in the humid belt (Region VI) is coextensive
with subregion 78. It is the Gulf Coast Prairie of Texas and
Louisiana. Most of the cotton here is found in the Texas part;
much of which is on the alluvial lands of the several streams that
find their final passage to the Gulf through this region. The
region includes, also, most of the specialized rice-growing farms
of Texas and Louisiana. These are generally located on the
heavy, rather poorly drained soils most typical of the region.
Cotton and rice are not often grown on the same farms.

yi

COTTON HARVESTED. ACREAGE.

FOR COTTON SUBREGIONS 1954

^•.«=<3»

h=3

UNITED STATES TOTAL
18,858,145

us DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

1 DOT= 10.000 ACRES

MAP NO A54-535

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Figure 3.

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

^i

ECONOMIC REGIONS AND SUBREGIONS FOR C0TT0N;I954

YE

/-r"\

^^^ ECONOMIC REGION BOUNDSRt

ECONOMIC SuBREGIONBOUNDflRV

STATE BOUNOatT

AVTTT

Figure 4.

Regions VII and VIII, in the subliumid belt, are most dis-
similar. Tiie first named is composed of tlie Black Prairie of
Texas, the Rio Grande Plains of southern Texas, and the rolling
plains of west central Texas and southwestern Oklahoma. Region
VIII is the lower Rio Grande Vallej' and has, in comjiaratively
recent years, become a rather highly specialized cotton-growing
area. Irrigation is general liere but the water supply, mostly
from the Rio Grande, is generally not adequate to permit irrigation
of all land in cotton.

The final two regions (Regions IX and X) encompass, re-
spectively, most of the cotton production under semiarid and arid
climatic conditions.

In Region IX, most of the cotton is grown in the High Plains of
Texas area. This area was developed for crop farming relatively
late, and it's farms have always been characterized by relatively
large areas of land and other resources per man. Supplemental
irrigation from wells has become a very significant factor in the
agriculture of the cotton-growing section of this region during the
past 10 to 12 years.

In Region X, cotton is grown only under irrigation. Included
in this region are the Trans-Pecos and upper Rio Grande cotton-
producing areas of Texas, nearly all cotton-producing areas in
New Mexico and Arizona, and the fabulous Central Valley of
California.

The 30 subregions included in these 10 regions accounted, in the
aggregate, for 94 percent of all cotton farms and for 97 percent of
both the cotton acreage and production of cotton on sucli farms in
1954. During 19.54, the 30 selected subregions accounted for about
95 to 98 percent of the national total of cotton farms and of cotton
acreage and production on cotton farms for each economic class.

Thus, it seems reasonable to conclude that the cotton farms of
the selected subregions are, in the aggregate, representative of
all cotton farms in the United States. To a remarkable degree
cotton growing is concentrated on farms that are classified as
cotton farms. In 1954, for example, 61 percent of all farms
reporting cotton, and 80 and 84 percent, respectively, of aU cotton
acreage and production were on these farms. So although most of
the data in this report pertain specifically only to the cotton-
farm type, it would seem that most of the aggregate conclusions
indicated could be accepted as applying to the general industry
of cotton production in the United States. Tliis supposition is
buttressed by several facts: {1} These subregions, in 1954,
accounted for 68 percent of the number of commercial farms, other
than cotton farms, that reported cotton, and for 80 percent of
the cotton acreage and production found on these farms. (S) In
that year approximately 90 percent of the noncommercial farms
reporting cotton, and of the cotton acreage and production on these
farms, were encompassed by the selected subregions.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION 9

Section 1.— COTTON PRODUCTION BY ECONOMIC CLASS AND TYPE OF FARM

THE NATIONAL PICTURE

Informiition on the distributions by economic class of the num-
ber of furms reporting a crop, the acreage harvested, and the
production, contributes notably to our linowledge of the overall
structure of that crop production. Such data show in a general
way the location of production and acreage with respect to the
size of the farm and they are indicative of the income level of the
farmers who grow the crop.

Table 3 shows this type of information for all farms reporting
cotton ir the United States during 19-19 and 1954. Of the number
of commercial farms rejiorting cotton, there was a considerable
concentration in Classes V and VI in both 1949 and 1954. These
classes, together with noncommercial farms, accounted for more
than 60 percent of farms reporting cotton in 1954 and for more than
70 percent in 1949. This means that in 1954 three-fifths of the
farm operators growing cotton had gross farm sales of less than
$2,500. As the noncommercial farms are presumed not to be
primarily dependent upon agriculture for their income, this
indicated low gross income from farming may not be important
to them. But the large number of cotton producers found in
Economic Classes V and VI does suggest that there is a concen-
tration of farmers with low incomes from farming among the cotton
farms. For all farms, the proportions classified as Classes V and
VI were 30.1 in 1949 and 25.7 in 1954. It is thus evident that the
concentration of these low-production commercial farms was al-
most twice as large among farms reporting cotton as among all
farms, in both vears.

An additional fact of interest is the significant decrease from
1949 to 1954 in the proportion that Economic Class VI and non-
commercial farms were of all farms reporting cotton. These
decreases were accompanied by significant increases for 1954
over 1949 in the proportions of all cotton-reporting farms in
Economic Classes I through IV.

There was considerably less concentration of acreage and pro-
duction on these low-production commercial and noncommercial
farms. The stril;ing fact in table 3 about acreage and production
is their concentration, relative to numbers of farms reporting, on
Economic Class I and Class II farms. The distributions of farms
reporting cotton, cotton acreage, and cotton production by type
of farm for the United States are shown in table 4 for 1949 and
1954. Cotton farms account for a preponderance of farms report-
ing, acres, and production in both years.

Other field-crop farms accounted for a much larger proportion
of the farms growing cotton than any other commercial type
largely because of a concentration of tobacco and peanut farms
in parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama, where the growing
of cotton is also prevalent.

Perhaps the single outstanding fact brought out by the distri-
butions in table 4 is that for more than a fourth of the commercial
farms reporting, cotton is not the major source of farm income.
Tliese farms harvested about 16 percent of all cotton acreage,in
1954 and accounted for about 14 percent of total cotton production.

The data in table 3 for economic class of farm reporting cotton
are for all types of farms, while the data by t.vpe shown in table 4_are

Table 3. — Percent Distribution of Farms Reporting Cotton, Acres of Cotton Harvested, and Bales of Cotton Produced, by

Economic Class of Farm, for the United States: 1954 and 1949

All
farms

Commercial farms by

economic

class

Noncommercial farms

Item and year

Total

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

Total

Part-
time

Resi-
dential

Abnor-
mal

Farms reportiiis;

1954

1949

Acres of cotton harvested:

1954

1949.--

Bales of cotton produced:
1954 ..

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

84.8
80.5

96.1
94.1

97,5
96.6

2.5
1.4

23.3
18.9

37.8
28.1

4.8
3.5

16.3
17.2

14.8
18.2

10.0
6.8

16.1
14.9

12.8
14.0

21.7
15.8

19.1
15.9

15.9
14.7

28.0
26.2

15.5
16.3

12.5

14,7

17.8
26.8

6.7
10.9

3.7
7,0

15.2
19.5

3.9

6.9

2,6
3.4

11.1
12.4

3.2

4.4

2.0
2.7

4.1
7.1

0.6

1.6

0.3
0.5

(Z)
(Z)

0.2
0.1-,

0.2

1949 - -- -

0.1

Z 0,05 percent or less.

Table 4. — Percent Distribution of Farms Reporting Cotton, Acres of cotton Harvested, and Bales of Cotton Produced, by

Type of Farm, for the United States: 1954 and 1949

All
farms

Type of commercial farm

Noncommercial farms

Total

Cash-
grain

Cot-
ton

Other
fleld-
crop

Vege-
table

Fruit-
and-
nut

Dairy

Poul-
try

Other
live-
stock

General farms

Miscel-
lane-
ous

Total

Part-
time

Resi-
dential

Item and year

Crop

Live-
stock

Crop
and
live-
stock

Abnor-
mal

Farms reporting:

1964

1949 ...

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

84.8
80.5

96.1
94.1

97.5
96.6

1.7
0.8

2.8
1.0

1.8
0.9

60.9
54.9

79.8
79.9

83.8
86.0

10.0
11.5

3.0
4.0

3.1
3.2

0.2
0.3

0.3
0.2

0.5
0.2

0.2
0.2

0.2
0.2

0.3
0.2

1.5
1,2

1,0
0,8

0,9
0,7

0,8
0.7

0.4
0.3

0-3
0,2

2,5
2.7

2.2
1.9

1.4

1.3

3.6
3.3

3.8

2,8

3,8
2.6

0.2
0.3

0.1
0.1

(Z)
0.1

3.1

4.0

2.6
2,7

1.6
2.0

0.2
0.4

0.1
0.2

0.1
0.1

1.5.2
19.5

3.9
6.9

2,5
3.4

11, 1

12.4

3.2
4.4

2,0
2,7

4.1
7.1

0.6
1.5

0.3
0.6

(Z)
(Z)

Acres of cotton harvested:

1954

1949

0.2
0. 1

Bales of cotton produced:

1954 .

0.2

1949

0. 1

Z 0.05 percent or less.

10

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

for all commercial farms. For each economic class, cotton farms
account for a preponderance of farms growing the crop, and even
larger proportions of the acreage and production.

Table 5. — Farms Reporting Cotton, Acres of Cotton
Harvested, and Cotton Production for Cotton Farms as a
Percentage of the Total for all Commercial Farms Re-
porting Cotton, for Each Economic Class of Farm, for
the United States: 1954

Economic class of farm

Item

All
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

72
83
86

71
86
86

62
81
85

64
79
81

62
80

84

78
87
91

88

91

Bales harvested

04

THE PICTURE BY REGIONS

Data for the selected regions of this study which show the total
number of farms, the number of farms reporting cotton, acres of
cotton harvested, and bales of cotton produced, by economic class
of farm and by type of farm are particularly useful in indicating
the characteristics of cotton production. They make discernible
a reasonably clear picture of: (/) The nature of the diverse
agricultural economies in which cotton growing is carried on; (S)
the role and relative importance of the cotton enterprise in the
several regions and on different types of farms; (S) the structure,
with respect to size of business, of the cotton-production industry
in the regions.

Information of this kind for economic class of commercial
farms and for types of noncommercial farms is shown in table 6.

The data relating to the number, and proportion, of all farms
reporting cotton indicate the relative importance of cotton
production in the agriculture of the region and show the relative
importance of the enterprise to different size-of-business groups.

In Regions I, II, and III, the three humid regions east of the
Mississippi River, cotton is grown on 74, 64, and 87 percent,
respectively, of all commercial farms. This leaves little doubt
that in these regions it is an extremely important enterprise. An
examination of the proportions of the economic classes of com-
mercial farms that report cotton presents some interesting impli-
cations. For example, in Region II, where 64 percent of all
commercial farms report cotton, only about one-fourth of Eco-
nomic Class I and Class II farms grow cotton, and only slightly
more than one-third of Class III farms report the crop. To a less
pronounced degree the same situation prevails in Region III.
In Region I about the same proportion of Class III farms report
cotton as of all commercial farms. But here too, smaller pro-
portions of Economic Classes I and II farms report cotton than
the proportion of all farms reporting cotton.

It is noteworthy that a larger proportion of the large farms in
these areas do not grow cotton. Particularly for Regions II and
III the general characteristics of the topography, and the effects
of this upon the practicability of adopting labor-saving methods
suggest that many of the larger farms may not find cotton as prof-
itable as other enterprises. In this connection, data of table 7 show
that in Regions I and 11 a large majority of the farms in Classes I
through III that report cotton are not cotton farms. These same
data reveal that in Region III where 89 percent of all commercial
farms that report cotton are cotton farms, a majority of the farms
reporting cotton in Classes I and II are not cotton farms.

A somewhat similar situation with respect to the proportions of
farms in different economic classes that report cotton is found in

Table 6. — Number of Farms, Farms Reporting Cotton, and Acres and Bales of Cotton Harvested, for Commercial Farms, by

Economic Class and for Noncommercial Farms, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGION I

All farms, number

Percent distribution

Farms reporting cotton, number.

Percent of all farms

Percent distribution

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

REGION II

All farms, number

Percent distribution

Farms reporting cotton, number.

Percent of all farms

Percent distribution

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested —

Percent distribution

REGION III

All farms, number

Percent distribution

Farms reporting cotton, number.

Percent of all farms

Percent distribution.

Acres of cotton harvested..

Percent distribution.

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

All farms

223, 910

100 0

135, 573

60.5

100 0

:, 680. 374

100 0

986, 051

100.0

169, 464

100,0

72.282

42.7

100 0

692. 432

100,0

388. 460

100.0

357, 989

100,0

239, 490

66.9

100 0

2, 607, 604

100 0

1, 799. 588

100.0

Commercial farms by economic class

Total.

I

160, 682

1,784

71,8

0,8

118,761

988

73,9

65.4

87.6

0,7

1, 508, 759

109, 668

95,6

6 9

951, 166

73, 797

96.5

7.6

77, 232

1,115

45 6

0.7

49. 708

273

64,4

24,5

68 8

0 4

579. 074

13, 770

83.6

2 0

334, 161

9,171

86.0

2.4

220. 384

1,723

61,6

0,6

192. OSO

963

87,2

66.3

80,2

0 4

2, 324, 630

122, 869

92,7

4 9

1, 693, 480

110, 222

94.1

1 6.1

6,087

2.7

3,898

64,0

2 9

161, 345

10 2

108, 919

11.0

4,349

2,6

1,118

25.7

1.6

30, 966

4.6

19, 313

6.0

6,723

1,6

3,398

69.4

1,4

160. 780

6,0

119, 408

6.6

III

20,608

9,2

15, 404

74,7

11.4

280.983

17 8

195. 394

19.8

7,064

4.2

2,463

34 9

3 4

46, 426

6,7

29, 593

7.6

13, 102

3,7

9,899

75.6

4 1

252, 504

10 1

208. 879

11.6

IV

51.288

22 9

40.640

79 2

30,0

485. 708

30,7

317, 832

32.2

12, 266

7.2

7.127

58 1

9 9

124, 512

18 0

77, 767

20.0

42, 392

11.8

37.882

89.4

16 8

629, 820

25 1

497, 088

27.6

61, 172

22,9

38, 267

74,8

28,2

349, 322

22, 1

196, 938

20.0

26, 174

16 4

19.023

72 7

26 3

228, 017

32,9

131, 663

33.9

83, 965

23,5

76, 866

91.6

32 1

790. 406

31.6

552, 657

30.7

VI

29, 743

13 3

19,664
66.8

14 4
121, 743

7,7

68,276

6.9

26, 264

15,5
19, 704

76 0

27,3
136, 394

19 6
66, 744

17.2

73, 489

20-6

63,092

85.9

26 3

378. 251

15 1

205. 326

11,4

Noncommercial farms

Total

63,228

28 2

16. 812

26.6

12 4

71,615

4,5

34, 895

3.6

92,232
54,4

22, 674

24.5

31.2

113.358

16 4

64,309
14.0

137, 606

38.2

47, 410

34.5

19,8

182, 974

7.2

106, 108

6.9

Part-
time

25, 919

11.6

12, 132

46.8

8 9

60, 087

3,8

30, 025

3.0

31, 968
18,9

17,407
54.5
24.1

98, 914
14.3

49, 124
12.6

52,958

14,7

33,806

63.8

14.1

152,016

6.1

92, 113

5.1

Residen-
tial

37,230

16.6

4,671

12,5

3 6

11, 132

0,7

4,616

0.6

60,179

35 6

5,145

8,5

7.1

14, 215

2.1

6,060

1.4

84,684

23,6

13, 590

16,1

6,7

29,906

12

13. 310

0.7

Abnor-
mal

(Z)

11
(Z)

a

(Z)

2
(Z)

254

(Z)

85

22
26.9

(Z)

5
(Z)

229
)
126

(Z)

63
(Z)
14
22.2
(Z)

1.053
(Z)

685
(Z)

Z 0.05 percent or less.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

11

Table 6. — Number of Farms, Farms Reporting Cotton, and Acres and Bales of Cotton Harvested, for Commercial Farms, by

Economic Class and for Noncommercial Farms, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

Region iiiid itom

REGION IV

All farms, number

Percent distribution

Farms reporting cotton, number-
Percent of all farms

Percent distribution

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

REGION V

All farms, number _

Percent distribution..-

Farms reporting cotton, number.

Percent of all farms

Percent distribution

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

REGION VI

All farms, number

Percent distribution

Farms reporting cotton, number.

Percent of all farms

Percent distribution .-

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

REGION VII

,\I1 farms, number

Percent distribution

Farms rei^ortin^ cottim, number-
Percent of all farms

Percent distribution

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

REGION VIII

All farms, number

Percent distribution

Farms reitorting cotton, number-
Percent of ail farms

Percent distribution ---

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

REGION IX

All farms, number

Percent distribution

Farms reporting cotton, number.

Percent of all farms. ---

Percent distribution-- -_-

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution -

REGION X

All farms, number

Percent distribution -.-

Farms reporting cotton, number.

Percent of all farms

Percent dislritnition

Acres of cotton liarvosted

Percent disiritiution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

TOTAL, 10 REGIONS

All farms, number

Percent distribution _._

Farms reporting cotton, number-
Percent of all farms

Percent distribution

Acres of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

Bales of cotton harvested

Percent distribution

.\11 farms

174. 763

100 0

143. 524

82.1

100.0

3, 197. 922

100 0

2, 747. 257

100.0

150. 257

100 0

47, 102

31.3

100 0

811.339

100 0

333, 306

100.0

33. 054

100 0

10. 517

31.3

100 0

295. 655

100. 0

214.047

100.0

129. 347

100. 0

73. 873

67.1

100. 0

4, 194. 710

100. 0

1, 286. 179

100.0

7,779
100.0
6. 163
79.7
100.0

448.047
100. 0

396, 452
100.0

78. 374

100.0

18. 125

23,2

100.0

2, 286, 967

100.0

1, 404, 491

100.0

67.292
100.0

16. 663
23.3
100.0

1, 615. 866

100.0

2, 619. 438

100.0

1, 392, 819

100. 0

762, 302

64.7

100. 0

17, 530, 905

100. 0

12, 174. 269

100.0

Commercial farms by economic class

Total

145. 977

83 5

135.411

92 8

94 3

3. 145, 532

98.4

2, 717, 741

98.9

57. 109

38 0

31. 651

55.4

67.2

711.278

87.7

307. 236

92.2

19. 589

68.2

9.466

48 3

89.9

282. 096

95 4

201.363

94.1

94,900

73.4

67, 378

71.0

91.2

4, 097, 763

97.7

1, 269, 085

98.7

6,286
80.8
6,747
91.4
93,2
445. 335
99.4
395, 108
99.7

70. 755

90.3

17. 845

26.2

98.5

2, 281. 822

99.8

1, 403. 496

99.9

63. 396
79.3

15. 322
28.7
97. 9

1, 508, 365

99.5

2, 609. 709

99.6

906. 310

66.1

643. 369

71,0

84.4

16. 884, 644

96.3

11,882,625

97.6

4,979

2.8

3,821

76.7

2,7

770, 786

24.1

752, 151

27.4

K2
0,6
374
38,9
0,8
8.5, 359
10 5
62,407
18.7

2.364

7,0

275

11.6

2.6

43. 848

14,8

33, 534

15.7

2,918
2.3

1.868

64.0

2.6

467. 461

10.9

275. 368

21.4

1. 067

13,7

1.027

96,3

16. 7

248. 104

55.4

234. 819

59.2

8,300

10.6

4,878

58.8

26.9

1, 085, 448

47.5

848, 409

60.4

12, 515

18.6

5.997

47.9

38.3

1, 266, 867

83.6

2, 269, 282
86.6

37, 727

2.7

20, 454

54.2

2,7

204. 170

24,0

4, 669, 210

38.3

6,1

7,267

81,7

5,1

449, 761

14 1

399, 604

14.6

3,329

2,2

1,129

33,9

2,4

80, 329

9, 9

40,940

12.3

2.866

8 6

896

31,2

8 5

69. 089

23,4

61, 399

24,0

10, 494

8.1

7,561

72.2

10.2

923. 182

22.0

318.368

24.8

1.493

19.2

1.444

96.8

23 4

110. 190

24.6

97, 876

24.7

18, 864

24.1

6,742

35.7

37.2

796, 839

34,8

437, 073

31.1

12,636

18,8

4.083

33,3

26.1

168, 146

10.4

234, 309

74, 739

5.4

37, 636

60.2

4,9

3, 930. 616

16.7

1, 827, 209

16.0

III

17, 937

10,3

16, 657

92.9

11.6

633.502

16.7

473. 033

17.2

6,019

4 0

2. 775

46,1

6 9

110. 436

13 6

51. 426

15.4

3.398

10,1

2.034

59,9

19 3

77. 120

26 1

66. 835

26.6

18. 764

14.5

14. 540

77.6

19.7

. 126. 042

26.8

313. 137

24.4

1.287

16.6

1,243

90.6

20.2

53. 372

11.9

40,012

10.1

18, 225

23.3

2,922

16,0

16, 1

248, 368

10,9

82, 871

5.9

11.441

17.0

2.630

23.0

16,8

54. 084

3,6

72, 012

2.7

117,845

8.5

70, 667

69.9

9,3

2, 782, 837

16,9

1, 633, 181

12,5

IV

39, 331

22,6

37, 743

96.0

26 3

688, 036

21.5

585, 326

21.3

9,014

6 0

5,465

60,6

11,6

156, 139

19,1

62,344

18.7

4,170

12,4

2. 8.59

68,6

27,2

87, 380

19,4

40,081

18,7

26, 204

20,4

20, 645

78.4

27.8

992, 309

23.7

240, 810

18.7

1.071

13.8

962

89.8

15.6

20, 898

4.7

14, 694

3,7

14. 076

18,0

2,084

14,8

11,5

107, 138

4,7

27, 360

1.9

8.604

12,8

1,660

19.3

10,6

21, 824

1,4

25, 839

1,0

208, 406

15,0

166, 967

75.3

20.6

3, 282, 764

18.7

1, 889, 030

15.5

64.397

31.1

62. 301

96,1

36,4

680, 997

18 2

440,469

16,0

17,083
11,4

10, 305

60,3

21,9

176, 122

21,7

61.831
18.6

3.809

11,3

2.183

57,3

30 8

26. 214

8,9

15, 614

7 3

24,289

18.8

16. 598

68.3

22.6

489. 467

11.7

102. 402

8.0

927

11.9

791

86.3

12.8

10.446

2,3

6.672

1.7

8.462

10,8

1.044

13 4

5.8

40. 954

1,8

7, 013

0.6

6.416
9.5
761
11.7
4.8

6.279
0.4

7,210
0.3

276, 674

19.9

218,119

78.8

28.6

2, 698, 234

16.4

1, 522, 269

12.5

20,445

11.7

17, 622

86.2

12,3

122, 450

3,8

67, 169

2.4

20, 702

13 8

11,603

66,0

24.6

103, 893

12.8

28, 289

8.6

1.210
40,6
11,5
8.445
2.9
3,910
1.8

12,231

9.5

6,206

61.2

8,6

109, 302

2.6

19,010

1.6

441
6.7
280
63.6
4.6

2,325
0.5

1,135
0.3

2,838
3.6
176
6.2
1,0

3.085
0, 1
710
0.1

1,784

2.7

201

11.3

1.3

1.166

0.1

1.067

(Z)

190, 919
13.7

139, 717
73.2
18.3

986, 043
6.6

461, 636
3.7

Noncommercial farms

Total

28, 776
16,6

8,113

28,2

6 7

52, 390

1,7

29, 516
1.0

93, 148

62,0

15, 461

16,6

32 8

100,061

12 2

26, 070

7,8

14.066

41,8

1.061

7,5

10,1

13. 659

4,6

12, 684

6.9

34. 447

26,6

6.495

18.9

8.8

96. 947

2 3

16, 094

1,2

1.493

19.1

416

27.9

0,8

3,712

0.6

1,344

0.3

7, 619
9,7
280
3,7
1.5

6.135
0.2
995
0.1

13, 896

20.6

331

2.7

2.1

7,610

0.5

9.729

0,3

486, 609

34.9

118,943

24.6

1,5.6

646, 261

3.8

291, 744

2.4

Part-
time

11,740

6.7

6,635

66.7

4.6

38, 926

1,2

20, 410

0,7

31, 869

21,2

9,749

30.6

20 7

74, 775

9 2

19, 625

6.9

4.802
14.3
800
16,7
7,6
4.530
1.6
2.076
1.0

16, 659

12.8

5,196

31.4

7.0

85, 895

2.0

14, 212

1.1

693
8.9
386
55.8
6.3

2,607
0.6

1,304
0.3

3,749
4.8
265
6.8
1.4

4,690
0.2
730
0. 1

5,886
8.7
275
4.7
1.8

1,155
0.1

l.OSO
(Z)

186, 131

13.4

86, 541

46.6

11.4

523, 494

3.1

230, 598

1.9

Residen-
tial

17,000
9,7

1,666
9,2
1 1

6,190
0,2

1,611

(Z)

61,265

40 8

6,695

9,3

12 1

23, 870

2,9

6, 455

1.6

9,266
27.5
266
2 8
2 4
706
0 3

280

10,329

0.1

4.8

17,868

20

13.8

(Z)

1,296

3

7.3

15.0

1,8

(Z)

7,878

3.174

0,2

0.1

1,196

687

0.1

(Z)

796

5

10.3

(Z)

30

3.8

0.5

105

(Z)

40

(Z)

3,820

50

4.9

(Z)

20

5

(Z)

10.0

0.1

(Z)

195

360

(Z)

(Z)

15

250

(Z)

(Z)

7,938

73

11.8

0.1

30

26

0.4

36.6

0.2

0.1

30

6,325

(Z)

0.4

30

8.619

(Z)

0.3

99, 936

442

21.5

(Z)

32. 298
10.8

4.2
93, 226

0,6
31, 612

0.3

Z 0.06 percent or less.

12

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Regions V and VI. The general explanation offered for Regions
II and III would seem to be valid also for Region V. In Region
VI it is probable that the smaller proportion of the larger farms
reporting cotton stems largely from the prevalence of large-scale
rice (cash-grain) farms, for, generally speaking, they do not grow
cotton. The situation for this region is probably similar to that
in Region I, where, in general, the topograpliy facilitates the
adoption of modern mechanized methods. The prevalence in
Region I of farms with large tobacco- and peanut-acreage allot-
ments probably explains the preponderance of noncotton farms
among the larger farms that report cotton, as well as the smaller-
than-average proportions of Class I and Class II farms that report
cotton.

The remaining region of the humid belt, the Alluvial Valley
of the Mississippi and Red Rivers (the "Delta"), Region IV, is one
of the most highly specialized cotton-production regions in the
world. Table 6 shows that 93 jDercent of all commercial farms in
the region report cotton. Table 7 shows that the vast majority
of these farms in all economic classes are cotton farms. The
somewhat smaller proportions — three-fourths and four-fifths

respectively — of Class I and Class II farms that report cotton are
no doubt due to the inclusion within the region of a relatively
small area that has many specialized rice farms.

Region VII comprises most of the subhumid belt of cotton
production. Here 71 percent of all commercial farms report cotton
and, except for Class VI farms, each economic class shows about
or slightly above the all-farm percentage reporting cotton. Fewer
Class VI farms report cotton than the average for all commercial
farms.

Region VIII, the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, is by far
the smallest in point of area. It ranks with Region IV and the
cotton-growing parts of Regions IX and X, however, as one of the
most highly specialized cotton-producing regions of the country.
More than 90 percent of all commercial farms here grow cotton,
and the percentage of farms in Classes I, II, and III that report
cotton is higher than that for all commercial farms. Table 7
shows that around 90 percent or more of the farms reporting cotton
for each economic class are cotton farms. These facts suggest that
this region has a strong comparative advantage for cotton.

Table 7- — Distribution Between Cotton Farms and Commercial Farms Other Than Cotton Farms, of Farms Reporting,
Acres Harvested, and Production of Cotton on Commercial Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGION I
Farms reporting cotton harvested:

All commercial farms number-
Cotton farms- percent-
Other commercial farms percent-
Acres of cotton harvested;

All commercial farms acres-

Cotton farms - percent-
Other commercial farms percent-
Bales of cotton prodnced:

All connncrcial farms bales-

Coiliin farms percent.

Other commercial farms percent.

REGION II
Farms reportinp cotton harvested:

All conmiercial farms number.

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent-
Acres of cotton harvested;

All commercial farms _ acres-

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent-
Bales of cotton produced:

All commercial farms bales.

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent.

REGION III
Farms reporting cotton harvested;

All commercial farms - nmnber-

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent -

Acres of cotton harvested:

All commercial farms acres.

Cotlon farms \ percent -

Other commercial farms - percent -

Bales of cotton produced;

All commercial farms bales-

Cotton farms _ percent-
Other commercial farms percent -

REGION IV
Farms reporting cotton harvested:

All commercial farms - .-.number-
Cotton farms -.percent-
Other commercial farms.- percent-
Acres of cotton harvested:

All commercial farms acres.

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent-
Bales of cotton produced;

All commercial farms bales.

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent.

Economic class of farm

All classes

118, 761
48.3
51.7

1, 608, 759
62.7
37.3

951, 166
62.6
37.4

49, 708
81.0
19.0

679, 074
86.3
13.7

334, 161
86.0
14.0

192,080
89.1
10.9

2, 324, 630
92.2

7.8

1, 693, 480

92.8

7.2

136,411

94.6

5.4

3, 145. 532
96.3

4.7

2, 717, 741
95.6
4.5

29.1
70.9

109, 658
68.8
41.2

73, 797
69.7
40.3

273
8.4
91.6

13, 770
36.6
63.4

9,171
37.5
62.5

953
49.8
50.2

122, 869
80.8
19.2

110. 222
83.4
16.6

3,821
78.3
21.7

770, 786
91.6
8.5

752, 161
92.2

7.8

3,898
31.7
68.3

161,345
66.6
43.4

108. 919
.57.0
43.0

1,118
16.1
83.9

30, 966

19. 313
50.4
49.6

3,398

60.:

160, 780
77.6
22.4

119.408
79.6
20.4

7, 267
82.0
18.0

449, 761
91.8
8.2

399, 604

92.8

7.2

III

15, 404
28.6
71.4

280. 983
51.0
48. 4

196, 394
52.2
47.8

2,463
30.3
69.7

46, 426
63.3
36.7

29.693
66.0
36.0

9,899
69.6
30.4

252, 604
86.6
13.5

208, 879
88.0
12.0

16, 657

90.5

9.5

533. 602
96.4
4.6

473, 033

96,2

3.8

IV

40,640
36.6
63.4

486. 708
59.0
41.0

317, 832
59.9
40 1

7,127
67.4
32.6

124, 512
86.9
14.1

77, 767
86.6
13.4

37, 882
86.4
13.6

629, 820

93.3

6.7

497. 088

94.3

6.7

37. 743

94.9

6.1

088, 0.36
97.8
2.2

585, 325

97.7

2.3

38, 267
54.6
45.5

349, 322
72.3

196, 938
73,4
26.6

19, 023
84.3
15.7

228,017

93.0

7.0

131, 663

93.4

6.6

76, 856

90.8

9.2

790, 406
95.5
4.5

552, 657
90.1
3.9

52, 301

97.3

2.7

680. 997
99.3
0.7

440, 469
99.1
0.9

19,564
80.6
19.6

121,743
87.7
12.3

.58. 276
89.7
10.3

19, 704

93.8

6.2

135,394
97.0
3.0

66,744

97.2

2.8

63, 092

94.6

5.6

378, 251
97.1
2.9

20.5. 326

97.6

2.4

17, 622

98.1

1.9

122, 460

98.6

1.4

67. 169
99.2
0.8

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

13

Table 1 . — Distribution Between Cotton Farms and Commercial Farms Other Than Cotton Farms, of Farms Reporting,
Acres Harvested, and Production of Cotton on Commercial Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

Region and item

REQIOX V
Farms reporting cotton harvested:

All commercial farms - number.

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent-

Acres of cotton harvested:

All commercial farms acres.

Cottim farms - percent -

Other commercial farms _ _ -.percent -

Bales of cotton produced:

All commercial farms ..bales.

Cotton farms percent.

Other commercial farms percent.

REGION' VI
Farms reporting cotton harvested:

All commercial farms number-
Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms _ percent.

.\cres of cotton harvested:

All commercial farms acres.

Cotton farms percent -

Other commercial farms percent.

Bales of cotton produced:

All commercial farms bales.

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent.

REOION VII
Farms reporting cotton harvested:

All commercial farms number .

Cotton farms percent -

Other commercial farms percent.

Acres of cotton harvested:

All commercial farms acres.

Cotton farms percent.

Other commercial farms percent.

Bales of cotton produced:

All commercial farms bales-
Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent.

REGION VIII
Farms reporting cotton harvested:

All commercial farms _ number.

Cotton farms percent.

Other commercial farms percent.

Acres of cotton harvested:

-\11 commercial farms acres.

Cotton farms percent.

0th .T commercial farms.. ..percent-
Bales of cotton produced:

-4.11 commercial farms .bales.

Cotton farms percent -

Other commercial farms percent .

REGIO.V IX
Farms reporting cotton harvested:

All commercial farms number.

Cotton farms percent.

Other commercial farms percent.

Acres of cotton harvested:

.\11 commercial farms acres.

Cotton farms percent.

Other commercial farms percent.

Bales of cotton produced:

All commercial farms bales.

Cotton farms ...percent.

Other commercial farms percent.

REGION X
Farms reporting cotton harvested:

All commercial farms _. .number.

Cotton farms--- - - percent.

Other commercial farms percent-
Acres of cotton harvested:

All commercial farms acreS-

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms - percent.

Bales of cotton produced:

.Ml commercial farms bales-

Cotton farms percent-
Other commercial farms percent-

Economic class of farm

All classes

31. fiSl
70.3
29.7

711,278
80.9
19.1

307, 236
85.5
14.6

9. 4,50
84.5
15.5

2S2. 096
91.4

8.6

201. 363

92.7

7.3

67. 378
66. 7
33.3

4, 097, 763
78.2
21.8

1, 269. 0S5
83.2
16.8

5.747
92.2

445, 335

94. S

5.2

395, 108
95.6
4.4

17, 845
82.1
17.9

2, 281, 822

92.3

7.7

1, 403, 496
93.1
6.9

15.322
77.4
22.0

1, 508. 355
85.0
15.0

2, 609, 709
85.2
14.8

374
.57.0
43. 0

85. 3,59
82.3
17.7

62, 407
86.9
13.1

275
61.1
38.9

33, ,534
.SO. 8
19.2

1,868
63. 9
36. 1

457, 461
77.9
22.1

275, 358
85.0
15.0

1,027
88.9
11.1

248, 104

91.5

5.0

234. S19

94.7

5.3

4,878
86.0
14.0

1,035,448

93.0

7.0

848, 469
93 0
7.0

5.997
75.1
24.9

1, 266. 867
84.7
15.3

2, 269, 282
84.9
15.1

1.129
48.9
.51.1

80.329
72.3
27.7

40, 940
79.3
20.7

895
86.4
13.6

69. 089

94.5

5.5

51. 399

95.4

4.6

7.561
5.8.7
41.3

923. 182
73.8
26.2

318. 368
80.5
19.5

1.444

90.5

9.5

110.190
95.3
4.7

97, 876
96.6
3.4

6,742
86.0
14.0

796, 839
92.9
7.1

437, 073
93.9
6.1

4,083
75.1
24.9

158, 146
86.3
13.7

234, 309
86.8
13.2

III

54.8
45.2

110,436
78.2
21.8

51, 425
84.1
15.9

2.034
87.3
12.7

7.120

95. 6

4.4

56, 825

95.9

4.1

14,540
65.1
34.9

1,126,042
79.5
20.5

313, 137
83.8
16.2

1,243
91.9
8.1

53. 372

95.1

4.9

40,012
97.3

2 922

"so"?

19. 8

248. 3,58
91.8
8.2

82, 871

92.6

7.4

2,630
77.4
22.6

M.084
85. 6
14.4

72,012
87. 2
12.8

IV

5, 465
67.2
32.8

15.5. 139
81.3
18.7

62. 344
8fi. 4
13.0

2.859
83.8
16.2

57. 380
92.2

40. 081

94.2

5.8

20.545
67.2
32.8

992, 309
79.2
20.8

240. 810
82.9
17.1

962

94.7

5.3

20, 898
95.5
4.5

14, 594
96.9
3.1

2. 084
69.0
31.0

107, 13S
84.3
15.7

27, 360
86.3
13.7

1,660
83.7
16.3

21,824

90.9

9.1

25. 829
93.1

10. .305
69.8
.30.2

176. 122
82.7
17.3

61, 831
87.2
12.8

2,183
83.2
16.8

26. 214
90.6
9.4

15.614
93.2
6.8

16, 598
68. 5
31.5

4S9. 467
81.3
18.7

102. 402
85.2
14.8

791

95. 6

4.4

10.446
92.9
7.1

6.672
98.0
2.0

1.044
73.8
26.2

40.951
88.3
11.7

7.013
89.3
10.7

751
90.0
10.0

6.279
8fi.S
13.2

7,210
85.0
15.0

VI

11, 603
78.5
21.5

103, 893
85.7
14.3

28.289
88.7
11.3

1,210
88.0
12.0

8, tl5
91.9
8.1

3.910

94.7

5.3

6,266
74.4
25.6

109. 302
82.0
18.0

19,010
85.8
14.2

280
96. 4
3.6

2.325
97.8
2.2

1,135
96.5
3.S

175
60.0
40.0

3,085
57.5
42.5

710
44.4
65.6

201

94.6

5.5

1,156
77.1
22.9

1,067
76.9
23.1

423019 — 57-

14

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Region IX contains most of tlie semiarid area of the United
States where cotton is produced. Most of tlie cotton in the region
is found in subregion 102, tlie High Plains cotton area of Texas.
A much smaller proportion of the total for the region is found in
the southerly Texas counties of subregion 103, although in most of
this subregion no cotton is grown. As subregion 103 is consider-
ably larger than subregion 102, the overall figures for the region
with respect to the proportion of farms reporting cotton do not
reflect the intense specialization which characterizes the cotton-
growing part. But it is noteworthy that, although only 25 percent
of all commercial farms of the region report cotton, 59 percent of
Class I farms report the crop and more than 86 percent of these are
cotton farms. In fact, except for Class VI, from 69 to 86 percent
of the farms reporting cotton in each class are cotton farms (see
table 7).

The general situation, with respect to the proportion of all com-
mercial farms that report cotton, in Region X, (which includes
most of the United States total of cotton production under irriga-
tion in an arid climate) is much the same as that just outlined for
Region IX. In large parts of Region X no cotton is grown. Most
of the farms in the region that do not grow cotton are in the large
Central Valley of California which comprises the agriculturally
variegated subregion 116. But subregion 116 is one of the
principal cotton subregions of the country, and Region X, as a
whole, produced about 2.7 million bales of cotton in 1954.

It may be noted (table 6) that about 29 percent of all commercial
farms in Region X reported cotton, and that 48 and 32 percent,
respectively, of Class I and Class II farms reported the crop. It
is also noteworthy that three-fourths or more of all farms reporting
cotton in each economic class are cotton farms (table 7).

DISTRIBUTION OF FARMS, ACREAGE, AND PRODUC-
TION BY ECONOMIC CLASS FOR ALL COMMERCIAL
FARMS

In the preceding section we looked at the proportions of all com-
mercial farms reporting cotton, by economic class, and at some of
the possible implications. In this section we look at the facts,
and their implications, which relate to the distribution of cotton-
growing farms, cotton acreage, and cotton production among the
several economic classes of commercial farms.

Since economic classes of farms represent farms grouped accord-
ing to specified values of production for sale, we may, within
certain limits, draw from data presented by economic class some
inferences regarding the levels of income from farming of families
who operate farms of various economic classes. More detailed
data concerning income for cotton farms by economic class are
found in the last two sections of this report.

In general, the American agriculture sector has participated in
and contributed to economic growth of the country by producing
increasing cjuantities of food and fiber while employing, directly,
a steadily decreasing number of people. There has been a steady
secular decline in the farm population of the United States since
1916. These transfers of labor resources from the farms to the
nonfarm sectors of the economy have taken place mainly because
farm people have moved to nonfarm employment which they
judged to be more attractive than the alternatives available to
them in agriculture.

Gross indications of income levels such as those afforded by
economic classes of farms are to be used with some caution, but
it does appear that from these economic-class data regarding farms

growing cotton some useful inferences can be drawn. They con-
cern: (1) The regions and classes of farms where changes in size
and organization of farms growing cotton would seem most likely,
and (S) the effect that such changes might have upon cotton
production in the country at large and within the several regions.

In this connection it would seem reasonable to regard the farms
in Classes V and VI as a group likely to change. Part of these
represent farms where the operators are in the older age groups
and upon retirement of present operator may be combined to
form large farms. Many of the younger operators on these
classes of farms may seek to increase their Income by farm en-
largement or off-farm employment.

Many factors besides relative income influence the individual
farmer's decisions. Information concerning some of these other
influences will be found later in this report. In particular, the
sections dealing with tenure, labor force, and investment char-
acteristics of cotton farms by economic class of farm are relevant
to this problem. In addition, the nature of government programs
and acreage controls will have a strong bearing on acreage and
production trends. But it is of some interest to consider the
picture for each of the ten selected regions as it is indicated by
(1) the number of farms growing cotton, (2) the acreage of cotton
harvested, and (S) the bales of cotton produced by farms in
Classes I through III and those in Classes V and VI.

The Humid Belt Regions (Regions I to VI)

Table 6 shows that throughout the humid belt (Regions I through
VI) from about one-third to almost three-fifths of all farms report-
ing cotton are found in Classes V and VI. The proportions of
cotton acreage and production that are found on these two
economic classes varies more widely among these regions than
does the percentage of farms reporting cotton. The range, in the
instance of acreage, is from 12 percent in Region VI to more than
50 percent in Region II, while for percentage of production, the
range is from 9 percent in Region VI to 51 percent in Region II.

The most striking concentrations of farms reporting cotton and
of cotton acreage and production in Economic Classes V and VI
are found in Regions II and III — the Piedmont and midsouthern
hilly regions. Around 50 percent of the farms producing cotton
and of cotton acreage and production are accounted for by these
two smallest size-of-business groups of farms.

From an overall standpoint Regions I and V indicate abont
equal degrees of concentration of cotton production on Class V
and VI farms. In each region more than 40 percent of the farms
are found in these classes, while around one-third of the cotton
acreage, and about one-fourth of cotton production is on such
farms.

Region IV, the Mississippi Delta, presents a somewhat different
picture. The proportion of farms reporting cotton that falls in
Classes V and VI (49 percent) is exceeded only in Regions II and
III. In Region IV the approximately 20 percent of cotton acre-
age and production that these farms account for, however, is
smaller than for any other humid region except Region VI.

The Gulf Coast Prairie of Texas and Louisiana, Region VI, is
more similar to the subhumid belt than to the other regions of
the humid belt with respect to the distribution, among economic
classes, of farms growing cotton, cotton acreage, and cotton pro-
duction. About one-third of the farms that grow cotton in this
region fall in Classes V and VI. These farms, however, account
for only 12 and 9 percent, respectively, of regional acreage and
production of cotton.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

15

In Regions II and III farms in Economic Classes I to III account
for onl\- 5 and 6 percent, respectively, of farms reporting cotton.
There is more \'ariation between these two regions with respect to
the proportions of cotton acreage and jjroduction that are found
on these three largest size-of-business groups. The proportions
are definitely minor, however, in both instances. In Region II
these farms account for 13 and 15 percent, respectivel.v, of cotton
acreage and production. The comparable percentages for Region
III are 23 and 24.

It will be recalled tliat Regions I and V showed rather similar
distributions for Classes V and VI farms. In the ease of the
three larger economic classes, however, there is more difference
than similarity. In Region I, 15 percent of all farms reporting
cotton fall in Classes I through III, while in Region V only 9
percent are so classified. But in Region V these farms account
for 47 percent of cotton production as compared to 38 percent for
Region I. The proportions of cotton acreage found on these
larger farms are almost the same for the two regions, 35 percent
in Region I, and 34 percent in Region V. The nature of these
distributions suggests that farms in these classes are larger in
Region Y than in Region I, and that in Region V cotton yields
on these classes are larger, relative to yields on farms in other
economic classes, than is the case in Region I.

In Region IV, farms in Classes V and VI accounted for almost
60 percent of all farms growing cotton, but for only about 20 per-
cent of the acreage and production. The relevant distributions for
Economic Classes I through III for this region are almost the re-
verse of this. These larger classes account for only 20 percent of
the farms reporting cotton, but for 55 and 59 percent, respectively,
of the cotton acreage and production of the region.

Region VI has a smaller proportion of its cotton-growing farms,
cotton acreage, and cotton prod\iction in Economic Classes V
and VI than an.v other humid region. It is not surprising that the
proportions of each of these items accounted for bj' Economic
Classes I, II, and III is larger here than in any other humid region.
About one-third of all farms reporting cotton, and roughly two-
thirds of the region's acreage and production of cotton are found
in Economic Classes I through III.

The Subhuniid Belt Regions (Regions VII and VIII)

The two regions that represent cotton production under sub-
humid conditions display distinctly less concentration of farms,
acreage, and production in Classes V and VI than in the regions of
the humid belt. On the other hand, significantly larger propor-
tions of acreage, of production, and of farms growing cotton are
found in Economic Classes I, II, and III.

Regions VII and VIII, the two in the subhumid climatic belt,
do not have much in common in regard to cotton production. The
differentiation is due mostly to the extensive irrigation of cotton
in Region VIII and the virtual absence of irrigation in Region VII.
As there is frequently a shortage of rainfall, at least at the right
time for crop production, in both regions. Region VIII, with its
irrigation, has average yields of cotton more than twice as large as
those in Region VII. In Region VII, about one-third of the farms
reporting cotton and 14 and 9 percent, respectively, of cotton
acreage and production are accounted for by farms in Classes V

and VI. The comparable figures for Region VIII are 17 percent,
3 percent, and 2 percent.

Region VIII has a considerable concentration of farms growing
cotton, and of cotton acreage and production in Economic Classes

I, II, and III farms. Sixty percent of the farms reporting cotton
and more than 90 percent of both cotton acreage and production
are accounted for by farms in these classes.

About one-third of aU farms reporting cotton in Region VII are
found in Classes I, II, and III. These larger size-of-ljusiness classes,
however, account for 60 percent of the region's cotton acreage, and
more than 70 percent of regional cotton production. It is thus
evident that, althougli Region VII has a much larger proportion of
low-total-output commercial farms growing cotton than does
Region VIII, cotton production in both regions is largely concen-
trated on the three largest size-of-business farm groups.

The Semiarid and Arid Cotton Production Regions (Regions IX

and X)

In Regions IX and X the number of farms reporting cotton,
cotton acreage, and cotton production which are accounted for by
Classes V and VI farms are negligible. Farms in Classes I, II, and
III account for four-fifths or more of all farms reporting cotton.
For the arid belt region (Region X) these three classes harvest 98
percent of both cotton acreage and production. The semiarid
Region IX almost matches these figures with 93 and 97 percent,
respectively, of cotton acreage and production found on Class I,

II, and III farms.

COTTON PRODUCTION ON NONCOMMERCIAL FARMS

In the 10 selected cotton-producing regions, noncommercial
farms account for about 16 percent of the farms reporting cotton,
but for only 4 percent of the acreage, and about 2 percent of cotton
production. These farms comprise 35 percent of all Census farms
in the 10 regions. It becomes evident, therefore, that relatively
small proportions of noncommercial farms grow cotton, and that
when they do the acreages are small, and yields are generally less
than average for the region.

There is considerable variation among regions with respect to the
proportion of all farms accounted for by noncommercial farms, and
with respect to the percent of noncommercial farms that grow cot-
ton. In the 6 regions that comprise the humid belt, only in Region
III do as many as a third (34 percent) of the farms grow cotton.
In Regions V and VI only 16 percent and 8 percent, respectively, of
noncommercial farms report cotton. In the remaining three
regions of the humid belt about a fourth of noncommercial farms
grow cotton.

In none of the 4 regions outside the humid belt do as many as
10 percent of noncommercial farms grow the crop.

Only in the Piedmont, Region II, do noncommercial farms
account for as much as 10 percent of regional cotton production;
here they account for 14 percent. Excluding the Delta, where
the}' account for only 1 percent of production, noncommercial
farms account for from 4 to 8 percent of production in the other
regions of the humid belt.

In each region outside the humid belt, noncommercial farms
account for 1 percent or less of total cotton production.

16

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

COTTON PRODl'CTION ON COTTON FARMS AND ON
COMMERCIAL FARMS OTHER THAN COTTON FARMS

In preceding sections we have examined tlie distribution in each
of our regions of farms growing cotton, of cotton acreage, and of
cotton production among economic classes for all commercial
farms, and for noncommercial farms. In this section the exami-
nation relates to similar distributions for cotton farms (those
commercial farms for which sales of cotton and cottonseed account
for 50 percent or more of total farm sales) and for all commercial
farms other than cotton farms. These latter are the residuals
after subtracting for each item the relevant numbers for each
economic class of cotton farm from all commercial farms shown in
table 6. The distributions are shown for cotton farms in table 8,
and for commercial farms other than cotton farms in table 9.

In addition to contributing to our basic general information
about the size of business structure of farms that produce cotton,

Table 8. — Percent Distribution of Number of Farms
AND Acres and Bales of Cotton Harvested, for Cotton
Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

All classes

Economic class of farm

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

REGION I

Number of farms

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

Number
57, 374
946, 387
695, 510

Per-
cent
0.5
6.8
7.4

Per-
cent
2.1
9.6
10.4

Per-
cent
7. 7
16.3
17.1

Per-
cent
25.9
30.3
32.0

Per-
cent
36.3
26.7
24.3

Per-
cent
27.5
11.3

8.8

REGION 11

.

Number of farms

40, 263
499, 709
287, 513

0.1
1.0
1.2

0.4
3.0
3.4

1.9
5.9
6.7

11.9
21.4
23.4

39.8
42.4
42.7

45 9

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

26.3
22.6

REGION III

171, 185
2,144,015
1, 571, 294

0.3
4.6
5.9

1.0
5.5
6.0

4.0
10.2
11.7

19.1
27.4
29.8

40.8
35.2
33.8

34 8

Acres of cotton harvested

B.ales of cotton harvested

17.1
12.8

REGION IV

Number of farms

128,046
2, 997, 248
2, 594, (A2

2.3
23.6

26.7

4.6
13.8
14.3

11.8
17.0
17,5

28.0
22.5
22.1

39.8
19.2
16.8

13 5

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

4.0
2.6

REGION V

22, 257
675, 424
262, 820

1.0
12.2
20.6

2.5
10.1
12.3

6.8
15.0
16.6

16.5
21.9
20.5

32.3
25.3
20.5

-10 9

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

16.6
9.6

REGION VI

7,995
257, 924
186, 638

2.1
13.4
14.5

9.7
25.3
26.3

22.2
28.6
29.2

30.0
20.5
20.2

22.7
9.2

7.8

13 3

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

3.0
2.0

REGION VII

44, 947
3, 206, 187
1,056,045

2.6
11.1
22.2

9.9
21.3
24.3

21.1
27.9
24.8

30.7
24.6
18.9

25,3
12.4
8.3

10 4

Acres of cotton harvested...

Bales of cotton harvested

2.8
1.5

REGION VIII

6,299
422, 103
377, 546

17.2
55.5
68. 9

24.6
24.9
25.0

21.6
12.0
10.3

17.2
4.7
3.8

14,3
2.3
1.7

5 1

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

0.6
0.3

REGION IX

Number of farms

14,650
2,105,800
1,305,958

28.6
47.9
CO. 4

39.6
35.2
31.4

16.0
10.8
6.9

9.8
4.3
1.8

5,3
1.7
0.5

0 7

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

0.1

(Z)

REGION X

Number of farms

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

11,858

1, 282, 203

2, 223, 185

37.9
83.7
86.6

25.9
10.7
9.2

17.2
3.6
2.8

11.7
1.5
1.1

5.7
0.4
0.3

1.6
0.1

(Z)

TOTAL, 10 REGIONS

603. 874
14, 437. 000
10.461,161

3.0
26.3
39.1

5 0
16.8
15.1

9.0
15.8
12.4

22.1
19.0
16.8

35.8
16.7
13.6

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

6.4
4. 1

the data in these 2 tables highlight the facts concerning the distri-
bution, for the 10 regions, of farms growing cotton, and of cotton
acreage and production on the 3 largest and the 2 smallest size-of-
business groups for commercial farms.

In general, in the regions of the humid belt (Regions I through
VI) there is a higher concentration of farms, and of acres and pro-
duction of cotton in Classes V and VI on cotton farms than on
other commercial farms that grow cotton.

In Regions VII through X the economic class structure of the
number of farms growing and of the acreage and production of
cotton is dominated by Classes I, II, and III. In these regions
cotton farms show either approximately the same distribution by
economic class as other commercial farms that grow cotton, or
indicate relativeh' higher concentration in Classes I, II, and III.

Table 9. — Percent Distribution of Number of Farms Re-
porting Cotton and Acres and Bales of Cotton Har'

VESTED, FOR COMMERCIAL FaRMS OtHER ThAN CoTTON FaRMS,

BY Economic Class, by Regions: 1954

Z 0.05 percent or less.

Economic class of farm

Region and item

All
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

REGION I

Number of farms

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

100.0
100.0
100.0

1.1

8.0
8.4

4.4
12.4
13.2

18.0
24.2
26.2

41.9
36.5
36.8

28.4
17.2
14.7

6.2
2,7
1.7

REGION II

100.0
100.0
100. 0

2.7
11.0
12.3

9.9
20.2
20.5

18.1
21.4
22.3

24.6
22.1
22.3

31.7
20.1
18.6

13.0

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

5.2
4.0

REGION III

100.0
100.0
100.0

2.3
13.0
14.9

8.3
18.6
20.0

14.5
18.8
20.6

24.7
23.4
23.1

33.6
20.1
17.6

16.6

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

6.1
4.0

REGION IV

Number of farms . _

100.0
100.0
100.0

11.4
43.5
47.6

17.8
23.2
23.2

21.5
16.5
14.5

26.1
11.7
10.7

18.8
6.0
3.6

4.6

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested _

1.1
0.5

REGION V

100.0
100.0
100.0

1.7
11.1
18.4

6.2
16. 4
19.1

13.4
17.7
18.4

19.1
21.4
IP. 1

32.9
22.5
17.8

26.7

10.9

7.2

REGION VI

100.0
100.0
100.0

7.3
38.6
43.5

8.3
15.7
16.0

17.7
14.0
15.7

31.7
18.9
16.2

25.1
10.1
7.2

9.9

Acres of cotton harvested

Bales of cotton harvested

2.8
1.4

REGION VII

100.0
100,0
100.0

3.0
11.3
19.4

13.9
27.1
29.3

22.6
26.0
23.9

30.0
23.1
19.0

23.3
10.3

7, 1

7.2

2.2

1.3

REGION VIII

100.0
100.0
100.0

26.4
58.4
70.6

30.fi
23.1
19.8

22.6
11. 1
6 2

11.4
4.0
2.5

7.8
3.2
0.7

2.2

Acres of cotton harvested

0.2

0.2

REGION IX

100.0
100.0
100.0

21.4
43.3
61.2

29.6
32.1
27.5

18.1
ll.fi
6.3

20.2
9.6
3.8

8.5
2.7
0.8

2.2

Acres of cotton harvested

0.8

Bales of cotton harvested

0.4

REGION X

100.0
100.0
100.0

43.2

85,7
88.8

29.4
9.6
8.0

17.2
3.4
2.4

7.S
0.9
0.5

2.2
0.4
0.3

0.3

0.1

Bales of cotton harvested.

(Z)

TOTAL, 10 REGIONS

Number of farms

100.0
100.0
100.0

3.9
22.6
41.1

9.0
20.7
17.1

18.1
20.4
16.8

32.4
21.8
16.6

27.1
11.7
8.0

9.5

2.8

Bales of cotton harvested

1.4

Z 0.05 percent or less.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

17

SOME IMPLICATIONS OF DISTRIBUTION OF COTTON
PRODUCTION BY ECONOMIC CLASS AND REGION

In the United States, secular trends arc toward increasing size
of farm business and transfer of labor resources from the farm to
iionfarm sectors of the economy. In recent years considerable
emphasis has been placed on solving the low-income problem, in-
volving the acceleration of the process of reduction in numbers of
low-income farms througli farm enlargement and development
and the increase in nonfarm employment. In this context it is
interesting to review the possible implications for cotton acreage
and production of the reduction in numbers of Classes V and VI
farms, and of increases in size of farms. This review covers the
various areas or regions, and is based on current variations in farm
organizations by economic class of farm. The following appear
to be some of the more important implications of a further reduc-
tion in Classes V and VI farms and of increases in size of com-
mercial farms in the 10 cotton regions.

In Region I (Eastern Coastal Plains), 43 percent of all com-
mercial farms that grow cotton and about 30 percent and 26 per-
cent, respectively, of the acreage and production of cotton are
found in Classes V and VI. There is some indication that of the
larger sizes of farms, fewer grow cotton, and that, of those that
continue to grow it, fewer are cotton farms. The indication of
these latter tendencies is not, however, nearly so conclusive in this
as in some other regions.

In light of this, a continuation of the trends toward increasing
size of farm, and a continued reduction in the number of Classes

V and VI farms might result in continued, though probably not a
large, reduction in aggregate cotton acreage in the region. The
extent to which cotton acreage might be affected by a reduction
in the numbers of Classes V and VI farms would seem to depend
to some degree upon the extent to which such farms were used as
part-time units, or combined into larger units. The smaller pro-
portion of noncommercial farms having cotton would suggest a
tendency toward reduction of aggregate cotton acreage on farms
which become part-time units.

In Regions II, III, and V (Southern Piedmont, Eastern and
Western Hilly Regions) where Classes V and VI cotton farms are
numerous and the cotton enterprise is relatively less important
on larger farms, further changes in farm size, and a reduction in
low-income farms would appear likely to encourage more emphasis
on other enterprises and to reduce acreages of cotton. The es-
sential facts upon which these tentative inferences rest are: (/) In
each of these regions the jiroportion of commercial farms that
^row cotton is substantially lower for Classes I through III than
for Classes V and VI. (S) In each of these regions there is con-
siderably more concentration of farms and acreage and production
of cotton in Classes V and VI for cotton farms than for other com-
mercial farms that report cotton. (3) In these regions. Classes

V and VI farms comprise around 50 percent of all farms growing
cotton and they account for approximately 35 to 50 percent of
cotton acreage, and 27 to 50 percent of cotton production. The
concentration in these smallest size-of-business groups is much
larger for cotton farms than for other commercial farms. In these
regions, cotton farms account for from 84 to 97 percent of the acre-
age and production of cotton on Classes V and VI farms.

As an aid to the reader's perspective, it may be pointed out that,
in 1954, these three regions accounted for 42 percent of all farms
reporting cotton in the United States, and for 21 and 20 percent,
respectively, of the national total of cotton acreage and production.

In Regions IV and VI (Delta and Gulf Coastal Regions) the
implications of the data, by economic classes for farms reporting
cotton and the acreage and production of cotton, are considerably
different. In general, there would seem to be little indication
that a reduction in numbers of Classes V and VI farms w-ould signif-
icantly affect cotton acreage in these regions. In each of these

regions substantial proportions of all farms reporting cotton fall
into Classes V and VI (49 percent for Region IV and 32 percent for
Region VI). In this respect there is similarity to Regions II, III,
and V. Another similarity between these regions and Regions II,
III, and V, is that smaller percentages of farms in Classes I and
II report cotton than is the case for the smaller size-of-business
classes. But this condition is less pronounced and is believed
to result mainly from the presence in each of specialized rice
farms. Particularly in Region VI, and to a marked but lesser
degree in Region IV, rice farms do not grow cotton. In both
regions rice farms tend to be concentrated in the larger size-of-
business groups.

Other significant facts about Regions IV and VI that differen-
tiate them from other regions of the humid belt are (1) in both
regions significant proportions (one-fifth for Region IV and about
one-third for Region VI) of farms reporting cotton fall in Classes
1, II, and III, and (2) in Region IV, 55 and 59 percent, respectively,
of regional acreage and production of cotton are found on the three
largest size-of-business groups. The comparable jii-rcentages for
Region VI are 64 and 66 percent.

The geniTal terrain characteristics of these regions would mak(.'
feasible the use of modern mechanical equipment adapted to
larger cotton farms. A continued increase in the size of farms,
given the generally higher yields which characterize larger farms,
may well result in an increase for these regions in their proportion
of the national total acreage and production of cotton.

In 1954, Regions IV and VI accounted for about 19 and 23 per-
cent, respectively, of all acreage and production of cotton in the
United States, and for 18 percent of all farms that grew cotton.

In Region VII (Black Prairie and Plains Regions), it will be
recalled, about 31 percent of all farms reporting cotton are in
Classes V and VI. The.se small size-of-business groups have, how-
ever, only 14 and 9 percent, respectively, of the region's total
acreage and production of cotton. About one-third of all farms
that grow cotton and three-fifths of the region's acreage of cotton
are in the three large size-of-business groups. Classes I through III.
These three groups of farms account for more than 70 percent of
the cotton produced in the region. About as large a proportion
of all farms in Classes I through III report cotton as of those in
smaller size-of-business groups. To these considerations may
be added the fact that about four-fifths of all commercial farms
in Classes I through III that report cotton are cotton farms (which
is about the same percentage as for other classes). Part-time and
residential farms are not as important in the subhuinid region.
In view of these considerations, there does not seem to be any
reason to expect a tendency for cotton acreage to be materially
reduced in the region as a result of increases in size of farms.

Region VII, in 1954, contained about 9 percent of all farms in
the United States that reported cotton, and accounted for 22 and
10 percent, respectively, of the LTnited States total acreage and
production of the crop.

In the three remaining regions, VIII, IX, and X, the production
of cotton is now heavily concentrated in the three largest size-of-
business groups. Effects on cotton acreage or production of re-
duced numbers of Class V and Class VI farms would appear to be
virtually negligible. The general tendency toward increasing size
might work in the direction of increasing emphasis on the cotton
enterprise.

But it should be pointed out that these represent implications
of how- reduction in low-income farms and increased farm size
might tend to influence farm organization and are ba.sed on the
current size structure in these regions. They are not predictions
of trends since many other factors, including governmental pro-
grams, technological developments, and changes in alternati\'es
for use of resources, will affect actual trends.

18

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION
Section 2.— TRENDS IN COTTON PRODUCTION BY REGIONS

Historical data concerning the geographic location and the
acreage, yield, and output of cotton, can give \-aIuable insights on
the role cotton plays in the several regions. The picture drawn
by data on trends of the acreage, yield, and production of cotton
for each region shows, in the aggregate, the results of the responses
of thousands of actual and potential growers of cotton to the whole
continuously changing range of economic forces and institutional
arrangements that affect the production of cotton. Figure 5
indicates the aggregate changes in acreage and production of
cotton in the United States during the 75-year period 1879-1954.

regions with which we are dealing (VIII, IX, and X) had far
greater acreages of cotton in cultivation in 1954 than during the
1928-32 period. One additional region, the Mississippi Delta
(Region IV), produced 28 percent more cotton from 29 percent
fewer acres than in 1928-32. Production during 1954 in Regions
VIII, IX, and X was, respectively, 590, 347, and 937 percent of
their average for 1928-32. These four regions, in 1954, accounted
for 39 and 54 percent, respectively, of the United States total of
cotton acreage and production. Comparable percentages for
1928-32 are 17 and 21 percent.

COTTON HARVESTED -ACREAGE, 1879 TO 1954; AND PRODUCTION, 1839 TO 1954; FOR THE UNITED STATES

MILLIONS OF ACRES
20 30

MILLIONS OF BALES
8 12

1954
1949
1944
1939
1934
1929
1924
1919
1909
1899
1669
1879
1869
1859
1849
1839

IHI^B^nB ^^^HBBB ^^^HBBi ^Sa
^^^^^■^^^^B H^^^^^^^^H ^^^^^HI^^^B ^H

■^■Bsn Hi^^^BB inn

^^^^^

^^^^^^

^^

■111 ■■■■■II

""""""""

m^^nmH

^^

U^HDBB

^■^™

»

• NOT AVAILABLE

YIELD PER ACRE 0.69 BALE IN 1954

Figure 5.

Great changes have taken place during the past quarter-
century in the overall picture of cotton production. In the 5-year
period, 1928-32, an average of almost 41.5 million acres of cotton
was in cultivation annually in the United States, whereas for the 5
years, 1950-54, the average acreage in cultivation was only 19.8
million acres — 56 percent of the average acreage 22 years before.
But the production of cotton in the period 1950-54 averaged 96
percent of that for the period 1928-32.

Behind these averages for two widely separated 5-year periods
there is an interesting story of national and interregional adjust-
ments to changing conditions of production and demand for
cotton and for the resources used in its production.

The gist of this story is presented in the data of table 10.

The period 1928-32 represents the last 5 years of cotton produc-
tion in this country prior to initiation of governmental price-
support and acreage-control programs. The change in the acreage
and production of cotton since 1928-32 is the result of widely
varying regional adaptations to the changing conditions of
production and demand.

For example, in 1954, the United States as a whole had in
cultivation, on July 1, only 48 percent of the average cotton acre-
age for that date during the 1928-32 period. Three of the ten

In two of the regions (II and V) there has been a steady decline
in cotton acreage and production since 1928-32. In Region II,
cotton acreage in 1954 was only 24 percent of the regional average
for 1928-32, while in Region V only 17 percent as much acreage
was in cultivation as the average for the earlier period. The
comparable figures for production in 1954 are 29 percent for
Region II and 24 percent for Region V.

In the remaining regions (I, III, VI, and VII), the 1954 acreage
as a percentage of each region's 1928-32 average acreage varies
from 41 to 46 percent. The 1954 production, as a percentage of
the 1928-32 average, ranges from 44 to 79 percent. In Regions I,
III, and VI the range is only from 76 to 79 percent. It is thus
evident that the fourth of these regions, Region VII, merits
special attention in these comparisons, especially in regard to
yields. For example, 1954 yields for Regions I, III, and VI, as
percentages of their own 1928-32 averages, are, respectively, 169,
179, and 154. The comparable figure for Region VII is 108.
The probable reasons for this virtually unchanged yield level since
1928 is that water limits the production in much of this region, and
water is not available in sufficient quantity to permit the effective
use of the commercial fertilizers that have played a major part in
increasing the yields in other nonirrigated regions.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

19

Table 10. — Cotton Acreage, Yield per Acre, and Production for Specified 5- Year Periods, for the United States and Regions-

1928 to 1954 '

Item

Averaee 1928-32:

Acres _ _ - _ thousands

Percent otU. S. total percent--

Llnt yield- - ..- pounds

Percent of U. S. average percent.

Production _ 1,000 bales

Percent of U. S. total percent

ATerage 1933-37:

Acres --, thousands

Percent of U. S. total ..percent.

Percent of 1928-32 average percent.

Lint yield ..pounds.

Percent of U. S. average percent

Percent of 1928-32 average percent.

Production... 1,000 bales

Percent of U. S. total. percent.

Percent of 1928-32 average percent

Average 1938-42:

Acres thousands.

Percent of U, S. total percent.

Percent of 1928-32 average percent.

Lint yield pounds..

Percent of U. S. average percent-
Percent of 1928-32 average percent.

Production 1,000 bales.

Pcrcent of U. S. total percent.

Percent of 1928-32 average percent-
Average 1943-47:

Acres .thousands.

Percent of U. S. total percent.

Percent of 1928-32 average - percent- -

Lint yield-. - poiuids--

Percent of U. S. total percent..

Percent of 1928-32 average percent. .

Production - 1,000 bales- -

Percent of U. S. total percent- -

Percent of 1928-32 average percent.-

Average 1948-52:

Acres thousands- -

Percent of U. S. total percent-.

Percent of 1928-32 average percent..

Lint yield pounds. .

Percent of U. S. average percent..

Percent of 1928-32 average percent--

Production 1,000 bales. -

Percent of U. S. total percent. -

Percent of 1 928-32 average percent. .

Average 1950-54:

Acres thousands..

Percent of U. S. total percent..

Percent of 1928-32 average percent..

LinI yield pounds..

Percent of U. S. average percent--

Percent of 1928-32 average percent..

Production 1 ,000 bales. .

Percent of U. S. total .percent..

Percent of 1928-32 average percent-.

1954:

Acres thousands. -

Percent of U. S. total percent..

Percent of 1928-32 average percent..

Lint yield pounds..

Percent of U. S. average percent..

Percent of 1628-32 average percent-.

Production ..1,000 bales..

Percent of V. S. total percent-.

Percent of 1928-32 average percent--

Region

3, 66.';. 6

8.8

180
106

1,374.9
9.4

2, 983. 2
9.3
81

230
120
128

1,428.6

II. 0

104

2, 248. 6

9.3

61

219
92
122

1,025.4
8.6

1, 609. 8

8.1

44

285
111
158

955.2

9.0

69

1,939.1
7.8
53

274
100
152

1,105.7

2,013.5

8.7
65

277
103
154

1,162.9
8.3

85

1.658.7

8.4
45

304
92
169

1,049.1

7.7

76

3.029.3
7.3

210
127

1,361.9
9.3

2, 384. 1
7,4
79

233
121

108

1,159.0
9.0

85

1,746.5

7.2
58

267
113
124

971.5

8.1

71

1,377.3
6.9
45

311
121
144

892.4

8.4

66

1,071.3
4.3
35

270
99
125

603.7
4.2
44

891.4

3.8

29

280
104
130

519.9
3.7
38

741.3

3.7

24

259
78
120

400.2
2.9
29

5, 569. 7
13.4

188
111

2,175.9
14.8

4,173.2
13.0

75

232
121
123

2.018.9

1,5.6

93

3,431.5

14.2

62

203
111
140

1,882.8

15.7

87

3, 054. 2

15.4

55

310
121
165

1,971.6

18.5

91

3,179.6

12.7

57

310
113
165

2, 055. 3
14.4

2.912.3

12.5

52

321
119
171

1,945.5

13.8

89

2, 469. 5

12.5

44

336
101

179

1,728.5
12.6

4, 825. 6
11.6

225
132

2, 263. 7
15.4

4,027.8

12.5

83

280
146
124

2, 349. 3

18.2

104

3, 334. 5

13.8

69

388
164
172

2, 693. 4

22.5

119

3, 272. 6

16.5

68

368
144
164

2, 506. 9

23.6

111

4, 086. 2

16.4

85

366
134
163

3,117.7

21.9

138

3. 845. 6
16.5

80

368
136
164

2. 947. 0

21.0

130

3,414.9
17.3

71

406
122
180

2, 886. 8
21.1

128

4,828.3
11.7

140
82

1,411.3
9.6

3, 410. 5
10. e

141
73
101

1,000.7
7.7
71

2. 303. 6

9.5

48

179
76

128

860.0

7.2

61

1,159.3
6.8
24

189
74
135

456. 0
4.3
32

1,206.8
4.8
25

191
70
136

481.0
3.4
34

974.5
4.2
20

194
72
139

393. 6
2.8
28

833.7

4.2

17

195
59
139

339.4
2.5
24

VI

727.5
1.8

196
115

305. 1
2.1

648.6
2.0

168
87
86

228.1
1.8
75

424.0
1.8

68

200
84
102

178.8
1.6
69

349.3
1.8
48

141.0
1.3
46

410.1
1.6
56

289
105
147

249.2
1.7

416.7
1.8
67

286
106
146

255.8
1.8
84

332.1
1.7
46

302
91
154

232.9
1.7
76

VII

10,903.6
26.3

139

82

3.160.8
21.6

8.070.9

25.1

74

142

74
102

2. 392. 3

18.6

76

6.442.9

22.5

50

162
68
117

1,836.3

16.3

58

4, 805. 1

24.2

44

146

57
106

1.464.4

13.8

46

6. 859. 4

23.5

54

154
56
111

1,878.7

13.2

69

5, ,544. 2

23. S

51

139
61
100

1,601.9

11.4

61

4, 493. 8

22.7

41

160
45
108

1, 406. 1

10.3

44

214.0
0.5

153

90

68.9
0.5

179. 4

0,6

84

101
126

74.3
0.6

108

0.8
92

212
89
139

89.3
0.7
130

2.54. 0
1.3
119

300
117
196

160.7
1.5
234

639.1
2.6
299

321
117
210

417.3
2.9
606

640.6
2.8
299

286
106

187

381.6
2.7
554

474.0
2.4
221

412
124
269

407. 0
3.0

591

IX

1,710.4
4.1

131

77

4&S. 6
3.2

1,621.9
5.0
94

144
75
110

487.3
3.8
104

1,414.5

5.8
82

172
73
131

508. 2
4.2
108

1,231.6
6.2
72

202
79

154

619.6
4.9
111

2. 843. 1
11.4
166

261
96
199

1,647.8
10.9
330

796. 3
12.0
163

282
104

1,644.0
11.7
351

2.446.9
12.4
143

319

96

244

1.027.8
11.9
347

387.0
0.9

325
191

261.7
1.8

680. 3
2-1

176

492
256
151

697.6
6.4
267

703. 0
2.9

1,82

522
220
161

763.9
6.4
292

828.8
4.2
214

570
223

175

984.9
9.3
376

1,828.9
7.3
473

688
215
191

2.241.7
15.7

857

1, 954. 7

8.4
606

6S5
254
211

2. 700. 2

19. ,■<
1,066

1.398.1
7.1
361

842
254
259

2. 453. 3
17.9
937

Total, 10
regions

35, 867. 0
86.6

172
101

12,858.8
87.7

28, 179. 9

87.6

79

196
102
114

11,8.36. 1

91.5

92

21,247.0

87.8

69

206
87
120

10, 808. 6
90.2

84

17,942.0

90.5

60

268
105
156

10,052.6
94. 6

23. 063. 6

92.4

64

285
104
166

13,698.1

90.1

107

21,989.8

94.6

61

289
107
168

13,642.2

97.0

106

18, 263. 0

92.3

61

329
99
191

12. .631. 1

91.6

97

United
States

41.423.0
100.0

170
100

14,667.0
100.0

32.178.0

100.0

78

192
100
113

12,9.33.0
100.0

24,201.0

100.0

58

237
100
139

11,977.0

100. 0

82

19,821.0

100.0

48

256
100

161

10,634.0

100.0

72

24,961.0

100.0

60

274
100
161

14. 2.59. 0

100.0

97

23. 248. 0

100.0

66

270
100
159

14.061.0
100. 0

19.791.0

100.0

48

332
100

195

13, 679. 0

100.0

93

' Source: Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. -\er{'s represent acres in cultivation July I and yield represents yield per acre In cultivation July 1.

20

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

In spite of these low yields relative to all other regions, cotton
continues as the major crop on most farms in Region VII, and the
region has maintained a relatively stable proportion of the United
States total acreage of cotton from 1928-32 to 1954.

While the data of table 10 gives actual average yields, and
production of cotton along with percentages, for later 5-year
periods, of relevant 1928-32 averages, and of the United States
totals or averages, table 11 presents relative numbers that indi-
cate for each region how that region's changes compare with
changes for the United States as a whole in acreage, yield, and
production of cotton, in comparison with its own past. For

example, under the column headed "Region IV" and opposite the
item "Acres of cotton in cultivation July 1 — 1950-54 average" is
the number 143. This means that for Region IV the 1950-54
acreage of cotton, as a percentage of the average for the period
1928-32, is 143 percent of the United States 1950-54 acreage
expressed as a percentage of the acreage for 1928-32.

In general, the important figures here are those relating to
yield. It will generally be found that, if the relative numbers
for a region are high, that region has maintained or increased
its importance as a cotton-producing region.

Table 11. — Ratio of Change Since 1928-32 in Acreage, Yield, and Production of Cotton in Each Region to Change for the

United States for Specified Periods : 1933 to 1954

(United States Change=100]

Region

Total, 10
regions

United

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

States

Acres of cotton in cultivation, July 1:

104
105
92

88
98
94

113

88
105
94
97
87

118
91

9fi

82
89
82

101
100
94

68
52
50

96
89
95
78
82
62

97
87
92
45
40
31

96
107
115
95
93
92

109
101
109
102
108
92

106
106
126
97
93
85

106
119
142
142
143
148

110
124
109
101
103
92

118
145
154
142
135
138

91
83
50
42
36
35

89
92
89
84
87
71

81
74
44
35
29
26

114
100
100

93
102

96

76
73
67
91
92
79

85
72
64
85
87
82

96
86
92
90
91
85

90
84
70
69
63
55

86
71
64
61
53
47

108
160
248
498
534
460

111
100
130
130
118
138

122
159
325
625
577
C35

121
141
1.50
277
291
298

97
94
102
124
135
125

118
132
154
340
360
373

226
314
446

788
902
752

134
116
110
119
133
133

303
356
522
883
1,110
1,007

101
102
104
107
109
106

101
86
103
103
106
98

105
102
108
110
110
104

100

Average 1938-42

100

Average 1943-47 _ . .

100

Average 1948-52.- .. - -

100

Average 1950-54

100

1954 . . . ---

100

Yield of lint per acre:

100

Average 1938-42

100

100

Average 1948-52

100

100

1954 . -

100

Bales of cotton produced:

Average 1933-37

100

100

Average 1943-47 -

100

Average 1948-52 __ - --.

100

Average 1950-54

100

1954 -

100

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION
Section 3.— TENURE OF COTTON FARMS

21

Detailed analysis of Ihe type of tenure, by which operators
of cotton farms control the land resources they use, and of the
economic implications of such tenure arrangements, is not an
important purpose of this report. But the tenure characteristics
of cotton farms have some effect on the interpretation of data
relating to land use, to production expenses, and to investment on
cotton farms, and the tenure of operator has some influence upon
the mobility of labor and other resources employed on farms.
Therefore, tenure arrangements of the operators of cotton farms
will be briefly examined.

PROPORTION OF COTTON FARMS OPERATED
BY CROPPERS

The legal status of croppers varies from Slate to State. Typical-
ly, the cropper is one who supplies only the labor input for the
farming operation. The landlord tyiiically provides the land and
the power and equipment used, and makes most of the managerial
decisions. Crops produced on cropper operations are usually
divided equally between the cropper and the landlord. The crop-
per usually pays for half the fertilizer used.

Because of these facts the cropper is often treated, in economic
analy.sis, as a farm laborer rather than as a farm operator; but
a farm laborer who shares directly some of the short-term risks
associated with the farm business.

In Census statistics, however, croppers are considered as farm
operators. The principal objective here, in examining the pro-
portions of cotton farms operated by croppers, is to bring out the
facts concerning the influence of cropper operations on (1) land
use, expenses, and investment for various economic classes of

cotton farms, and (.3) the probable mobility of labor and land
resources on various size-of-business groups of cotton farms.

Given the facts concerning the typical cropper operation It
would seem evident that: (1) The land associated with cropper
operations would tend to be very largely cropland, (S) livestock
enterprises would be at a minimum, and (S) to the extent that the
landlord does not operate a farm, or if he does, to the extent that
his farm falls in a different economic class from that of the crop-
per, production expenses and investment in machinery and equip-
ment may be understated in those economic classes where croppers
are found. Also, statistics for the economic class in which the
landlords are found may overstate production expenses, and reflect
investment in machinery and equipment that is not fully related
to the operation with which it is statistically associated.

Because of investments in laud and/or farm machinery and
equipment by farm operators other than croppers, it would seem
reasonable to infer that, with other considerations being equal,
there w-ould be a higher degree of mobility with respect to other
employment opportunities among croppers than among other
types of operators. The relatively rapid decline in numbers of
croppers seems to strengthen such an inference. It follows, also,
that the land resources used by croppers may be more readily
available than those controlled by operators of other tenure
statuses for use in future adjustments which entail increased land
re.sources per farm.

With these facts in mind, it is interesting to examine the data in
table 12 concerning the proportions of farms operated by croppers
for the various economic classes of cotton farms in the 10 desig-
nated production regions.

Table 12. — Percent Distribution of All Commercial Farm Operators, and Cotton Farm Operators in Each Economic Class

OF Farm, by Color and Tenure of Operator, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

Percent distribution

I

.Ml

coni-

niercial

farms

REGION I

All farm operators ..

White

Nonwhite

Owners, part owners, and

managers

White .--

Nonwhite

All tenants except croppers..

White

Nonwhite

Croppers

White

Nonwhite.-.

REGION II

All farm operators

White ,

Nouwtiite

Owners, part owners, and

managers

White ,

Nonwhite

AU tenants except croppers.

White

Nonwhite...

Croppers

White

Nonwhite

100.0
59.8
40.2

51.7
77.6
22.4

26.2
46.5
53.5

22.0
33.8
66.2

100.0
71.3

62.2
89.5
10.5

17.1
54.6
45.4

20.6
30.0
70.0

Cotton farms by economic class of farm

All
classes

100.0
38.8
61.2

38.3
57.6
42.4

32.3
31.2

29.4
22.7
77.3

100.0
48.1
51.9

38.1
72.5
27.5

25.7
44.4
66.6

36.2
25.2
74.8

100.0

98.3

1.7

98.0
2.0

9.8
100.0

1.4
100.0

100.0
100.0

95.7
100.0

4.3
100.0

100.0
92.8

76.3
97.5
2.5

17.5
79.2
20.8

6.2
73.7
26.3

100.0

93.9

6.1

93.9
93.5

6.5

6.1
100.0

III

100.0
58.8
41.2

44.7
81.9
18.1

30.4
49.5
50.6

24.9
28.8
71.2

100.0
81.7
18.3

71.6

92.5

7.5

9.6
76.4
23.6

18.7
42.9
67.1

IV

100.0
41.0
59.0

30.3
70.7
29.3

34.0
34.6
65.4

35.7
21.9
78.1

100. 0
51). 9
49.1

38.2
81.2
18.8

23.3
60.3
49.7

38.5
21.1
78.9

100.0
37.6
62.4

34.6
68.9
41.1

31.6
30.3
69.7

33.8
22.6
77.4

100.0
48.1
51.9

31.0
77.9
22.1

26.3
49.9
50.1

42.7
25.2
74.8

VI

100.0
27.5
72.5

45.0
34.5
65.5

33.7

22.2
77.8

21.3
21.2

100.0
46.6
54.4

42.2
65.0
35.0

26.7
37.8
62.2

31.1
26.0
74.0

Region and item

REGION III

All farm operators

White

Nonwhite..

Owners, part owners, and

managers

White

Nonwhite

AU tenants except croppers..

White

Nonwhite

Croppers

White

Nonwhite - . -

REGION IV

.\11 farm operators

White

Nonwhite

Owners, part owners, and

managers

White

Nonwhite... -

All tenants except croppers. .

White..

Nonwhite

Croppers

White

Nonwhite

Percent distribution

AU

com

mercial

farms

100.0
63.0
37.0

52.6
80.4
19.6

26.0
49.8
50.2

21.4
36.1
63.9

100.0
50.3
49.7

31.4
80.0
20.0

26.7
61.1
38.9

42.9
22.1
77.9

Cotton farms by economic class of farm

AU
classes

100.0
54.0
46.0

42.2
71.6
28.5

30.9
46.6
63.6

26.9
35.2
64.8

100.0
44.0
56.0

25.3
72.9
27.1

26.4
58.0
42.0

48.3
21.3

78.7

100.0
97.9
2. 1

81.7
97.4
2.6

16.8
100.0

1.5
100.0

100.0
8.6
1.4

68.1

98.8

1.2

29.3

98.5

1.5

2.6

93.5

6.5

100.0
91.6
8.4

66.5
91.5
8.5

25.8
95.4
4.6

7.7
80.6
19.6

100.0
93.0
7.0

46.7
93.3
6.7

47.6

94.3

6.7

6.7
81.3
18.7

III

100.0
77.4
22.6

46.0
89.4
10.6

32.7
81.7
18.3

21.3
45.0
55.0

100.0
72.9
27.1

29.3
86.0
14.0

43.6
81.1
18.9

27.1
46.5
64.5

100.0
62.2
37.8

38.9
81.2
18.8

29.5
60.5
39.5

31.6
40.4
59.6

100.0
46.3
53.7

23.8
73.5
26.6

27.4
55.4
44.6

48.7
27.8

■70 O

100.0
53.7
46.3

38.0
75.4
24.6

30.7
47.4
52.6

31.2
33.5
66.5

100.0
30.5
69.6

18.9
66.1
34.9

20.9
39.7
60.3

60.1
16.5
83.5

VI

100.0
46.7
54.3

47.4
60.3
39.7

31.9
32.9
67.1

20.7
32.1
67.9

100.0
27.7
72.3

29.4
54.0
46.0

17.4
34.4
66.6

53.2
11.0
S9.0

423019-

22

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 12. — Percent Distribution of All Commercial Farm Operators, and Cotton Farm Operators in Each Economic Class
OF Farm, by Color and Tenure of Operator, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

Region and item

REGION V

All farm operators

White

Nonwhite

Owners, part owners, and

managers

White

Nonwhite

All tenants except croppers-

White

Nonwhite

Croppers

White

Nonwhite

REGION VI

All farm operators

White

Nonwhite

Owners, part owners, and

managers

White -..,

Nonwhite- _

All tenants except croppers. .

White

Nonwhite

Croppers

White

Nonwhite

REGION VII

All farm operators

White

Nonwhite

Owners, part owners, and

managers

White

Nonwhite

All tenants except croppers...

White

Nonwhite

Croppers

White

Nonwhite

Percent distribution

All
com-
mercial
farms

100.0
80.0
20.0

76.6
87.0
13.0

16.7
66.6
33.4

6.6
34.0
66.0

100. 0
89.7
10.3

63.5
91.8
8.2

32.5
88.9
11.1

4.0
63.9
36.1

100.0
96.9
3.1

65.4

98.3

1.7

29.6

97.3

2.7

6.0
74.9
25.1

Cotton farms by economic class of farm

All
classes

100.0
57.0
43.0

56.1
66.3
33.7

28.4
63.3
46.7

15.5
30.1
69.9

100.0
79.3
20.7

41.7
76.6
23.4

50.2
84.4
15.6

8.1
61.3
38.7

100.0

94.4

5.6

50.9
97.0
3.0

40.0

96.1

3.9

9.1
72.3
27.7

100.0
100.0

100.0
96.2
3.8

75.8
100.0

70.3
95.9
4.1

18.6
100.0

27.9
96.8
3.2

5.6
100.0

1.8
100.0

100.0
97.0
3.0

63.1
100.0

33.9
100.0

100.0
19.8
0.2

70.5

99.8

0.2

28.5
100.0

1.0
100.0

100.0

97.4

2.6

43.6

98.5

1.5

62.5

97.5

2.5

3.9
83.3
16.7

100.0
99.7
0.3

61.7
99.8
0.2

35.9
(19.4
0.6

2.4
100.0

III

100.0
84.7
15.3

57.6
90.0
10.0

29.3
84.3
15.7

13.1
02. 6
37.5

100.0
91.8
8.2

36.6

92.9

7.1

56.0

93.0

7.0

8.4
80.0
20.0

100.0
19.2
0.8

50.7
99.7
0.3

44.8
99.2
0.8

4.5
94.1
5.9

100.0
70.8
29.2

63.1
83.4
16.6

28.3
68.7
31.3

18.7
38.0
62.0

100.0
81.4
18.6

32.8
82.2
17.8

67.8
86.3
13.7

9.4

49.1
60.9

100.0
96.7
3.3

46.9

98.8

1.2

44.1

98.0

2.0

9.0
79.6
20.6

100.0
57.7
42.3

49.5
73.4
26.6

29.8
62.3
47.7

20.6
27.9
72.1

100.0
72 7
27^3

41.9
74.9
25.1

50.1
74.2
25. S

8.0

51.7
48.3

100. 0
92.2

96.1
3.9

38.2
96.3
4.7

13.0
68.2
31.8

VI

100.0
42.9
57.1

61.0
49.0
51.0

27.6
38.8
61.2

11.5
20.5
79.5

100.0
48.8
51.2

67.1
44.1
53.9

24.4
53.8
46.2

8.5
72.2
27.8

100.0
76.6
23.4

62.8
84.6
15.4

29.6
76.1
23.9

17.6
53.7
46.3

Region and item

REGION VIII

All farm operators.

White

Nonwhite..

Owners, part owners,

managers

White

Nonwhite

and

All tenants except croppers..

White

Nonwhite

Croppers

White

Nonwhite.

REGION IX

All farm operators.

White

Nonwhite..

Owners, part owners, and

managers

White --.

Nonwhite

All tenants except croppers..

White

Nonwhite -_.

Croppers

White

Nonwhite.,

REGION X

All farm operators-
White

Nonwhite..

Owners, part owners,

managers

White

Nonwhite

All tenants except croppers..

White

Nonwhite -..

Croppers

White

Nonwhite,

Percent distribution

All

com-

rrercial

farms

100.0
99.6
0.4

81.9
99.8
0.2

17.5

98.6

1.4

0.6
100.0

67.3
99.8
0.2

32.1
99.7
0.3

0.6
97.6
2.4

100.0
96.4
3.6

86.6
96.7
3.3

14.3

94.9

5.1

0.2
100.0

Cotton farms by economic class of farm

All
classes

100.0

99.7

0.3

80.8
99.9
0.1

18.4

99.0

1.0

0.8
100.0

100.0
99.8
0.2

62.9
99.9
0.1

46.3
99.8
0.2

1.8
96.1
3.9

100.0

98.0

2.0

79.6

98.1

1.9

19.5

97.4

2.6

0.9
100.0

100.0

98.9

1.1

85.1
99.4
0.6

14.9
96.3
3.7

100.0

100.0

(Z)

56.2
100.0

42.6
99.9
0.1

1.3
100.0

100.0
99.4
0.6

77.6
99.3
0.7

21.4
99.6
0.5

1.0
100.0

100.0
99.6
0.4

80.9
100.0

18.7

98.0

2.0

0.4
100.0

100.0
99.9
0.1

48.6
100.0

50.0
100.0

L4

93.8

fi.2

100.0

98.2

1.8

75.9

97.9

2.1

23.6
99.3
0.7

0.7
100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0

16.3
100.0

0.4
100.0

100.0
100.0

54.1
100.0

44.5
100.0

1.5
100.0

100.0
97.8
2.2

81.2

98.8

1.2

18.1

93.2

6.8

0.7
100.0

IV

100.0
100.0

78.0
100.0

20.9
100.0

1.1
100.0

55.4
100.0

42.8
99.2
0.8

1.8
100.0

100.0

96.0

4.0

88.0

96.9

4.1

10.9
96.7
3.3

1.1
100.0

100.0
100.0

76.5
100.0

21.8
100.0

2.6
100.0

100.0

98.1

1.9

67.5

98.9

1.1

35.4

98.2

1.8

7.1
90.9
9.1

100.0

92.6

7.4

85.2

94.8

6.2

13.3

77.8
22.2

1.5
100.0

VI

100.0
100.0

79.6
100.0

20.4
100.0

100.0
95.2
4.8

66.7

92.9

7.1

23.8
100.0

9.5
100.0

100.0

94.7

5.3

6.1

10.5
100.0

2.6
100.0

Z 0.05 percent or less.

It will be observed that, from an overall standpoint, croppers are
an important tenure type only in Regions I through V of the humid
climatic belt. In the most westerly of these, Region V, croppers
account for only 15 percent of all cotton farm operators. In the
other four regions of this climatic belt they account for from 27 to
48 percent of all operators. The most significant fact brought out
is the large percentages of all operators in the three smallest size-
of-business groups that are croppers in Regions I through IV. It
will be recalled that these regions contain a preponderance of all
small size-of-business cotton farms.

Croppers are a relatively unimportant group in the five remain-
ing regions. They do account for about 13 and 18 percent, respec-
tively, of Class V and Class VI farms in Region VII; while in
Region VI they account for from 8 to 9 percent of the two smallest
size-of-business groups of farms.

TENANTS OTHER THAN CROPPERS

The proportions, among various regions, of the large farms that
are operated by tenants other than croppers provide some indica-
tion of the extent to which land for moderate to large size farm

businesses is available, and attractive to persons with limited
capital.

Both relatively and absolutely small proportions of the operators
of Class I and Class II farms in Regions I and II are found in this
tenure category. In Region II a verj' small proportion of Class III
farms are in this tenure group.

At the other extreme, a relatively high proportion of larger farm
business groups are found in this tenure group in Regions IV and
IX (the Mississippi Delta and the High Plains of Texas, respec-
tively). In Region X (the irrigated West) the proportion of tenants
other than croppers is low, but the proportions of Class I and II
farms found in this tenure group are substantially above the
percentage for all farms. In Region VI, a substantial 34 percent of
Class I farms are found in this group, while the percentages of
Classes II and III farms there are larger than those for all farms.

In Regions III, V, and VII the percentages of Classes I and II
farms operated b.y tenants other than croppers are smaller than the
proportion of all farms found in the tenure group. For Region
VIII, there are less than proportional percentages of both Classes
I and III farms in this tenure group.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION
Section 4.— THE LAND RESOURCE AND ITS UTILIZATION

23

Land accounts for the major part of total investment on all
sizes of cotton farms and, for a given region, the quantity of land
controlled by an operator of a cotton farm is, generally, positively
associated with the level of return to him for his labor and manage-
ment.

The present distribution of the land resource among the eco-
nomic classes of cotton farms for the ten regions is therefore a
useful statistic. Some summary information of this type is given
in table 13.

Table 13. — All Land in Farms, Total Cropland, and
Irrigated Land, by Economic Class of Cotton Farm,
Total of Ten Regions: 1954

Economic class of farm

Item

AU
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

All land in farms million acres..

Percent distribution percent. .

Total cropland million acres. _

Percent distribution.. _ percent. .
Irrigated land million acres..

Percent distribution percent..

62.5
100.0

3S.9

100.0

5.5

100.0

15.4
24.7
10.0
25.7
4.2
75.5

9.4
15.0

6.4
16.5

1.0
18.3

8.9
14.2

6.9
15.1

0.2

4.1

10.9
17.4
7.0
18.0
0.1
1.5

11.2
18.0

6.6
16.6
(Z)

0.5

6.7
10.7

3.1

8.1
(Z)

0.1

Z 0.05 million or less.

DISTRIBUTION OF LAND, BY MAJOR USES

In 1954, there were approximately 62.5 million acres of land in
cotton farms in the 10 regions with which this report is concerned.
In these 10 regions as a whole, a little more than half of this
land (54 percent) was on farms in the three largest size-of-business
groups (Classes I to III). Twenty-nine percent was in farms
with gross sales of less than .$2,500 and the remaining 17 percent
was in farms having sales of $2,500 to $4,999.

Cropland is generally of considerable significance to cotton
farms. The distribution of cropland by economic class of farm,
for our 10 regions in the aggregate, is given in table 13. The
percentage of cropland found on cotton farms in the first 3
economic classes is slightly larger than the proportion of all land;
conversely, the 2 smallest size-of-business groups account for
one-fourth of the cropland and 29 percent of all land.

Table 13 shows also the distribution of irrigated land among
economic classes of farms. In our 10 regions there were 5.5
million acres of irrigated land. This is equivalent to about 14
percent of all cropland on cotton farms. About 98 percent of
this irrigated land was on the three largest size-of-business groups
of farms, and more than three-fourths of it was on farms in
Economic Class I. Many farms have attained a volume of sales
that placed them in the larger size-of-business groups because of
the use of irrigation.

The distribution of land resources among economic classes for
the total of our 10 regions, should be considered along with the
distribution of farm numbers for the same aggregates. Table
8 shows that 61 percent of all cotton farms fall in Classes V and
VI; 17 percent in Classes I, II, and III; and 22 percent in Class IV.

Data on land distribution for all 10 regions as a whole are
useful but, averages for large nonhomogeneous areas niay be

somewhat misleading. There are some striking differences among
the regions with respect to distribution of the land resources
among economic classes of cotton farms. Table 14 gives data
for individual regions on the distribution of land by major-use
classes for each economic class of farm. First, let us examine
the individual regions with respect to the distribution of cropland
among economic classes.

The 4 regions where the highest proportions of cropland are
on farms in Classes V and VI are Regions I, II, III, and V. In
Region I, 39 percent of all the cropland is on Classes V and VI
farms. Comparable percentages for other regions in this group
are: Region II, 69 percent; Region III, 52 percent; and Region
V, 44 percent.

In Region IV ("the Mississippi Delta"), Region VI (the
Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Prairie), and Region VII (the Black
Prairie and Rio Grande Plains of Texas and the Rolling Plains
of Texas and Oklahoma) the proportions of total cropland on
Classes V and XI farms are, respectively, 18, 14, and 15 percent.

The 3 remaining regions in which very small proportions of
total cropland are found on the two smallest size-of-business
groups of farms are Region VIII (the lower Rio Grande Valley),
Region IX (the High Plains of Texas), and Region X (the arid
irrigated areas of far western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and
the San Joaquin Valley of California).

Regions with low percentages of cropland in Classes V and VI
farms have relatively high proportions in Classes I, II, and III.
Similarly those with high percentages on Classes V and VI farms
have low percentages on the larger farms. In Regions I, II, III,
and VI the percentage of total cropland on Classes I through III
farms ranges from 12 to 37 percent, well below the 10-region
average of 57 percent. Regions IV, VI, and VII have, respec-
tively, 63, 65, and 61 percent of their cropland on farms in Classes
I through III. In Regions VIII, IX, and X the proportions of
cropland on the three larger groups of farms range from 92 to
98 percent.

An interesting aspect of the distribution of land by major-use
categories among economic classes for the several regions is the
variation by regions of the proportion that cropland is of total
land in farms. In Regions II, III, and V cropland accounts for
only about 50 percent of all land in farms for most economic
classes. Generally, the proportion rises slightly from Class I
to Class IV; tends to drop for Class V and shows a marked drop
for Class VI. Region I exhibits a similar pattern, but the ratio
of cropland to all land is somewhat higher. In all of these regions
most of the noncropland is accounted for by woodland.

As would be expected, farms in "the Mississipiji Delta," Region
IV, have a higher ratio of cropland to total land in farms than
farms in the 4 regions mentioned above. In Region IV, generally,
cropland accounts for from 70 to 75 percent of all land in farms,
but on Class VI farms the average is about 60 percent. Again,
most noncropland here is woodland.

The general ratio of cropland to all land in Regions VI and
VII is about 62 and 71 percent, respectively. In Region VI,
however, cropland accounts for only a little more than 50 percent
of total land in the 2 smallest size-of-business groups, and in
Region VII cropland is less than 60 percent of all land for Class
VI farms. In these areas noncropland is likcl.v to be open pasture.

24

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 14. — Land Use for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGION I

Land in farms, acres -..

Percen t distribution

Total cropland , acres ._

Percent of land in farms

Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres

Percent of total cropland

Percent distribution

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not harvested and not pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Open permanent pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Woodland pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Woodland not pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of all land in farms

Irrigated land in fanns, acres

Percent distri bution

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of total cropland

REGION II

Land in farms, acres

Percent distribution

Total cropland, acres

Percent of land in farms

Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acre^

Percent of total cropland

Percent distribution

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution ._

Percent of all cropland.--.

Cropland hot harvested and not pastured, acres.

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Open permanent pasture, acres -

Percent distribution - -

Woodland pastured, acres -

Percent distribution

Woodland not pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of all land in farms

Irrigated land in farms, acres

Percent distribution _

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of total cropland

REGION III

Land in farms, acres

Percent d istr ibution

Total cropland, acres

Percent of land in farms

Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres _.

Percent of total cropland

Percent distribution

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution -

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not harvested and not pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Open permanent pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Woodland pastured, acres.

Percent distribution

Woodland not pastured, acres

Percent distribution -

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting --

Percent of all land in farms -

Irrigated land in farms, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of total cropland

Z 0.05 percent or less.

Economic class of farm

All classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

6, 044, 937

525, 465

766. 313

891, 348

1, 499, 797

1. 648. 762

814, 262

100.0

8.7

12.7

14.7

24.8

26.6

13.5

3, 521, 137

271, 633

387. 667

522, 912

950, 466

941, 817

446, 642

58.2

51.7

60.7

68.7

63.4

60.8

54.8

100.0

7. 7

11.0

14.8

27.0

26.7

12.7

2, 949, 769

216, 060

310. 801

446,148

828, 672

797,071

361, 027

83.8

79.6

80.2

85.3

87.2

84.6

78.6

100.0

7.3

10.5

15.1

28.1

27.0

11.9

269, 618

32, 315

47, 776

33, 140

62, 418

68,442

26, 627

100,0

12.5

18.4

12.8

24.0

22.5

9.8

7 4

11.9

12.3

6.3

6.6

6.2

6.7

311.750

23,268

29. 090

43, 624

59, 376

86, 304

70,088

100.0

7 5

9.3

14.0

19.0

27.7

22.5

8.9

8.6

7,5

8.3

6.2

9.2

15.7

199,469

31, 967

43. 642

27, 351

41,840

39. 009

16,660

100.0

16,0

21,9

13,7

21.0

19,6

7.8

689, 303

50, 551

88. 634

99, 974

180, 916

168. 912

100, 317

100.0

7.3

12.9

14.5

26.2

24,5

14,6

1, 606, 784

163, 596

230, 792

226,399

295, 172

364. 490

226. 335

100.0

10 9

15.3

15.0

19 6

24,2

15.0

128,244

7,718

14, 578

14, 712

31,404

34,524

26. 308

71.6

92.7

87.0

78.3

69.3

69.7

72.6

2.1

1.5

1.9

1.6

2.1

2.2

3.1

1,937

660

232

870

125

36

15

100.0

34.1

12.0

44.9

6.4

1.8

0.8

0.3

9.8

1.5

1.3

0.3

0.1

(Z)

0,1

0.2

0.1

0.2

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

3,217,057

49,690

130, 103

222, 242

542, 177

1, 200, 662

1, 072, 183

100.0

1.5

4.0

6.9

16.9

37 4

33.3

1, 609, 357

22,078

68,903

112,628

306, 166

625, 368

484, 214

50.0

44.5

45.3

50.7

56.5

52.1

46.2

100.0

1.4

3.7

7 0

19.0

38.9

30.0

1, 231, 478

15, 716

39, 774

77, 873

241, 665

497, 690

358, 760

76.5

71.0

67 6

69.2

78.9

79.6

74.1

100.0

1.3

3,2

6 3

19.6

40.5

29.1

153,050

4,722

12, 103

20, 307

30, 919

47. 049

37,960

100.0

3.1

7.9

13.3

20.2

30,7

24.8

9.5

21.4

20,5

18,0

10.1

7.5

7.8

224, 829

1,640

7,026

14,448

33, 582

80. 629

87,504

100.0

0.7

3.1

6.4

15.0

36.9

38.9

14.0

7 4

11.9

12.8

11.0

12.9

18,1

233, 169

2,320

16, 685

24,772

37, 982

81. 549

70. 961

100,0

1.0

6.7

10.6

16 3

35 0

30.4

462, 799

10,837

23,013

28,738

68, 165

161. 251

160. 796

100.0

2.4

5, 1

6.3

15.1

35.6

35.6

821, 664

13, 805

30, 164

50,690

114,237

295. 136

317. 622

100 0

1.7

3,7

6 2

13.9

35.9

38.6

100,078

650

2,438

5,414

16, 627

37. 358

38.591

82,4

95.7

98.9

87.1

84.4

81.9

82 0

3.1

1,3

1.9

2.4

2.9

3.1

3,6

230

70

160

30.4
0.2
(Z)

69 6
0.2

(Z)

0 1

(Z)
13, 870, 811

744, 657

930, 129

1. 358, 694

3, 114, 584

4. 561. 951

3, 100. 796

100.0

5.4

6.7

9.8

22.5

32.9

22.8

6, 922, 192

375, 092

463, 713

720, 033

1, 747, 812

2, 285, 530

1, 330, 012

49.9

60.4

49.9

.53.0

66,1

50.1

42.1

100.0

6.4

6.7

10.4

25.2

33.0

19.2

5, 292, 736

270,993

322, 727

530, 856

1. 379. 807

1. 807, 517

980, 836

76.5

72.2

69.6

73.7

78.9

79.1

73.7

100.0

5.1

6.1

10.0

26. 1

34.1

18.5

975, 355

81, 899

100, 825

129,458

231, 472

268, 158

163, 643

100. 0

8.4

10.3

13.3

23.7

27.5

16.8

14.1

21.8

21.7

18.0

13.2

11.7

12.3

054, 101

22, 200

40, 161

69. 719

136, 533

209, 855

185, 633

100.0

3.4

6.1

9.1

20.9

32.1

28.4

0.4

5.9

8.7

8.3

7 8

9.2

14.0

1, 629. 066

95, 679

134, 688

160, 589

321, 445

494, 642

332, 223

100.0

6.3

8.8

9.8

21.0

32.4

21.7

2, 437. 868

111, 666

155, 036

211, 437

440, 446

821,846

697, 437

100.0

4.6

6.3

8.7

18.1

33.7

28.6

2. 395. 308

140, 296

143, 266

224,520

477, 861

756,473

652, 893

100.0

5.8

6.0

9.4

20.0

31.6

27.2

586,377

22,024

33. .527

52, 116

127, 020

203,460

148, 231

77.6

90.3

85.2

82.3

77.6

76.0

78.7

4.2

3.0

3.6

3.8

4.1

4.6

4.7

13. 676

9,283

917

1,191

1.035

1,000

150

100.0

68.4

6.7

8.8

7.6

7.4

1.1

0.2

12,0

1.6

1,1

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.2

2.5

0.2

0.2

0.1

(Z)

(Z)

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

Table 14. — Land Use for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions; 1954 — Continued

25

R('<;i<)n and item

REGION IV

Land in farms, acres

Percent distribution

Total cropland, acres

Percent of land in farms.
Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres

Percent of total cropland

Percent distribution

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not har^■estcd and not pastured, acres..

Percent distr ibu tion

Percent of all cropland

Open permanent pasture, acres.

Percent distribution

Woodland pastured, acres

Percent distr ibut ion

Woodland not pastured, acres...

Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting..

Percent of all land in farms.

Irrigated land in farms, acres. . .

Percent distribution

Percent of farms reporting.
Percent of total cropland...

REGION V

Land in farms, acres

Percent distribution .

Total cropland , acres

Percent of land in farms.
Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres ..

Percent of total cropland...

Percent clistrilmtion

Cropland for pasture, acres .

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not ha'xesied and not pastiu-ed, acres..

Percent distrihutinn

Percent of all cropland

Open permanent pastme, acres.

Pei'cent distriliution.

Woodland pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Woodland not pastured, acres...

Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting..

Percent of all land in farms.

Irrigated land in farms, acres...

Percent distribution

Percent of farms reporting.
Percent of total cropland.. .

REGION VI

Land in farms, acres

Percent distribution..

Total cropland, acres

Percent of land in farms.
Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres

Percent of total cropland

Percent distribution

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not harvested and not pastured, acres..

Percent distribution

Pei-cent of all cropland

Open permanent pasture, acres.

Percent distribution..

Woodland pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Woodland not pastured, acres...

Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting..

Percent of all land in farms.

Irrigated land in farms, acres...

Percent distribution

Percent ol farms reporting.
Percent of total cropland. ..

Economic class of farm

All classes

9, 662. 737
100.0

B. 984, 120
72.4
100.0

6. 078. 243

87.0

100.0

596. 847

100.0

8.5

310.030

100.0

4.4

403. 098
100.0

822. 460

100.0

I,0tl.47S

mil 0

3HK. f.'.H
61.fi
4.1

189. 326

100.0

2.S

3. 272. 463
100. 0

1. 652. 770
50. 5
100.0

l.lll. 184
67.2
100.0
380. 962
100.0
23 0
160. 624
100. 0

626. 941

ion 0

692. 8 10

100 0

318. loa

100.0

82.449

78.6

2.5

17. 568

100.0

1.1

1.1

9.39, MA
100. (1

585. 819
62.3
100. U

495. 546

84.0

100.0

43. 213

100.0

21.5

47. 060

100.0

8.0

233. 397

100.0

81,919

100.0

17.809

100.0

20.720

2.2

81.6

6.306

100.0

1.5

l.I

2. 973. 423
30.8

2. 088. 189
70,2
29.9

1. 807. 642
86.6
29.7
211.739
35.5
10.1
68.808
22.2
3.3

137, 714

34.2
234, 940

28. 6
385. 614

36.9
120. 966

87.2
4,3

115, 347

60.9

20. 1

5.5

400. 320
12.2

210. 844
52.7
12.8

145. 468
69.0
1.3.1
53, 913
14.2
25. 6

11. 4&3
7 1
5.4

90. 035

17.1

60. 281

8.7

29,304

9.2

9.862

93.5

2.6

12. 395
70.6
30.2

6.9

135. 770
14. 6

83.068
61.2
14.2

65. 0.59
78.3
13.1

8,508
19.7
31.5

9. .501
20.2
11.4

32. 966

14.1

17. 304

21. 1

337

1.9

2,096

1.6

82.1

3.636
57.7
9.5
4.4

1.663.157
16.2

1, 156. 546
73,9
16.6

1.012.384
87.6
16.7
96. 636
16.0
8.3
47. 626
16.3
4.1

54.973

13.6

117. 228

14.3

169. 608

16.2

65. 802

85.2

4.2

29. .897
1.5.8
8.3
2.6

314.996
9.6

173. 662
.55. 1
10.5

120. 497

69.4

10.8

43.228

11.3

24.9

9.927

6.2

.5.7

55. 226
10.5

56. 039
8.1

22. 324

7.0

7.755

87.5

2.5

3, 245
18,5
8.3
1.9

232. 260
24,7

140. 667
60.6
24,0

115.830
82.3
23.4

10.363
24.1
31.7

14. 464
30.7
10.3

59. 559

25.5

19. 234

23,4

10, 266

57,7

2,546

1.1

85.5

400
6.3
0.6
0.3

III

1.541.368
16,0

1. 163. .641
76.6
16.7

1. 036. 655

89.0

17.0

81.900

13.8

7,0

46. 986

14.8

4.0

50.465

12.5

128. 780

15.7

138. 643

13,3

59. 939

67,1

3.9

20. 626

10.9

4.3

1.8

465. 109
14,2

224. 149
48.2
13,6

162,443
72,5
14.6
42, 437
11, 1
18. 9
19, 269
12 0
8,6

87, 853

16. 7

103, 641

1,5.0

41 320

13.0

8. 146

73.8

1.8

5.7
2.3
0.4

240. 712
25.6

161.771
67.2
27.6

141. 197

87,3

28.6

7.149

16.4

20.4

13. 425

28.5

8.3

59. 668

25,6

12. 133

14.8

2, 797

15.7

4.343

1.8

83.1

1.3(»

21.6

2.0

0.8

1. 731, 674
17.9

1. 291. 585
74.6
18.5

1, 139. 706

88.2

18.8

91.089

15.3

7.1

60.790

19,6

4.7

69. 342

17.2

144, 222

17.5

161, 749

16.5

fH.776

50.8

3.7

15. 777
8.4
2.9
1.2

609. 949
18.6

319, 760
62.1
19.3

227, 677
71.2
20,5
64. 397
16,9
20.1
27. 786
17.3
8.7

94.220

17.9

133. ,527

19.3

48. 621

15.3

13. 821

74.6

2.3

865
4,9
1.8
0.3

177, 640
18.9

116, 823
6.6.8
19.9

102. 185

87.5

20,6

8.433

19.4

21.6

6.205

13,2

6.3

40. 044

17,2

13. 468

18.5

1.500

8.4

6,705

3.2

81.2

606
9.6
1.7
0.5

1. 406. 916
14.6

1. 028, 309
73.1
14,7

887. 726

86.3

14.6

80, 513

13.5

7.8

60. 070

19,4

6.8

60. 674

16.0

129. 482

16.7

128. 459

12.3

60, 092

42.6

4.3

6.850
3.6
1.4
0.7

765. .309
23.1

388, 051
61.4
23.5

260. 729
67.2
23.6

87. 328
22.9
22,5

39. 994
24.9
10.3

103. 1.58

19.6

171.412

24.7

72. 369

22,7

20.319

73.2

2.7

30
0.2
0.2

(Z)

109. 742
11.7

60,760
55.4
10.4

62, 830
86.8
10.7
6. 896
13 7
21.5
2. 035
4.3
3.3

29, 610

12,7

13. 195

16.1

2.060

11,5

4,127

.3.8

81.8

305
4.8
1.1
0.5

VI

(7.)

436. 199
4.5

256. 950
58.9
3.7

195. 130
75.9
3.2
34, 970
5.9
13.6
26.860
8.7
10.4

30, 030

7.4
67, 798

8 2
60, 405

5,8

21.016

48.3

4.8

830
0.4
0.8
0.3

726. 774
22.2

336. 314
46,3
20,3

194, 470
.57.8
17.5

89. 6,59
23.6
26.7

62. 186
32,5
15,6

96. 449

18,2

167. 910

24,2

104. .625

32,8

22, 546

84.2

3.1

35
0,2
0,1

43. 640
1,6

22.740
52.1
3 9

18, 445
81,1
3.7
2.866
6.7
14.6
1.430
3 1
6,3

11,550

4,9

6.585

8.1

860

4,8

1,906

4.4

76.5

Z 0. 05 percent or less.

26 FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 14. — Land Use for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

Region and Horn

REGION VII

Land in farms, acres

Percent distribution

Total cropland, acres

Percent of land in farms.
Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres

Percent of ftal cropland

Percent distribution

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not harvested and not pastured, acres..

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Open permanent pasture, acres-
Percent distribution

Woodland pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Woodland n< t pastured, acres...
Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting. .
Percent of all land in farms..

Irrigated land in farms, acres...

Percent distribution

Percent of farms reporting.
Percent of total cropland...

HEGION VIII

Land in farms, acres

Percent distribution

Total cropland, acres

Percent of land in farms.
Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres

Percent of total cropland

Percent distribution

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not harvested and not pastured, acres..

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland...

Open permanent pasture, acres .

Percent distribution

Woodland pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Woodland not pastured, acres...

Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting. .

Percent of all land in farms.

Irrigated land in farms, acres...

Percent distribution..

Percent of farms reporting.
Percent of total cropland...

REGION IX

Land in farms, acres

Percent distribution

Total cropland, acres

Percent of land in fai-ms.
Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres

Percent of total cropland

Percent distribution

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not harvested and not pastured, acres.

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Open permanent pasture, acres.

Percent distribution

Woodland pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Woodland not pastured, acres..

Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Percent of farms reporting, .

Percent of all land in farms.

Economic class of farm

Irrigated land in farms, acres. .

Percent distribution

Percent of farms reporting.
Percent of total crojiland..

11, 276, 398
100.0

7, 957, 946
70.6
100.0

6, 501. 564

81.7

100.0

704, 177

100.0

8.8

752, 205

100.0

9.5

2, 152. 798

100.0

862. 883

100.0

77. 511

100.0

225, 260

81.7

2.0

163, 413

100.0

3.4

1.9

1, 128, 563
100.0

919, 109
81.4
100.0

737, 061

80.2

100.0

52, 588

100.0

5.7

129, 470

100.0

47.6

66, 716

100.0

73. 534

100.0

16, 666

100.0

63, 638

86.8

5.6

484, 807
100.0
52.7
83.1

6, 657, 656
100.0

6, 232, 355
78.6
100.0

4, 742, 138

90.6

100.0

149, 073

100. 0

2.8

341, 144

100.0

6.5

1. 269. 285

100.0

31,368

100.0

7. 346

100.0

117,302

91.2

1.8

1,930.642
100.0
60.6
36.9

1, 314, 335
11.7

916, 960
69.8
11.6

799, 793

87.2

12.3

64, 184

• 9.1

7.0

52, 983

7.0

5.8

255, 419

11.9

109, 527

12.7

7,681

9.9

24, 748

86.6

1.9

83,593
64.6
25.8
9.1

647, 862
57.4

512, 408
79.1
55.8

2, 378, 047
21.1

1, 693, 256
71.2
21.3

1, 396, 242

82.5

21.6

146, 846

20.8

8.7

150, 108

20.0

485. 139

22.5

146. 109

16.9

15, 329

19.8

38, 214

86.6

1.6

47, 673
31.1
13.6
2.8

268, 359
23.8

228. 245
85.1
24.8

421. 789

183, 208

82.3

80.3

57.2

24.9

36, 089

10, 439

69.8

19.8

7.2

4.6

63, 930

34. 598

41.6

26.7

46.4

50.4

39, 465

11, 146

69.7

19.6

60. 839

13, 209

69.1

18.0

10, 336

1.650

66.4

10.0

34, 814

14. 109

90.6

85.2

5.4

6.3

288,300

110, 574

69.5

22.8

56.3

48.4

85.1

80.2

3,201,171

2, 140. 343

48.1

32.1

2, 630, 229

1,780,409

79.0

83.2

48.4

34.0

2, 329, 364

1, 627. 198

92.1

91.4

49.1

34.3

61, 893

46,611

41.6

31.3

2.4

2.6

138, 972

106,600

40.7

31.2

5.5

0.0

612, 664

307, 231

48.3

24.2

7,294

8,245

23.3

26.3

3,556

2,026

48.4

27.6

47,428

42, 433

91.4

92.3

1.5

2.0

1,313,214

553,303

68.0

28.7

90.5

69.6

51.9

31.1

3, 036, 156
26.9

2, 192. 596
72,2
27.6

1, 793, 010
81.8
27.6
197, 555
28.1
9.0
202, 031
26.9
9.2

666, 773

26.3

207, 128

24.0

11,890

15.4

67, 769

85.6

1.9

16, 384
10.0
3.7
0.7

119, C40
10.6

103. 495
86.5
11.3

79, 033
76.3
10.7
4,145
7.8
4.0
20, 317
15.7
61.3

5,375
9.5

2,240
3.0
800
.5.2

7,730
90.3
6.6

63, 270
11.0
51.5
84.1

762, 566
11.6

669, 629
74.7
10.9

497, 770

87.4

10.6

21, 765

14.6

3 8

60. 094

14.7

165, 948

13.1

11,374

36.3

565

7.7

15, 050

91.2

2.0

63, 270

2.8

31.3

9.4

IV

2, 684, 486
23.8

1, 926, 637
71.7
24.2

1, 549, 891
80.5
23.8
171. 288
24.3
8.9
204. 468
27.2
10.6

481, 361

22.4

199, 008

23 1

20, 996

27.1

56. 883

82.7

2.1

3,963
2.6
1.0
0.2

64, 916
4.9

44, 430

80.9

4.8

34,600

77.9

4.7

565

1.1

1.3

9,265

7.2

47.9

705
1.2

5,190
7.1
406
2.6

4,186

84.1

7.6

21, 970
4.6
49.4
86.6

362, 010
6.4

239, 690

66.2

4.6

205, 406
86.7
4.3
12, 484
8.4
5.2
21, 800
6.4
9.1

108, 687

8.6

3,425

10.8

825

11.2

9,383

87.4

2.6

9,080
0.4
15.2
3.8

1, 441. 665
12.8

986. 270
68.4
12.4

781. 639
79.2
12.0
96, 236
13.7
9.8
108, 396
14.4
11.0

267, 860

12.4

138. ,679

16.1

12, 610

16.1

36, 446

78.2

2.5

1,960
1.3
0.7
0.2

29,637
2.6

23,381
79.1
2.5

VI

1,700
0.1
12.3
6.1

421, 710
3.7

243, 227
57.7
3.1

180, 989
74.4
2.8
28. 069
4.0
n.5
34, 169
4.5
14.0

96, 246

4.5

61, 932

7.2

9,105

11.7

11, 200

74.1

2.7

840
0.5
1.0
0.3

8,150
0.7

7,150
87.7
0.8

15. 306

3,115

65.4

43.6

2.1

0.4

455

295

0.9

0.6

6.9

4.1

7,620

3.740

5.9

2.9

41.0

38.9

25

?)

1,951

105

2.7

0.1

2.370

5

15.2

(Z)

1.910

890

79.6

77.8

6.4

10.9

8,683

2,010

1.8

0.4

37.1

28.1

83.6

76.9

171,231

20,335

2.6

0.3

105, 588

6,810

61.7

33.6

2.0

0.1

77, 960

4,450

73.8

65.3

1.6

0.1

5, 966

3,56

4.0

0.2

5.6

5.2

21, 673

2,005

6.4

0.6

20.5

29.4

62, 655

12,200

4.9

0.9

826

205

2.6

0.7

225

150

3.1

2 0

2,038

970

88.2

90.5

1.2

4.8

(Z)

4.8
1.1

Z 0.06 percent or less.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

Table 14. — Land Use for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

27

Region :lnd itonl

KEGIOM X

Land in farms, acres. ,..-

Percent distribution

Total cropland, acres. .-. . -

Percent of land in farms

Percent distribution

Cropland harvested, acres

Percent of total cropland

Percent distribution.

Cropland for pasture, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Cropland not liarvested and not pastured, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of all cropland

Open permanent pasture, acres

Percent distribution...

Woodland pastured, acres..

Percent distribution

Woodland not pastiu'cd, acres

Percent distribution

Other land, acres

Pcrceiit of farms reporting..

Percent of all land in farms

Irrigated land in farms, acres

Percent distribution

Percent of farms reporting..

Percent of total cropland.

Kconoraic class of farm

All classes

6, 433, lie,
lUO.O

3, son. n7fi

.14. R
10(1.0

2, 680, SS.I

76. H

100. 0

174, 062

100.0

a.o

64.";, 639

100. 0

18.4

2, 616, 417

100.0

110, .307

100.0

17, 787

100. 0

282. 629

91.3

4.4

2, 737, 1(10
100,0
99.4
78.1

6, 434, 874
84.5

3,000,211
6.6.2
86. n

2, 310, 230

77.0

86.0

134, 635

77.4

4.5

655, 346

.86. 0

18.5

2, 153, 607

86. 6

5fi. 895

61.6

10. 189

67.3

213. 972

92.0

3,9

2,351,018
85.9
99.6

78.4

066, 100
10.4

34,6,310
61.8
9.8

266, 7.39

74.3

9.6

,30, 694

17.6

8.9

67, 877

9.0

16.8

264, 566

10.5

7, 145

6.4

.3. 518

19.7

4.6. 571

94.1

0.8

266, 878

9.8

99.8

74.3

III

216,811
3.4

108, 799
60.2
3.1

81,886

75.3

3.0

5, 377

3.1

4.9

21, ,536

.3.3

19.8

76, 103

3.0

16, 090

14.6

1,996

11.2

1.3, 81S

94.2

6.4

80, 159

2.9

99.0

73. 7

97, 146
1.6

38, 968

40.2

1.1

28, 022

71.8

1.0

2, 226

1.3

5.7

8,720

1.3

22.4

20, 144

0. S

,30, 171

27.4

2, 0,60

11.6

5, 813

87. 3

6.0

2j, 692

1,1

9S.9

73. 6

16, 370
0.3

11,333
68. 9
0.3

8,418

74.3

0.3

1, 075

0.6

9.5

1,840

0.3

16.2

1, 982
0.1

26

0.2

3,030

86.6

18.5

9,228
0.3
98.5
81.4

VI

(Z)

1,815

(Z)

1,455
80,2

(Z)

(Z)

1,090
74.9

45
(Z)
3.1
320
0.1
22.0

25

(Z)

10
0.1
325
47.4
17.9

1,125

100.0
77.3

Z 0.05 percent or less.

Cotton f;irm,s in Region V'lII liavc, for all economic clas.S'.'S, a
higher ratio of cropland to all land than is found in an.y other
region. The range by economic class is from almost 80 to about
90 percent. The highest percentage of cropUind is found on
Class VI farms. This differs from the pattern observed in the
other seven regions, but appears to be what might logically be
expected of small farms in an irrigated region.

In the High Plains of Texas (Region IX) cropland accounts for
around 80 percent of all land for farms in Classes I, II, and III.
These three cla,sses comprise about 85 percent of all cotton farms
in this region. The ratio of cropland to all land drops to GO per-
cent for Class IV farms, 02 percent for Class V, and 34 percent
for Class VI, Virtually till noncropland is classed as open pasture.

The irrigated cotton farms of the West (Region X) exhibit,
from Classes I through IV^ (about 95 percent of all cotton farms
are encompassed by these economic cl;isse,s), a ratio of cropland to
total land which is about the same as that found in the rougher
wooded regions of the East. The probable explanation here is
that available water for irrigation is the limiting factor in deter-
mining the amount of cropland. In the absence of water for
irrigation most of this land is suitable only for rather extensive
types of utilization. Many of the larger operators probably
controlled large acreages of this land before the advent of irrig.a-
tion. Class VI farms in Region X have an average of more than
80 percent of all land in cropland, and on Cla,ss V farms the per-
centage is about 70.

The data on land use for individual regions show some interest-
ing facts about the distribution of irrigated land. Irrigation is an
influential element on cotton farms only in Regions VIII, IX, and
X. These regions have about 95 percent of the 10-region total
acreage of irrigated land on cotton farms. In Region X, of course,
practically no cotton is or can be grown except under irrigation.
In Regions VIII and IX, on the other hand, this crop is also grown
without irrigation. Since available moisture is the limiting factor
for growing cotton in each of these regions, the yields on non-

irrigated land are only one-fourth to one-half as high as those on
irrigated land.

In Region IX only Class I farms appear, on the average, to
have enough irrigated land to permit all cotton acreage to be
grown under irrigation. For Class II farms in this region it
would appear that irrigated land is available for about 70 [jercent
of the cotton acreage, while on Class III farms the average acreage
of irrigated land is only about 25 percent of the average acres of
cotton harvested. In this region farms in Economic Classes IV
through VI have very little irrigated land.

Apparently, in Region VIII, the extent of irrigated land avail-
able is about equal to cotton acreage harvested on farms in Classes
I through IV, but is somewhat le.ss than cotton acreage for farms
in Classes V and VI. In these two classes a very large proportion
of tlie available cropland seemed to be idle.

LAND VSK AND ENTERPRISE ORGANIZATION
PER FARM

The data available in table 15 permit examination of the use of
the land resource as it is found on typical farms for each economic
class.

Total Acres Per Farm

In all regions farms in Economic Class I have relatively large
acreages of land. In The Lower Rio Grande Valley (Region
VIII) the average land size for Class I farms is smaller than for
any other region. Their average size here is 710 acres. The
highest average land area for this largest size-of-business group is
found in Region II, the Southern Piedmont, where Class I farms
average more than 2,000 acres. After Region II, the largest
average total acreages per Class I farm are found in Regions I,
III, V, VII, and X. In each of these 5 regions the average Class
I farm has well over 1,000 acres of land.

Class I farms in the 3 remaining regions (IV, VI, and IX) have
average total acre-size ranging from about 760 acres in The High
Plains of Texas (Region IX) to around 990 acres in the "Mississippi
Delta" (Region IV).

28

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

The average acre-size of Class II farms is very substantially
smaller in all regions than those of farms in Economic Class I.
The range for the 10 areas is from a little over 700 acres in Region
II to just over 200 acres in Region VIII. It will be recognized
that these are the same regions in which the largest and smallest
average acre-size for Class I farms are found.

In general the average acreage for Class III farms is about one-
third to one-half that for farms in Class II. The range among our
regions for Class III farms is from highs of around 320 acres in
Regions IX and VII to lows of just over 100 acres in Regions lY,
VIII, and X.

With respect to average total acreage jier farm in Economic
Classes IV through VI, three distinct groups of regions are dis-
cernible. In reference to the range among the ten regions in
average acreage size for each of these three economic classes, the
three regional groups may be termed the high group, the low group,
and the medium group.

The high group is composed of Regions V, VII, and IX. Within
this regional group region average acreages for Class IV farms
range from about 165 to about 250. The range for Class V farms

is from just over 100 to about 220 acres, while for Class VI farms
the range of region average acreages per farm is from 80 to about
190 acres. Various combinations of low yields and relatively
large amounts of noneropland result in these relatively large aver-
age acreages for farms in these economic classes in this regional
group.

The regional group having relatively low average acres per
farm for Economic Classes IV through VI is comprised of Regions
IV, VIII, and X. The ranges within this group for regional average
acreage per farm are: From about 50 to 80 acres for farms in
Class IV, from about 25 to 40 acres for Class V farms, and from
10 to 30 acres for farms in Class VI. These relatively low average
acreages per farm are probably the result of both high yields per
acre, and relatively small acreages of noneropland per farm.

The medium group with respect to region-average acre-sizes
of farms in Classes IV through VI is comprised of the remaining
four regions. These are Regions I, II, III, and VI. The ranges
in region-average acres per farm for this regional group are: For
Class IV farms, from about 75 to around 110 acres; for Class V
farms, from 60 to 75 acres; and for Class VI farms, from about 40
to 00 acres.

Table 15. — Land Use on Cotton Farms Per Farm, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGION I

All farms- number..

All land in farms. .-acres per farm..

Total cropland do

Cropland harvested do

Cropland nsed only for pasture:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Cropland not harvested and not
pastured;

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Open permanent pasture, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms...

Woodland pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land In farms

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting.

Percent of land in farms

Average specified crops:
Cotton:

Acres per farm

Percent of cropland harvested . . .

Corn for all purposes;

Acres per farm reporting..

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested..

Tobacco;

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. .

Peanuts for all purposes:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested . .

AU hay:
Acres— percent of cropland har-
vested

-\cres of specified crops as percent of
cropland harvested

Economic class of farm

AW
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

57, 374
105

287
1,831

1, 234

620

4,399
203

14, 858
101

20, 841

74

15, 755
52

61
51

946
763

314
252

119
101

64
56

45
38

28
22

22
20.3

172
65.5

79
49.3

25
30.3

20
21.4

16
18.3

10
16. 1

22
25.3

186
43.9

67
36.4

37
27.0

20
20.1

17
24.1

16
30.0

29
12.1
3.3

266
41.8
6.1

100

36.4

6.7

33

18.8
3.1

24
11.9
2.8

16
11.6
2.6

11
8.9
1.9

47
25.5
11.4

320
65.1
9.6

138
61.9
11.6

64
35.2
11.2

60
24.3
12.1

34
24.0
10.8

27
23.3
12.3

71
37.1
24.9

670
85.0
31.1

272
68.9
30.2

120
43.0
25.4

61
32.5
19.7

49
3.6.4
23.5

37
38.5
27.8

16
32.1

225
29.8

74
29.4

33
32.5

19
34.6

12
31.7

7
30.4

23
92.7
42.0

183
90.9
22.2

91
93.6
33.9

41
96.0
38.0

26
93.8
43.4

20
92.7
47.3

12
91.0
60.6

2
15.4
0.7

9
19.5
0.2

5
16.9
0.3

4
22.1
0.8

3

20.7
1.0

2
14.9
0.7

1
91
0.6

11

39.8

8.8

79

33.1

3.4

38
60.3
7.6

21

48.6

9.9

13
44.3
10.3

9

41.fi
9.3

6

29.9

7.1

2.6

6.6

3.2

2.4

2.1

2. 1

3.1

86.1

61.2

74.4

83.6

91.3

91.1

91.6

Region and item

REGION n

All farms number-
All land ill farms... acres per farm-
Total cropland do_

Cropland harvested. . do

Cropland used only for pasture:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent, of farms reporting

Cropland not harvested and
not pastured:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Open permanent pasture, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Woodland pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms -_.

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Average specified crops:
Cotton:
Acres per farm -..

Percent of cropland harvested..

Cora for all purposes:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested . .

Wheat:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. .

Oats:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting.

Percent of cropland harvested . .

All hay:
Acres—percent of cropland har-
vested

Acres of specified crops as percent of
cropland harvested

Economic class of farm

All

classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

40, 263
80

23
2,160

180
723

747
298

4,803
113

16,027
75

18, 483
58

40
31

960
683

327
221

161
104

64
60

39
31

26
19

19
19.6

296
69.6

146
46.1

58
46.6

25
25.3

16
18.9

12
17.4

17
33.6

182
39.1

70
56.6

43
44.7

24
28.9

17
29.8

13

37.5

17

33.9

7.2

211

47.8

4.7

128
67.8
12.0

72
45.9
11.1

23

34.6

7.0

16
33.2

6.8

11
33.6
6.6

28
40.1
14.1

642
87.0
21.8

147
87.2
17.7

64
59 8
12.9

34
41.3
12.6

26
38.6
13.4

22
39.9
15.0

46
43.9
26.5

767
78.3
27.8

226
74.4
23.2

107
63.3
22.8

61
46.2
21.1

46
40.3
24.6

38
46.3
29.6

12
40.6

219
32.0

83
37.5

39
37.8

22
44.3

13
42.6

7
36.6

11
90.3
31.2

118
95.7
16.5

46
89 4
18.3

24
89.0
20.2

14
91.6
25.8

11
90.6
31.5

8
89.7
38.7

6

30.9

6.5

165
39.1
8.9

29
63.9
7.0

17
65.2
9.0

9

42,0

7.1

6
34.4
6.5

4

23.7

6.2

10
27.3
8.8

124
78.3
14.2

62
69.4
19.4

29
65.7
18.0

14

40.4
10.9

8

28.1

7.3

5
21.2
6.0

10.7

15.9

15.6

12.7

10.7

10.0

10.4

97.8

87.6

97.8

97 7

98 8

97.9

96.9

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

Table 15. — Land Use on Cotton Farms Per Farm, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

29

Rogion and itorii

REGION nr

All farms uuraber..

All land in farms. . .acres per farm..

Total cropland -do —

Cropland harvested do

Cropland used only for pasture:

Acres per farm reporting.

Percent of farms reporting

Cropland not harvested and not
pastured;

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Open permanent pasture, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms _

Woodland pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting. _

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Average specified crops:
Cotton:
Acres per farm

Percent of cropland harvested. .

Com for all purposes:

Acres per farm reporting..

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested, .

Soybeans:

Acres per farm reporting

Percen t of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. _

All hay:
Acres— percent of cropland har-
vested .

Acres of specified crops as percent
of cropland harvested

REGION IV

All farms _._ number..

All land in farms.. acres per farm..

Total cropland do

Cropland harvested. _.._. do

Cropland used only for pasture:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Cropland not harvested and not
pastured:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Open pennanent pasture, acres:

Acres per fann reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Woodland pastmed, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of laud in farms

Average specified crops:
Cotton:

Acres per farm

Percent of cropland harvested. .

Com for all purposes:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. .

Oats:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested, _

Soybeans:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. .

Rice;

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. .

All hay:
Acres— percent of cropland har-
vested _.

Acres of specified crops as percent of
cropland harvested

Z 0,05 percent or less.

Economic class

of farn

.\11

I

11

III

IV

V

VI

classes

171, 185
81

475
1,668

1.672
656

6,888
197

32, 740
96

69, 768
66

69, 642
63

40
31

790
671

277
193

106
77

53
42

.33
26

22
16

26
22.9

270
63.8

123

49.2

48
39.4

25
27.9

18
21.0

14
19 6

16
24.4

163
28.6

73
33.0

30
29.3

18
22.9

14
22.2

11
27,1

26
34.3
11,0

451

44.6
12.8

192
41.9
14.6

62
36.2
11.1

29
34.3
10.3

21
33,8
10.8

16
34.6
10.6

39
36,7
17.6

624
44,8
15,0

188
49.2
16, 7

80
38.4
16.6

40
33. G
14.1

36
33.9
18.0

29
41.0
22.1

48
29.4
17.3

618
57.1
18.8

206
41,6
15.4

94
34.8
16.6

49
30.0
15.3

39
27.5
16.6

36
30.1
20.7

13
40.6

209
36.6

70
36.2

32

41.1

18
42.6

11
41.8

6
37.4

16

90.7
42.4

14

88.6
18.5

119
90.3
27.4

30
91.7
36,0

19
91.7
42.4

13

90.9
45.8

9
89.7
61.1

16
10.0
4.9

258
49.9
22.6

83
38,2
16.5

25

22,0

7,0

13
14.6
4.4

6
9.0
2.0

3
6.2
L3

7.2

9.0

10,9

9,6

6.7

6.6

6,1

95,0

86.7

91,0

93,7

96.1

96.1

96,0

128, 046
75

2,991
994

5,956
262

15, 075
1(12

35, 824
48

50,913

28

17,287
26

55
47

698
604

194

170

69

36

32

20
17

15
11

25
18,5

140
50.6

40
39,9

18
29,5

14
18,1

13
12.4

14
14,9

20
12,4

92
25.1

42
18.8

22
14,0

14
12,2

12
9.7

10
14,9

27
11,5
4,2

211
21.9
4.6

52
17.6
3.5

24
13,9
3,3

16
12,7
4,0

13
8.9
4.3

16
10,8
6,9

51
12,6
8,6

271
29.0
7.9

105

18.8
7,6

67
14.9
8.4

33
12,1
8,3

26
9.7
9.2

26
16,2
16,6

63
12,9
10,8

305
42.2
13,0

114
24.9
10.9

61
17.9
9.0

36
12,6
9,3

29
8.7
9.1

28
12,3
13,8

23
49,3

236
39,0

69
40,8

34
49.1

19
59,1

11
65.0

7
61.9

12
56,6
14.3

70
72,0

8,4

28
74.8
12.3

15
67.5
15.0

10
60,6
18,6

7
61.1
20.1

6
45.1
24.0

32
6,9
4,6

121
45.2
9.1

37
22,8
6,0

18
11,1
2.9

9
6,4
1.9

7
3.3
1.4

5
3.1
1.6

44
28.0
26.0

229
84.7
32.1

78
81,1
37,2

39
64,0
30,3

19
29,0
17,5

12
16.1
10,8

9
10.3
7.9

83

0.6
0.8

221
6.0
2.2

44
1,0
0,3

42
0,7
0.4

16
0,6
0.3

7
0,1
(Z)

2
(Z)

(Z)

3.7

5.2

4,0

2.8

3.2

2,2

4.0

98,7

96,0

99.6

100.6

100.6

99,5

99,3

Region and item

REGION V

All farms number.

All land in farms acres per farm..

Total cropland...--... do...

Cropland harvested -..--do —
Cropland used only for pasture:

Acres per farm reporting

Perci'iil of farms reporthig -..
Croidand not harvested and not
pastured:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Open permanent pasture, acres:

Acres per farm reportrng. ,

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Woodland pastured, acres;

Acres i>er farm reporting

Perct-nt of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Average specified crops:
Cotton:
Acres per farm

Percen t of crojiland^har vested. . ,

Corn for all purposes;

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. . .

Oats;

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. . .

Soybeans for all pmposes; i.- h:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. . .

All hay;
Acres — percent of cropland har-
vested

Acres of speci^ed crops as percent"of
cropland harvested .

REGION VI

All farms. number.

All land in farms. _. acres per farm..

Total cropland do —

Cropland harvested do

Cropland used only for pasture:

Acre? per [arm ro]>orting

Percent of farms reporting

Cropland not harvested and not
pListured;

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Open permanent pasture, acres:

Acres per farm reporting.

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms -

Woodland pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reportuig

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of land in farms

Average specified crops;
Cotton:

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of croidaud harvested. . .

Corn for all purposes;

Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested.. .

Sorghum for all j^nrposes:

Acres per farm reporting..-

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested...

Sweetpotatoes:

Acres per farm reporting.

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested. . -

All hay:
Acres— percent of cropland har-
vested

Acres of specified crops as percent of
cropland harvested -

Economic class of farm

-\I1

cl.isscs

I

ir

III

IV

V

\

22, 267
147

215
1,862

662
571

1,521
306

3,672
166

7,194
105

9,

74
50

981
677

315
218

147
1U7

87
62

64
36

51
33.7

499
50.2

168
49.5

80
34.8

61
34.2

41
30.0

3

28
26.9

176
30.2

66
27.4

47
26.7

35
21.6

25
21.9

3

66
36.2
16.1

826
50.7
22.6

225
44.4
17.5

130
44.6
18.9

74
34.5
15.4

41
34.8
13.7

3
1

70
44.8
21.2

494
56.7
15,1

230
44,2
17,8

163
41.7
22.3

89
41.0
21.9

60
39.9
22.7

5
2

66
21.7
9.7

661
20.9
7,3

186
21,7
7.1

140
19.5
8,9

70
18.8
8.0

55
18.3
9.6

2
1

26
51.8

327
48.3

106
48,2

57
63,2

34

65.4

20
65.8

4

14
81.6
22.1

89
73.6
9.6

36
76,6
12,5

23
79,2
17,1

17
79.0
22,0

12
78,2
26.2

8
3

26
4.2
2.1

130

29.8
6.7

36
26,4
4,2

24
10,3
2,3

13
6,3
1,4

9

2.8
0.7

42
6.9
6.9

184
29.3
8.0

98
36,4
16,4

56
19.0
10.0

24
12,8
6,0

16
4.6
2.0

9.8

17.1

11,2

11.3

8,2

7.6

91.7

88.8

92,6

93.9

92.0

92.3

9

7,996
118

168

808

773
300

1, 776
136

2,397

74

1,816
60

1,

73
62

494
387

182
160

91
80

49
43

33

29

26
21.6

161
31.5

42
31.7

20
20.4

16
21,5

15
21.5

I

24
24.6

120
47.0

46
40.5

21
36.6

12
21.7

8
14.0

1

65
63.2
24.8

320
61.3
24.3

123

62.9
25.7

53
63.6
24.8

32

52.4
22.6

35
46.8
27.0

4
2

76
13.4
8.7

386
26.8
12.7

150
16.6
8.3

91
7.6
5.0

65
10.3
7.6

46
16.7
12.0

2
1

70
3.2
1.9

66
3.6
0.2

684
L9
4.4

42
3.7
1.2

21
2.9
0.8

40
2.8
1.9

32
62.0

206
53.0

84
56.4

41

52,2

22
61.8

13

45.0

4

16

87.8
22.6

46
76.0
8.9

29
89.0
17.1

20
91,3
23.3

13
91.7
28.3

11
84.0
31.8

8
4

21
32.8
11.3

126
67.3
21.8

45
52.4
15.8

16
48.1
9.8

9

29.2

6.4

20.1
5.2

1

6

22.1

1,6

1
15.5
(Z)

"io.'s"

7
21.7
0.8

6

24.9

4.2

4

23.7
4.6

2.

6.0

4.2

4.1

5.0

4.2

8.0

1

92.5

87.9

93.4

91.1

94.9

94.5

9

30 FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 15. — Land Use on Cotton Farms Per Farm, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

Economic class uf farm

Economic class

of farm

Rni^icn aBcl item

All

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

All

I

11

III

IV

V

VI

classes

classes

REGION VII

REGION IX

AU farms number- .

44, 947

1.194

4,441

9, 467

13, 812

11, 373

4,660

All farms number

14, 660

4,196

6,797

2,344

1,438

771

106

AU land in farms. ..acres per farm. .

251

1,101

635

321

194

127

90

All land in farms. ..acres per farm..

454

763

369

325

252

222

194

Total cropland do

177

763

381

232

139

87

,52

Total cropland do...

357

603

307

243

167

137

65

Cropland harvested do

145

670

314

189

112

69

39

Cropland harvested do

324

555

281

212

143

101

42

Cropland used only for pasture:

Cropland used only for pasture:

Acres per farm reporting

39

126

70

44

30

25

23

Acres per farm reporting

26

40

20

22

23

26

18

Percent of farms reporting

39.7

42.7

47.4

47.9

41.2

33.4

26.8

Percent of farms reporting. .

39.2

37.2

41.0

43 1

37.7

29 8

19 0

Cropland not harvested and not

Cropland not harvested and not

pastured:

pastm-ed:

Acres per farm reporting

45

133

79

51

39

28

26

Acres per farm reportmg

68

89

.58

63

48

74

50

Percent of farms reporting

37.4

33.3

42.8

41.6

38.3

34.6

29.2

Percent of farms reportmg

34.0

37.2

31.8

33.8

31.8

37.9

38.1

Open permanent pasture, acres:

Open permanent pasture, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

91

535

213

104

66

45

44

Acres per farm reporting.. .

183

306

125

142

136

160

152

Percent of farms reporting

52.4

39.9

.51.2

67.4

62.9

61.8

46.5

Percent of farms reporting. _ . .

47.3

47.7

42,4

49.7

66. 1

64.0

76.2

Percent of land in farms

19.1

19.4

20.4

18.7

17.9

18.6

22.8

Percent of land in farms

19.1

19.1

14,4

21.8

30.0

36.5

60.0

Woodland pastured, acres:

Woodland pastured, acres:

100

616

214

129

77

67

52

.4cres per farm reporting

130

228

113

140

110

55

20

Percent of farms reporting

19.3

14.9

15.4

16.9

18.8

21.2

25.4

Percent of farms reporting. . .

1.7

0.8

1.3

3 6

2 2

1 9

9 5

Percent of land in farms

7.7

8.3

6.1

6.8

7.4

9.6

14.7

Percent of land in farms

0.5

0.2

0.4

1.6

0.9

0.5

1.0

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Acres per farm reporting

43

154

79

31

37

31

40

Acres per farm reporting .

74

102

72

94

82

15

30

Percerit of farms reporting

4.1

4.2

4.4

4.1

4.1

3.6

4.8

Percent of farms reportmg

0.7

0.8

0.6

0.3

0.7

1.9

4 8

Percent of land in farms

0.7

0.6

0.6

0.4

0.8

0.9

2.2

Percent of land in farms

0.1

0.1

0, 1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.7

Average specified crops:
Cotton:

Average specified crops:
Cotton:

Acres per farm reporting .

Percent of cropland harvested. -

Acres per farm..

71

299

153

96

57

35

19

144
44.4

241
43.3

128
46.6

97
45.8

63
44.0

47
46.4

17
39.9

Percent of cropland harvested. . .

49.3

44.6

48.8

49.9

50.7

50.9

49.6

Sorghum :

Sorghum for all purposes:

Acres per farm reporting

57

296

112

62

37

24

14

Acres per farm reporting

164

270

143

107

76

56

32

Percent of farms reporting. .

64.9

87.7

81.1

76.6

64.7

55.9

44.1

Percent of farms reporting

96.3

97.8

97.2

95.9

89.4

81.7

67.1

Percent of cropland harvested.- -

25.7

38.8

28.8

24.7

21.6

19.4

16.0

Percent of cropland harvested.

48.3

47.6

49. 6

48.1

46.8

4,5.7

43.8

Corn for all purposes:

Wheat:

Acres per farm reporting ._

26

60

44

37

26

18

12

.\cres per farm reportmg

86

132

66

68

60

31

36

Percent of farms reporting

53.1

26.6

33.9

44.3

66.5

62.8

66.3

Percent of farms reporting. . . .

17.6

2.5.3

14.7

14.8

16.0

11.0

14.3

Percent of cropland harvested..

9.2

2.4

4.7

8.7

12.2

16.6

20.6

Percent of cropland harvested..

4.7

6.0

2.9

4.0

6.3

3.4

12.1

Small grams:

,\11 hay:

Percent of cropland harvested..

6.1

7.1

7.9

6.4

6.4

3.4

2.7

Acres — percent of cropland bar-

0.8

0,9

0.6

0.8

1.3

1,1

3 8

All hay:

Acres— percent of cropland har-

Acres of specified crops as percent of

3!

3.0

4.2

4.4

5.2

6.4

cropland harvested

98,1

97.8

98.6

98.7

97.3

96,6

99.7

Acres of specified crops as percent of

REGION X

cropland harvested

94.4

95.9

93.8

93 8

All farms number. -

All land in farms., acres per farm. -

11,868
643

4,602
1,207

3,066
217

2,036
107

1,389
70

676
24

190
10

REGION VIII

All farms number. .

5,299

913

1,307

1.142

911

756

270

Total crophnid do...

296

666

113

63

28

17

8

All land in farms. ..acres per farm.-

213

710

206

105

60

39

30

Criiplaiul harvested do

227

513

84

40

20

12

6

Total cropland do

173

661

175

91

49

31

26

Cropland used only for pasture:
Acres per farm reportmg

61

114

36

12

9

13

3

Cropland harvested.. do

139

402

140

69

38

20

12

Percent of farms reporting. ..

24.2

20.3

28.7

22.2

18. 5

12.6

7.9

Cropland used only tor pasture:

Cropland not harvested and not

Acres per farm reporting.

49

141

31

14

8

6

10

pastured:

Percent of farm reporting

20.2

28.6

26.0

26.9

8.2

9.3

11.1

Acres per farm reporting

138

257

50

31

20

11

9

Cropland not harvested and not
pastured ■

Percent of farms reporting

39.4

48.0

37.9

34.3

31.8

2,5.9

18.4

Acres per farm reporting

51

127

53

35

21

26

36

Percent of farms reporting

47.6

46.4

60.4

51.3

47.9

41.0

38.9

Acres per farm reporting

1,292

2,439

496

258

106

64

2

Open permanent pasture, acres:

Percent of farms reporting

16.4

19.6

17.4

14.6

13.7

4.6

7.9

Percent of land in farms. .

39.1

39.6

39.7

35. 1

20.7

12.1

1.4

Acres per farm reporting

140

362

100

41

14

Percent of farms reporting

7.7

11.9

8.5

11 5

5 5

0 7

Woodland pastmed, acres:

Percent of land in farms

5.0

6.1

4.2

4.5

1.3

829

1,211

149

671

2, 165

1.0

31.1

Percent (jf farms reportmg

I.l

1.7

1.0
1.0

1.6
1.1

1.2

7.4

Woodland pastured, acres:
Acres per farm reporting

318

1,182

166

37

247

122

21

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Percent of farms reportmg

4.4

4.7

6.5

6.3

2.3

2.1

1.9

Acres per farm reportUig-

95

170

76

60

08

6

2

Percent of land in farms

6.6

7.8

4.9

1.9

9.6

6.6

1.3

Percent of farms reporting. . . .

1.6

1.3

1.6

2.0

2.2

0.7

2.6

Woodland not pastured, acres:

Percent of land in farms.

0.3

0.2

0.6

0.9

2.1

0.2

0.6

Acres per farm reporting

177

369

82

53

40

237

1

Percent of farms reporting

1.7

3.1

1.5

1.3

1. 1

1.3

1.9

Cotton-

Percent of land in farms

1.4

1.6

0.6

0.7

0.7

8.0

0.1

Acres per farm

108

238

45

23

14

8

6

Average specified crops;

Percent of cropland harvested-.

47.7

40.6

63.2

66. 6

70.8

04.7

81.7

Cotton:

Sorghum for all purposes:

80
67.3

257
65.6

80
67.3

44
64.2

22
67.7

13
63.4

8
73.0

.Acres per farm reporting

Percent of farms reportmg

65
23.9

100
33,6

28
26,6

22
15.9

11
8.0

17
8.3

6
6.3

Percent of cropland harvested..

Com for all purposes:

Percent of cropland harvested...

6.8

6.5

8.9

8.7

4.3

11.3

5.5

Acres per farm reporting

13

33

13

9

7

7

4

Barley:

Percent of farms reporting

30.2

29.1

32,9

36.4

25.9

21.2

33.3

222

309

36

25

17

14

Percent of cropland harvested..

2.9

2.1

3.1

4.6

4.7

7.4

10.4

Percent of farms reporting

24.5

44.4

19.4

11.9

4.0

2.2

Sorghum for all purposes:

Percent of cropland harvested- -.

24.0

26,7

8.0

7.3

3.5

2.6

Acres per farm reporting

72

167

69

28

13

12

4

Irish potatoes:

Percent of farms reporting

46.4
23.9

73.6
26.6

54.4
22.8

50.4
20.1

32.5
11.0

21.2
12.3

IB. 7
6.1

Acres per farm reporting--

Percent of farms reporting

Percent of cropland harvested .

56
2.9
0.7

67
6,2
0.8

12
1.6
0.2

2
0.7
(Z)

Percent of cropland harvested . .

All hay:
Acres — percent of cropland bar-

Alfalfa mixtures:

1.6

1.9

0.9

1.3

1.6

2.5

Percent of cropland harvested. ..

13.3

12.6

20.4

15.1

11.4

7.4

3.2

Acres of specified crops as percent of

Acres of specified crops as percent of

85.7

86.2

84.1

90.2

76.0

85.6

88.6

93.6

94.2

91.2

87.6

89.0

85. 9

90.4

Z 0.06 percent or less.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

31

Cropland and Cropland T'se

As cotton farms are, by definition, those on which sales of cotton
and cottonseed account for 50 percent or more of total farm sales,
they depend primarily upon the cropland component of their land
resources. For this reason the size and utilization of the cropland
resources merit examination for the various economic classes of
cotton farms. An examination of the enterprise utilization of the
cropland resource also gives a useful indication of possible short-
term alternative cropland uses.

In general, region average acreages of cropland per farm show
about the same patterns of variations among the ten regions for
each economic class of farm as the average acreages of all land in
farms, which were discussed above.

The approximate range in region-averages of cropland per farm
for each economic class i.s as follows;

Class I — from about 980 acres (Region VI) to about 500
acres (Region V).

Class II — from about 380 acres (Region X) to about 115

acres (Region VII).
Class III — from about 240 acres (Region IX) to about 55

acres (Region X).
Class IV — from about 1(15 acres (Region IX) to 28 acres

(Region X).
Class V — from aliout 135 acres (Region IX) to about 15 acres

(Region X).
Class VI — from 65 acres (Region IX) to about 10 acres
(Region X).
In general, as was the case with average total acres per farm,
the region-averages of cropland per farm for Classes III through
VI tend to fall in three groups. Regions V, VII, and IX have
relatively large average acreages of cropland for farms in these
economic classes. Regions IV, VIII, and X have relatively small
averages of cropland acreage, and Regions I, II, III, and VI have
cropland averages per farm that fall between those of the other
tw o regional groups.

Table 16. — Percent Distribution for All Commercial Farms and for Cotton Farms in Each Economic Class, by Acres

IN Farm, by Regions: 1954

All
com-
mer-
cial
farms

Cotton farms by economic class of farm

Region and size of farm

All
com-
mer-
cial
farms

Cotton farms by economic class of farm

Region and size of farm

All

classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

All
classes

100. 0

2.0

34.7

28.1

25.7
7.1

1.7
0.7

100.0
0.2
7.4
17.3

38.9
27.0
6.9
2.3

100 0

2.5

30.2

18.6

24.9
15.7
5.3

2.8

100.0
0.1
2.0
3.8

27.2

41.5

19.6

5.8

100.0

2.6

25.7

17.1

21.6

17.1
8.4
7.6

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

REGION I

Number of farms, total

Under 10 acres

100.0
3.7
37.7
22 2

20.9
10.0
3.4
2.1

100.0
4.5
34.0
23.7

23.8

. 9.6

3.0

1,4

100.0

4.1

42.2

22.6

19.9
7.5
2.3
1.4

100.0
12.0
52.2
14.4

11.8
5.8
2.3
1.6

100.0
2.5
19.8
19.9

29.9
17.6
6 3
4.0

100.0

2.6

45. 0

25.3

18.3
6.1
1.8
0.9

100.0
3.1
48.7
24.3

18.1
4.6
0.9
0.3

100.0
4.5
60.1
23.0

16.7
4.4
0.9
0.4

100.0
13.2
.57.3
14.1

9.7
3.6
1.3
0.9

100.0
2.0
33.4
23.5

26 7
10.5
2.5
1.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0
(Z)
37.3
31.0

23.0
7.2
1.2
0.3

100.0
0.1
34.2
27.3

27.6
8.8
1.7
0.4

100.0
0.3
39.8
28.4

23.7
6.7
0.9
0.2

100.0
0.9
70.5
18.0

8.7
1.7
0.2
(Z)

100. 0

100.0
0.9
49.6
27.2

17.8
3.9

0.5
0. 1

100.0
0.4
51.4
24.4

18.7
4.4
0.6
0.1

100.0

2.9

65.0

22.9

15.3
3.4
0.4
0.1

100.0
17.1
70.3
8.5

3.5
0.5

n.i

(Z)

100.0

1.3

37.2

23.3

28.3
8.7

100.0
8.4
69.4
19.5

10.4
1.9
0.3
0. 1

100.0
6.4
52.6
23.9

14.9
2. 1

n. 2

(Z)

100.0

9.3

65.4

20.8

12.3
2.0
0.2

(Z)

100.0
4.5.7
41.9
8.5

3.3

0.5
0.1
(Z)

100.0
4.0
40.6
28.8

22.1
3.9
0.6

(Z)

REGION VI

Number of farms, total

Ui\der 10 acres

100. 0

2.7

20.7

19.8

24.7
16.6
8.4
7. 1

100.0
1.2
5.9
13.4

34.0
28.6
10.2
6.7

100.0

4,0

31.9

18.2

23.1
14.2
6.4
3.2

100.0
1.4
1.8
2.1

12.7
31.9
28.1
22.0

100.0

7.1

38.2

16.3

13.9
9.6
6.1
9.8

100. 0

100. 0

100. 0

100. 0

100.0
0.6
69.4
23.9

14.3
1.4
0.3
0.1

100.0
0. 1
12.3
33.9

43.1
9.7
OS
0, 1

100,0
7,9
79.4
6.0

5.3

100.0
14.1
66.4
21.1

7.6
0.9

10 to 49 acres . -.

13.6
25.6

33.8
18.5
7.2
1.4

100.0

10 to 49 acres

3.0
47.6
32.7
16.7

100.0

0.6
6.2

50. 5
36.9
4.5
2.3

100.0

7.0
36.3

47.9
6.5
2.0
0.3

100 0

40.7
37.5

19.4
2.1
0.3

(Z)

100,0

50 to 99 acres .

3.4

5.2

23.0

68.4

100.0

1.6

16.3
39.7
28.0
14.4

100.0

60 to 99 acres

100 to 219 acres

100 to 219 acres

220 to 499 acres -

220 to 499 acres

500 to 999 acres

500 to 999 acres

1,000 acres and over

1,000 acres and over

REGION II

Number of farms, total

Under 10 acres

REGION VII

Number of farms, total

Under 10 acres

100.0
1 2

10 to 49 acres

6.4
17.4

26.8

35.5

12.2

2.7

100.0

0.3
2.3

33.7

52 2

9 6

1.9

100,0

2.5
15.0

55,2
24,3
2,6
0.4

100.0

1.1

69.9

25.8

10,9
1, 1
1.1
0, 1

100.0

50 to 99 acres

50 to 99 acres

1.7
28.9
35. 6
33.8

100,0

0.6

14.2
4,8,4
28,7
8, 1

100.0

34 5

100 to 219 acres

100. 6

100.0

11.1
38.9
31.1
18.9

100.0

24,8

220 to 499 acres

220 to 499 acres

500 to 999 acres

500 to 999 acres

0.6
0.1

100.0

1,000 acres and over

1,000 acres and over

REGION III

Number of farms, total

Under 10 acres

REGION VIII
Number of farms, total

10 to 49 acres-

Is. 6'
27.2
54.2

100.0

1.2

4.8

25.8
31.0
25.1
12.1

100.0

27.3
22. 2

24.4

lU. 1

.5.4

1.6

100. 0

13.1
49.3
23.7
13.9

100.0

1. 1
16.1

5.5.8

23,4

2,3

1,3

100.0

21,5
42.9

28 4
6 1
0,9
0,2

100,0

70.3
1.9

1 9

50 to 99 acres

50 to 99 acres

100 to 219 acres.-

100 to 219 acres

220 to 499 acres _

500 to 999 acres..

1.3
0.1

100.0
0,6
13,6
14,3

40.2
24.7
5.8
0.8

100.0
20.7
73.3
2.2

3.7

1.9

1,000 acres and over

REGION IV

Number of farms, total

Under 10 acres

REGION IX

Number of farms, total

Under 10 acres

100.0
4 8

10 to 49 acres

0.3

0.5

3.7
29.6
34.5
31.4

100.0

1.5
11.5

47.8
29.9
7.0
2.3

100.0

31.8
34.1

26.7
6.2
1.0
0.2

100. 0

10 to 49 acres

1.7
8.1

31 4
49.0
7.7
2.1

100.0

7.6
9.3

47.7

27.8

6,3

1,3

100.0

1.8

82.7

7.6

6.8
1.1
0.4
0.6

33 3

60 to 99 acres

2.2
45.6
37.8
14.5

100.0

1.9

36.7
41.7
16 9
2,8

100,0

100 to 219 acres

100 to 219 acres

220 to 499 acres

23.8
23 8

220 to 499 acres ___.

500 to 999 acres

500 tn 999 acres

9 6

1,000 acres and over...

REGION V

Number of farms, total

Under 10 acres...

REGION X

Number of farms, total

Under 10 acres

10 to 49 acres

100.0

10 to 49 acres... ..

9.8
12.1

34.3
31). 0
9.3
4.5

25.0
19.9

33.4
17.5

0. 1
1.4

22.3
37. 6
20.6
18.0

6.4
40.2

41.9
8.7
1.2
1.6

57.3
30.0

7.6
2.7
1.5
0.9

21 1

60 to 99 acres

2.3

14.0
33.0
50.7

1.8

23.7
40. 8
19.0
14.7

50 to 99 acres

100 to 219 acres

2.6

100 to 219 acres

220 to 499 acres

220 to 499 acres

500 to 999 acres

500 to 999 acres.

3. 2 0. 9
1. 0 0. 3

1,000 acres and over

1,000 acres and over

0.1

Z 0.05 percent or less.

32

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Cropland utilization. — Data in table 15, concerning the acres of
cropland per farm and the jjercent of cropland used for various
major crops indicate that: (1) A higher percentage of harvested
cropland was devoted to cotton for the smaller than for the larger
size-of-farm business groups; and (2) fewer alternative crops of
a cash type are grown on the smaller farms than on the larger
farms. These indications suggest that the smaller size-of-busi-
ness farms in all regions are more dependent on cotton production
than the larger farms.

Data from both tables 14 and 15 bring out the significant fact
that, in all regions and for all economic classes, a substantial pro-
portion of cropland on cotton farms was idle in 1954. As 1954
was the first year since 1950 in which marketing quotas and

acreage allotments were in effect for cotton, it is probable that a
higher-than-usual acreage of cropland remained idle because, in
one season, acceptable alternative uses had not been found.

In table 15 the average acreage of cotton harvested per farm
is given for each economic class of farm in each region. The data
of tables 17 and 18 afford some indication of the variation of the
acreage of cotton from these averages for each economic class in
each region. For example. Class II farms in Region I had an
average of 74 acres of cotton. Data in table 17 reveal that 24
percent of these Class II farms harvested between 25 and 49
acres of cotton; 56 percent, between 50 and 99 acres; and 19
percent, between 100 and 199 acres.

Table 17. — Percent Distribution of Farms Reporting Cotton Harvested, by Acres Harvested, for All Commercial Farms

AND for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class, by Regions: 1954

Region and

economic class of

farm

Percent distribution of farms reporting by acres
cotton harvested

of

Region and

economic class of

farm

Percent distribution of farms reporting by acres
cotton harvested

of

Total

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
lUO. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100. 0
1(10. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0

Under

5
acres

5 to 9
acres

10 to 24
acres

25 to 49
acres

60 to 99
acres

100 to
199
acres

200
acres
and
over

Total

Under

6
acres

6 0
3.6

6 to 9
acres

10 to 24
acres

25 to 49
acres

50 to 99
acres

100 to

199
acres

200
acres

and
over

TOTAL, 10 REGIONS
All commercial farms

9.5
6.0

28.7
27.0

38.8
42.2
0.2
1.5
19.7
64.3
69.3
19.2

37.1
60.0

11.8
12.5
1.3

19.5

46.9

22.6

6.8

1.0

7.3
11.4

6 3

6 8

13.1

45.3

22.2

7.2

1.3

0.2

1.6
2.4
3.8
66.2
13.0
0.7
(Z)

3.3
3.7
42.6
24.9
10.0
1.2
0.1
(Z)

0.4
0.7
60.6
19.0
0.5
(Z)

1.6
1.8

42.9
8.8
0.9

(Z)

0.1
0.2
45.6
0.6

region VI

All commercial farms

Cotton farms

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

20.4
16.6

33,9
35.0

24.2
27.3
3.0
6.0
63.6
36.1
6.9
0.9

28.8
28.9
0.1
4.3
10.8
40.2
47.0
19. 1

19.6
19.4

11.5
12.9

"ei'e"

26.6
1.0
0.3

3.4
3.8
64.3
23.9
0.2

0.6
0.8

Class I

Class I

32.7

II

II

III

IV

1.6

III

(Z)
0.1

1.1

22.5

16. 5
6.8

0.3

4.6

32.4

57.1

37.0
28.6

9.6
64.7
58.9
23.6

22.3
16.6

0.3
0.8
24.9

1.2
0.3

7.9
33.1

60.7

4.9
2.2

V

V

VI

VI

REGION I
All commercialfarms

REGION VII
All commercial farms

26.7
31.5

5.6
24.5
49.5
44.7
17.3

4.1

21.7
22.2
13.1
54,3
22.8
6 1
4.0

12.5
15.8
35.8
46 6
35.8
7.7
1.2
0.2

13.2
13.9
45.2
21,6
3.2
0.5

3.6
4.7

Class I

Class I .

68.5

II

24.2
54.3
22.6
2.6
0.1

6.8
6 3

II_

HI

(Z)

1.0

7.1

32.9

66.3

23.3
22.6

24.6

0.1
(Z)

1.2
23.1

16.2
9.9

0.3

5.1

30.4

68.7

36.4
35.0

31.8

71.7
66.9
18.1

42.4
47.7

2.9

IV

IV

"■■(Z)'"

2.8

2.7
1.9

0.1

1.6

17.5

11.4
11.9

0.3

V

V

VI

VI

REGION II
All commercial farms

0.9
0.9

0.2
0.2
62.2
27.2
0.3

(Z)
(Z)
47.8
0.6

REGION VIII

All commercial farms

Cotton farms -

8.1
8.2

Class I

II

Ill

41.6

n

12.2
66.3
30.6
3.3
0.1

6.6
6.9

60.0

22.2

1.8

(Z)

1.1
26.7
57.1
39.0
22.2

7,5
3.0

20.7
46,2
23,6
2,1
3,7

13.1
10.1
0.3
7.1
14.7
26.6
41.8
4.8

20.7
21.8
3.8
66.8
29.3
4.2
2.2

2.3

III

12.2
65 1
74.2
22.2

41.4
43.9

2.2

IV

0.4
0.8
20.7

12.8
10.0

2.1
21.7
56.9

38.8
38.7

IV

V

"'4.0
26.9

0.4
0.1

12.6
60.9
48.1

1.8
0.6

V

vi

REGION III
All commercial farms

1.0
1.0
7.8

49.7

10.5
0.3

(Z)

(Z)

4.6
4.6
9.5
63.1
10.6
0.6
(Z1

0.3
0.3
61,6
18,3
0.1

0.1
0.1
40.6
0.2

REGION IX

All commercial farms

Cotton farms.

28.7
29.8

5 8
40.5
39.6
47.9
2L1

4.8

17.1
18.8
26.3
32.7
1.3
0.7

30.4
35.0
46,6
36,3
38,3
13,2
9.7

18.1
21.3

Class I

Class I

48.4

II

1.7
32.0
79.3
57.1
12.0

49.7
60.7

30.1

66 9

16.1

1.1

0,1

15.0
16.1
0.3
22.7
67.9
18.9
1.8
0.3

16.4
19.1

II

0,1
3.0
10.8
19.6
57.1

26.0
23.4
0.6
9.3
66.2
68.6
22.9
6.3

17.1

III

0.1

0.1

1.3

27.0

3.5
2.9

0.4
5.3
40.5
60.9

24.6
24.0

III

IV

4.4

IV

9.5

3.0
1.9

1.4

6.6

23.8

9.3
7.5

0.1

V

V

VI

VI

REGION IV
All commercial farms

1.8
1.7
46.8
13.2
0.3

1.0

1.0

43.3

0.3

REGION X
All commercial farms

12.7
14.1
36.3
L2
0.3

11.2
12.6

Class I

Class I

33.0

II

0.7
21.1
76.3
61.6
19.9

40.9
44.2

11

0.1

HI

'o.'i

1.0
18.3

8.9
5.2

0.1
6.3
36.7
61.6

25.0
20.5

Ill -

"""l.9
14.2
52.6

2.9
24.6
60.7
42.1

IV

IV -.

V

V

VI

VI

REGION V

All commercial farms

Cott(m farms... _.-

Class I

6.4
8 2
5.6
45.6
43.7
18.6
2.8
0. I

1.6
2.0
27.0
37.3
9.0
1.0

0.7
0.9
67.4
8.0
0.3

II

0.2
5.9
34.4
66.6
41.4

8.9
40.7
45.2
23.8

2.4

III

IV

" "o.'i"

0.3
12.4

0.3

0.7

7.6

43.8

V

VI

Z U.05 percent or less.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION 33

Table 18. — Percent Distribution of Cotton Farms by Acres of Cotton Harvested, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954

Z 0.05 percent or less.

Table 18 shows, for each region, the distribution of farms hav-
ing various sizes of cotton enterprises for each economic class.
Somewhat more general data concerning the geographic distri-
bution of cotton farms by size of the cotton enterprise are pro-
vided by the dot maps of figures 6, 7, 8, and 9.

The relative importance of cropland, of cotton and of other
major crops, to the incomes of cotton farmers is further indicated
by data in table 19. This table shows percentage distributions
for each economic class of farm in each region, for total farm sales
by the crop or livestock enterprise source.

Crops account for about 90 percent of the total sales for each
economic class in each region except for Class I farms in Region

Percent distribution of farms reporting by acres
cotton harvested

Of

RcRinn and

economic chiss of

farm

Percent distribution of farms reporting by acres
cotton harvested

of

economic class of
farm

Total

LTnder

5
acres

5 to 9
acres

10 to 24
acres

25 to 49
acres

50 to 99
acres

100 to

199
acres

200
acres
and
over

Total

Under

6
acres

100,0

6 to 9
acres

10 to 24
acres

25 to 49
acres

50 to 99
acres

100 to

199
acres

200
acres

and
over

TOTAL. 10 REGIONS

100.0
3.0
5.0
9.0
22.2
35.7
25.1

100. 0

0.5

2.2

7.7

25.9

36.3

27.5

100.0

O.I

0.4

1.9

11.9

39.8

45.9

100.0

0.3

1.0

4.0

19.1

40,8

34.8

100,0
2.3
4.7
11.8
28.0
39.8
13.5

100.0
1.0
2.5
6.8
16.5
32.3
40.9

100,0

100.0

100. 0
(Z)
0.2
4.2
33.8
60.3
11.5

100.0

100.0

0.3

7.7

33.7

40.0

10.3

2.0

100. 0

100.0
5.8
33.2
29.fi
23.8
7.0
0.6

100. 0

0.8

60.0

41.4

7.4

0.4

lon.o

34.1

33.3

24.4

6.9

1.2

0.1

100. 0

36.1

68.6

.6.2

0.2

100. 0

70.8

24,3

4,6

0.4

100.0

94.2

6.8

REGION VI

100. 0
2.1
9.7
22.2
30.0
22.7
13.3

100.0
2.7
9.9
21.1
30.7
26.3
10.4

100.0
17.2
24.7
21.6
17.2
14.3
5.1

100.0
28.6
39.6
16.0
9.8
6.3
0.7

100. 0
38,0
26,9
17.2
11.7
5.7
1.6

100.0

100.0

100.0
0.2
2.1
61.8
39.7
.5.7
0.5

100, 0

(Z)

1.5

7.9

42 7

41.1

6,8

100.0

100.0

"51.4

46.7

2.4

0.5

100.0

36 2

62.1

L7

100. 0

ClassI

ClassI

II

82.1

17.9

III

(Z)
0,3
6.6

93.1

100.0

0.1
3.8
42.9
53.2

100.0

Ill

6.1

46.8
38,2
8,9

100. 0

IV

1.7

.5.3

93.0

100.0

14.3
4.5.1
40.6

ion. 0

V

V

VI

REGION VII
Cotton farms

VI

REGION' I

100.0
0.5
7.7
33.0
43.6
13.9
1.3

100.0
10.2
00. 4
22.1
4.8
2.6

100. 0
6.0
29.2
47.8
14.9
2.0
0.1

100.0

56.1

38.3

4.9

0.7

100.0

Class I

Class I

33.1

II

4.6

36.4

60.9

7.9

0.2

100.0

II

(Z)
1.2
13.2
50.3
35.3

100.0

61.9

III

0.1

0.1

6.7

93.1

100.0

0.1

4.6

38.8

50.5

100.0

4.9
37.2
47.9
10,0

100.0

Ill

13.3

IV

IV

V

""3.7'
96.3

100.0

1.1
17.1
81.8

100.0

1.7

V

VI

REGION II

VI. ..

100.0

100.0
19.0
77.8
3.2

100.0
91.7
8.3

REGION VIII
Cotton farms

100.0

Class I

Class I

87.4

0.9
19.3
58.2
20.8

0.8

100.0

29.6

45.6

23.6

1.4

II

1.3

26.5

43.6

24.7

6.0

100.0

20.2

,50.3

20.9

1.6

1.0

100.0
0,7
27,8
23,4
2,5.9
21.8
0.3

100.0
6.6
67.6
23.1
2.2
0.6

6.9

III

0.5
16.3
61.9
21,3

100.0

III

IV

6.7

IV

0.5

3.3

96.2

100.0

0.7
24.7
74.6

100.0

"30.6"
70.0

100.0

18.3
61.1
20.6

100.0

V

VI

REGION- III

100.0
2.2
48.7
42.4
5.6
0.2
0.9

100. 0
4.9
64.6
27.3
3.0
0.2

100.0

43.8

54.8

1.4

100.0

98.0

2.0

REGION IX

Cotton farms

100. 0
6.6
53.7
21.2
15,8
3,7
0, 1

100.0

63.3

45,0

1.2

0.6

100.0

37.3

40.0

17.6

3,7

1.6

100. 0

ClassI -.-

II

ClassI

II

65.0

(Z)

2.9

34.5

53,1

9.5

100.0

6.0

38.6

48.7

7.4

0.3

100.0
0.1
7.0
62.9
35.0
4.9
0.2

100.0

1.1
1.5.8
35.3
34.2
13.0

100.0
0.9
10.3
48.5
34.4
6.6
0.3

31.7

(Z)
0.1
5.4

94.5

100.0

(Z)

2.6

42.6

54.8

100.0

Ill

3.3

IV

IV

"60.0
60.0

100.0

21.0
52.6
26.4

100.0

(Z)

V

V

VI

REGION X

Cotton farms

ClassI

II

VI..

REGION IV
Cotton farms

100.0

62.7

36.3

2.0

100.0

98.8

1.2

100.0
97.4
2.1
0.6

100.0

Class I

99.9

II

0,1

4.9

41.5

48.2

5.3

100.0

0.1

III

" "o.'s'

13.8

85.7

100.0

0.1

6.2

69.1

34.6

100.0

III

IV

V

"11.7

43.2
45.1

6.7
38.3
46.0

8.9

IV

V

VI

REGION V
Cotton farms ...

100.0
0.7
13.8
36.5
37.5
11.3
0.2

100.0
13.3
47.3
31.4
8.0

100.0

74.7
22.7
2.6

Class I

II

(Z)
0.9
12.9
47.9
38.3

1.1
14.5
39.0
40.2

5.2

III.

"""o.'i"

2.2

97.4

0.1
0.6
11.8

87.5

IV

V

VI

II. For Class I farms in this region crops account for 76 percent
of total sales. Cotton provides about 75 percent of the total
sales for most economic classes and regions. In Region I, cotton
sales account for around 70 percent of the total sales on farms in
Classes I, II, and III, and on Class I farms in Region II cotton
accounts for only 60 percent of total sales. Both tobacco and
peanuts are important sources of farm income on many cotton
farms of Region I. Livestock and livestock products are an
unusually important source of income on Class I cotton farms in
Region II.

As indicated by data in table 19, cotton sales account for a
larger percentage of total sales on the smaller than on the larger
size-of-business groups of farms.

34

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

;y4~:^MBER OF FARMS WITH LESS THAN 25 BALES OF COTTON HARVESTED.

FOR COTTON SUBREGIONS 1954

UNITED STATES TOTAL
779,567

1 D0T=200 FARMS

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

MAP NOA54-537

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Figure 6.

^^^^NUMBER OF FARMS WITH 25-49 BALES OF COTTON HARVESTED.

FOR COTTON SUBREGIONS 1954

UNITED STATES TOTAL
45.106

us DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

\

f

2-
i

■-- ;.59.

5^

I

I

VW 1

r-r]

\

^^— ^— -

v~

I 1

-\

I
1

103

V

IV"

r

]

^;^J^^oiJ

> r

M

1

^ 4-5 j^A — '

mli^

' 1

1 DOT= 10 FARMS

^99^

r'/

MAP NO A54-538

Figure 7.

-•" BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

35

JJUMBER OF FARMS WITH 50-99 BALES OF COTTON HARVESTED.

FOR COTTON SUBREGIONS 1954

I

1

-- — ^

'l

7

!

103

-L }

r'

1

1—1 L

/f^-V

^1

r^t~^

74 S-

('.4

J "'•- 1

cv e~^

II

I Vv>f».

ftS^

r ■

1- roi _j '^r^

"i"

a

t^ /?

L

lij^P

■ -■' J J':

/

Ur —

'l~f/

i_,

■ ' ■ r-" f

/ «° Id f

''^V^

UNITED STATES TOTAL
20,440

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

iSJ*"'

I DOT=IO FARMS

MAP N0A54-539

-•■■ BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Figure S.

^^-^JNIUMBER OF FARMS WITH 100 OR MORE BALES OF COTTON HARVESTED.

FOR COTTON SUBREGIONS: 1954

7 4 ^— 'j,-H3

UNITED STATES TOTAL
17.903

:^^'':^

D0T=10 FARMS

us DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

MAP N0A54-540

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

FlGDKK 9.

36

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 19. — Distribution of Farm Sales by Source, for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class, by Regions: 1954

Region aud item

REGION I

Gross sales

All crops :

Cotton

Corn

Tobacco

Peanuts

Oats

All otber crops

All livestock and livestock products

Cattle and calves

Ho?s and pig?

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products

All otber livestock and livestock products.

Forest products

REGION II

Gross sales

All crops

Cotton

Corn

Wheat

Oats

All otber crops

All livestock and livestock products

Cattle and calves

Hogs and pigs

Poultry and poultry products.-.

Dairy products

All other livestock and livestock products.

Forest products

REGION III

Gross sales

All crops

Cotton

Corn

Soybeans

All other crops

AH livestock and livestock products. __.

Cattle and calves

Hogs and pigs

Poultry and poultry products...

Da iry prod ucts

All other livestock and livestock products

Forest products

REGION" IV

Gross sales

All crops

Cotton

Rice

Soybeans for beans

Oats

All other crops..

All livestock and livestock products.

Cattle and calves

Hogs and pigs ._ _..

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products

All other livestock and livestock products

Forest products

REGION V

Gross sales

All crops

Cotton

Corn

Soybeans

Oats

All otber crops

All livestock and livestock products

Cattle and calves

Hogs and pigs

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products

All otber livestock and livestock products-

Forest products

Z 0.05 percent or less.

All classes

Dollars

158, 390, 782

146, 702. 510

116, 223, 089

3, 239. 284

11, 752, 720

9, 221, 847

1, 540, 720

4, 724, 850

11, 095, 020

3, 240, 704

7, 051, 278

528. 129

218. 928

55, 981

593, 252

66, 675, 670

100.0

62, 110, 765

93.1

5.5, 969, 596

83.9

1, 064, 273

1.6

1. 160. 569

1.7

777.119

1.2

3. 139, 208

4.7

4, 0.59, 875

6.1

1,691.067

2.5

660, 914

1.0

714, 359

1.1

954, 332

1.4

49,203

0.1

505, 030

366, 693, 693

100.0

336,410,511

91.7

314,401,906

85.7

10,070,290

2.7

4, 548. 729

1.2

7, 380, .586

2.0

28, 762, 558

7.8

12. 803. 709

3.5

7, 713. 805

2.1

2, 203, 220

0.6

6. 568, 587

1.5

473, 237

0.1

1, 520, 624

683. 700. 660

100.0

604. OOS. 500

96.6

606. 672, 777

86.8

4, S7S, .592

0.8

34.191.420

5.9

5. 669. 693

1.0

12. 506. 018

2.2

19. 282. 879

3.3

11.697,608

2.0

.5. 199. 591

0.9

1,280,848

0.2

762, 505

0.1

362, 237

0.1

409. 281

202. 580

Percent

100.0
92.6
73.4
2.0
7.4
6.8
1.0
3.0

7.0
2.0
4.6
0.3
0.1

(Z)

61. 382. 197

100.0

54. 832. 639

89.3

50. 934. 495

83.0

689,711

1.1

1, 042, 412

1.7

303, 065

0.6

1, 862, 866

3.0

6, 347, 078

10.3

4, 502, 117

7.3

983, 470

1.6

611,068

0.8

310,511

0.5

39, 912

0.1

0.3

Economic class of farm

Percent

100.0

89.5

71.0

2.0

2.7

2.4

. 5.3

6.1

9.4
5.3
2.9
0.4
0.7
0.1

100.0
76.4
60.7
1.0
4.8
2.4
7.5

17.8
II. 8
1.0
0.8
4.1

(Z)

100.0

88.3

76.6

1.9

6.9

2.9

11.1
6.6
1.6
0.2
2.5
0.2

0.6

100.0
95.2
79.4
2.4
8.8
2.4
2.3

4.7
3.5
0.7
0.2
0.2
0.1

100.0
88.7
81.1
0.6
1.6
1.2
4.4

11.0
9.2
0.9
0.4
0.6

(Z)

0.2

Percent

100.0
88.2
68.5
2 2
3^5
5.8
2. 7
.5! 5

11.2
4.8
5.3
0. B
0.5

(Z)

0.6

100.0
88.1
7.3.6
1.4
4.0
3.5
5.6

10.9
7.0
0.6
0.5
2.7
0. 1

1.0

100.0

88.6

79.0

2.4

5.2

2.1

11.0
6.8
2 2
o!8
1.1
0.3

0.4

10.0

96.4

83.0

0.3

10.1

I.l

1.9

3.5
2.2
1.0
0.2
0.1
0.1

0.1

100.0
89.6
80.6
1.9
4.6
0.9
1.7

10.2
8.6
0.6
0.7
0.3

(Z)

III

100.0
92. 5
69.8
2.1
10.4
6.9
0.7
2.6

7.1
2.1
4.7
0.3

(Z)
(Z)

0.4

100.0
8.8.3
73.3
1.7
4.1
2.9
6.4

10.6
5.6
1.0
2.0
2.0

(Z)

100.0

90.1

83.6

3.2

1.6

1.7

9.5
4.3
3.0
0.6
1.3
0.2

100.0
97.1
88.0
0.2
6.6
0.5
1.8

2.9
1.4
1.1
0.2
0.1
(Z)

(Z)

100.0
90.1
83.8
1.1
2.8
0.5
1.9

6.7
1.9
0.7
0.2

(Z)

IV

100.0
94.0
73.4
2.3
9.6
6.4
0.3
2.0

5.8
1.2
4.4
0.2

(Z)

(Z)

0.2

100. 0
93.1
8.3.0
1.8
2. 1
1.4
4.8

6.2
2.3
0.9
1.4
1.5
0.1

0.8

0.3

100.0

97.4

92.3

0.2

2.4

0.1

2.5
1.1
1.0
0.2
0.1

(Zl

100.0
89.4
84.6
1.4
1.1
0.2
2.1

10.4
6.7
2.1
0.8
0.6
0.1

0.2

Percent

100.0
93.4
76.6
1.9
6.4
5.9
0.1
2.6

6.4
1.1
5.0
0.3

(Z)

(Z)

100.0
94.4
86.1
1.8
1.3
0.9
4.3

6.0
1.8
1.0
0.8
1.3
0.1

00.0

100.0

92.2

92.8

86.4

88.1

3.4

2 7

0.6

0.2

1.8

1.9

7.6

6.8

2.9

2.7

2.4

1.7

n.6

0.7

1.6

1.5

0.1

0.1

0.4

100.0

97.8

94.6

(Z)

0.8

0.1

2.3

2.1
1.0
0.8
0.3

(Z)
(Z)

(Z)

100.0

89.6

85.1

1.1

0.4

(Z)

2.9

10.0
6.3
1.9
1.1
0.6
0.1

0.6

VI

Percent

100.0
94.4
81.4
1.2
4.7
4.1
0.3
2.7

5.3
1.1
3.8
0.4

(Z1
(Z)

0.3

100.0
94.7
88.2
1.0
0.7
0.3
4.6

4.7
1.6
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.1

100.0

92.8

88.4

1.7

0.1

2.6

6.6
2.9
1.5
0.8
1.2
0.1

0.6

100.0
97.1
94.5

" 6.'5
0.1
2.1

2.8
1.6
0.8
0.4
0.1
0.1

0.1

100.0
88.4
81.2
0.9
0.3

'e.'o

10.8
6.1
2.3
1.7
0.6
0.2

0.8

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION 37

Table 19. — Distribution of Farm Sales by Source, for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

Region and item

Gross sales. --

All crops.-

Cotton

Corn -.

Swectpntatoes.-

Sorghum

All other crops.

REGION VI

All livestock and livestock prodncts

Cattle and calves -..

Hops and pigs

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products

.\11 other livestock and livestock products .

Forest products

Gross sales ...

All crops

Cotton

Corn

Sorghum

All other crops.

REGION VII

Xll livestock and livestock products

Cattle and calves

Hogs and pips

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products...

All other livestock and livestock products. ,

Forest products

Gross sales. -.
All crops

Cotton. -- -

Sorghum

All other crops.

REGION VIII

All livestock and livestock products

Cattle and calves

Hogs and pies

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products..

All other livestock and livestock products.

Forcst products

Gross sales...
.All crops

Cotton

Sorghum

Wheat

All other crops.

REGION IX

All livestock and livestock products

Cattle and calves

Hogs and pigs

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products

All other livestock and livestock products.

Forest products

Gross sales

All crops

Cotton

Barley

Rice.".

Alfalfa and mi.\ture .

Sugar beets

Sorghum

Vegetables

Fruits and nuts

All other crops

REGION X

All livestock and livestock products...

Cattle and calves

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products

All other livestock and livestock products.

Forest products

All classes

Dollars

43, fill), 980

4(1, 278, 887

36.110,319

9X3, 971

707, 033

1, .148, 850
802. 7118

2. 724, 399
1, ,593, 951

31)1, 478
770, 397
35, 185
23, 388

7,700

208, 194, 743

240. 1)45, 470

201, 803, 204

0, 551, 292

23, 840, 124

13, 790, 790

22,117,398
14.418,639

2, 516, 150

3, 359, 847
), 270. 045

552,711

31, 875

319, 545, 051

310, 726, 070

251, 809, 122

51,014,670

4. 929, 607

2. 972, 071

8, 818, 081
4,924.031
1, 281, 393
1, 124, 217
936, 319
552, 721

300

507. 765, 189
543, 091, 872
433, 009. 827
33, 798, 494
3, 341, 928

23, 715, 254
4,081,571

7, 941, 113

8, 009, 691
0, 040, 5,56

22, 563, 638

24, 660, 312
16. 827, 001

340, 059
5, 144, 900
2. 348, 280

13, 005

100.0
93. 6
84.0
2.3
1.8
3.6
2.0

6.3

3.7
0.7
1.8
0. 1
0.1

(Z)

c

100.0
91.7
75.3
2,4
8.9
5.1

8.2
5.4
0.9
1.3
0.5
0.2

(Z)

89, 657. 922

100. 0

87,118,1,33

97.2

72, 806, 378

81,3

3, 992, 971

4.5

10, 268, 784

11.4

2, 536, 589

2.8

1, 590, 915

1,7

251. 420

0.3

171. 290

0.2

518, 087

0.6

4,871

(Z)

(Z)

100. 0
97.2
78.8
10.0
1.5
0,9

1.5
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.2

(Z)

100. 0
95.0
70.3
0.0
0.0
4.2
0.7
1.4
1.6
1.1
4.0

4.3
3.0
0.1
0.9
0.4

(Z)

100. 0

93.9

78.2

2.0

(Z)

6.1

5.6
0.2
0.2

(Z)

0.1

100. 0
96. 3
71.4

0.8
18.8

5.3

3.7
3,1
0.2
0.1
0,1
0.1

(Z)

100. fl

96.7

79.4

5,2

12.1

3.3
2.2
0.3

(Z)
0.8

(Z)

(Zl

100. 0

97.7

77. 7

17.2

1.8

1,0

2.3
1.5
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2

100.0
95.8
75.5
6.6
0.7
4.1
0.8
1.4
1.0
0.8
4.3

(Z)

4.2
3.1

0.7
0.4

(Z)

Economic class of farm

Ptrceiit

100. 0
94.3
85. 3
2.2
(Z)
6.0
0.7

6.7
3.9
0.5
1.2

(Z)

(Z)

100. 0

92.7

76.0

1,8

9.8

6.1

7.3
6,3

0.7
0.5
0.6
0,3

(Z)

100.0
98.0
83,7
4.0
10.2

2.0
1,0
0.3
0,3
0.4
(Z)

100. 0

97.1

80.5

14.9

1.0

0.8

2.9
1.4

0.6
0.5
0.4
0.1

100. 0

95.0

80.7

1.0

0.2

6.9

(Z)

1.5

0.7

2.3

2.2

5.0
2.4
0.2
2.1
0.4

III

Percent

100.0
94. 1
80. 9
2.8
1.1
1.7
1.6

5.8
2,7
0.8
2.1
0. 1
0. 1

(Z)

100. 0
90.7
76.5
3.3
6.6
5,3

9.3
6.3
1.2

1,2
0.4
0.3

(Z)

100.0

97.6

84.0

2.4

11.0

2.5
1.6
0.3
0.5
0.1
(Z)

100. 0

95.4

81.7

11.3

1.3

1,0

4.6

2,4
0.5
1,1
0.5
0.1

100. 0

94.1

83.1

1.2

3.9

0.6
0.5
3.2
1.4

5.9
2.2
0.6
2.5
0.7

(Z)

100. 0
93.3
83.2
2.2
6.3
0.7
1.9

6.6
3.0

0,9
2.0
0.1

<Z)
(Z)

100. 0

88.0

70.6

3.8

3.3

5,0

11.3
6.4
1.4
2.4
0.9
0.2

(Z)

100.0
97.7
85.3
2.0
10.4

2.3
0.6
0.4
1.1
0.2

100.0
92.0
79.6
9.2
2.3
0.8

8.0
3.9
0.6
2.0
1.5
(Z)

(Z)

100.0
94.3
85.5
0.4

1.4

0.3
0.7
5.0
0.9

5.6
2.3
0.3
1.7
1.2

Percent

100. 0
91.3
81.9
1.6
4,5
0,4
2,9

8.7
4,6
1,1
2.8
0.2
0.1

(Z)

100.0

80.7

70.8

3.4

2.0

4.6

13.3
7.1
1.6
3.7

0,7
0.2

(Z)

100.0
97.9
87.0
0.7
10.3

2.1
0,9
0.5
0.0

(Z)

100. 0

89.5

79.5

6.4

2.2

1.4

10.5
4.4
0.8
2.7
2.6
(Z)

100.0
97.7
93.3
0.4

1.6

0.8
0.2
1.4
0.1

2.3
1.0

0.7
0.2
0.4

Z 0.05 percent or less.

38

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Pasture and Woodland

Examination of the distribution of gross sales by source reveals
that for most economic classes of farms and for most regions,
pasture and woodland resources on cotton farms do not con-
tribute substantially to cash farm income. The data in tables 14
and 15, however, show that, especially in some regions, pasture
and woodland resources comprise, from the standpoint of acre-
age, a substantial part of the land resources on cotton farms.

In appraising the use of pasture resources on farms it is rele-
vant to examine the data concerning the kinds and numbers^ of
livestock found on different economic classes of cotton farms in
the different regions. Information of this type is given in
table 20.

In general, only the larger size-of-business groups of farms in
each region have livestock enterprises of a commercial size and
type. The beef-cattle enterprise appears to be the most com-
mon, but hogs are important in a few regions.

Table 20. — Average Number per Farm Reporting and Percent of Farms Reporting Specified Classes of Livestock, for Cotton

Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGION I

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting,,

All cattle and calves;

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Milk cows:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Chickens 4 months old and over;

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales

REGION II

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting

.Average number per farm reporting.

All cattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Milk cows:

Percent of farms reporting ,

Average number per farm reporting..

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales

REGION" III

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

All cattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Milk cows;

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting ,

Average number per farm reporting..

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting.

Average number per farm reporting.

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales

Economic class of farm

AU
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

61.8
2

80.1
10

01.8
5

62.1
3

58.2
2

68.5
2

69.3
1

58.3

7

87.8
99

81.1
40

68.3
13

58.3

56.4
6

55.6
3

45.1
2

41.1

7

49.4
3

52.0
2

46.1
2

44.8
2

42.6
2

72.5
12

66.9
74

78.2
38

80.2
21

74.6
14

72.4
9

68.1
6

78.6
25

-14.9
126

71.7
61

80.9
35

79.6
26

7S.0
23

79.0
20

7.0

9.4

11.2

7.1

6.8

6.4

5.3

58. 9
2

9.';. 7
13

60.6

5

60.4
3

52.6
2

64.9
2

63.9
2

69.4
6

9.5.7
213

95.0
53

77.4
24

72.9
8

70.2
6

67.3
3

62.8
2

39.1
24

65.6
6

56.9
4

64.2
3

63.8
2

61.9
2

72.1
4

78.3
30

77.8
12

68.6
7

73.0

5

73.7
4

70.6
3

75.5
29

60.9
249

66.1
72

64.0
47

75.0
42

75.9
29

75.9
24

6.1

17.8

10.9

10.6

6.2

5.0

4.7

56.7
2

73.7
10

58.4
5

49.5
3

47.5
3

62.6
2

67.1
2

7.3.1
9

79.2
168

84.2
60

81.5
20

75.2
10

71.8
7

72 1
6

62.4
3

40.0
14

64.6
6

67.0
4

65.4
3

62.4
3

60.7
2

68.1
6

62.3
44

67.3
20

72.0
12

71.3

7

68.4
5

65.5
3

81.4
30

50.3
77

71.1
70

84.0
46

84.3
36

80.9
29

80.5
24

7.8

11. 1

11.0

9.5

7.5

6.8

6.6

Region and item

REGION IV

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting..

Average number per farm reporting.

All cattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Milk cows:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales

REGION V

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

All oattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting,

Milk cows:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reportmg.

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales

REGION VI

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.,

All cattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Milk cows:

Percent of farms reportmg

Average number per farm reporting.

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales

Economic class of farm

classes

I

II

III

IV

V

28.2
3

57.5
7

30.6
4

26.6
2

27 9
2

26.8
2

46.4
11

66.8
112

63.0
25

65.8
10

60.5

7

39. S

6

37.7
2

32.2
5

43.1
2

46.8
2

42.7
2

33.1
2

48.8
6

43.8
35

48.9
13

50.8
9

63.4
6

47 7
4

70.2
29

61.1
60

72.0
43

73.2
37

75.0
29

68.9
24

3.3

4.7

3.5

2.9

2.6

2.1

60.2
2

66.0
8

51.6
3

45.6
2

46.9
2

52.4
2

77.0
17

85.1
242

83.6
67

80.7
33

77 6
19

72.6
12

60.0
3

21.4
13

49.3
3

59.7
3

62.1
3

66.8
3

60.6
6

36.7
34

44.4
10

64.2
10

61.7
8

69.4
6

83.3
32

25.1
38

66.8
61

79,0
42

83.6
39

83.5
31

10.3

11.0

10.2

9.6

10.4

10.0

44.8
3

42.9
5

36.2
2

28.2
2

40.3
3

58.9
3

81.3
16

76.2
106

81.0
38

81.4
16

85.0
10

82,4
10

62.0
3

38.1
3

53.0
3

69.3
3

69.3
2

66.6
3

67.6
6

38.1
13

52.0
7

64.6
8

71.0
6

73.2
4

84.1
80

671
80

70.0
133

86,0
101

86.9
78

86.2
62

6.3

6.1

6.7

6.8

6.6

8,7

VI

32.3
2

31.7
2

41.9
3

64.1

2.8

74.6
2

63.4
2

63.8
4

6.2
28

64.8
3

72.3
8

62.6
2

70.4
4

87.3
47

10.5

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

39

Table 20. — Average Number per Farm Reporting and Percent of Farms Reporting Specified Classes of Livestock, for Cotton

Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

Region and item

REGION VII

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting-

All cattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting-.

Milk cows:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales... ,

REGION VIII

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

All cattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Milk cows:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales. ,

Economic class of farm

All
classes

21.2
2

78.4
16

68.0
3

42.4
6

74.9
67

8.2

47.9
24

34.5
4

20.2
U

37.6
46

2.8

31.9
3

67.0
68

34.6
3

24.3
18

39.2
64

3.7

IS. 3
3

53,0

77

31.7
10

15.1
37

24.3
47

27.6
2

77,2
31

47.1
3

34.2
11

60.8
71

12,1
2

67. 1
17

42,7
3

22.6
11

41.4
68

2.0

III

20.5
2

82,9
19

58,7
3

41,5
8

73.6
70

13,2
1

54,0
12

24.1
6

40.4
45

IV

15.6
2

80,0
13

60.4
3

43.7
6

78.3
71

11,6
1

32.5
6

23.2
2

16.6
6

39.6
47

19.7
2

77.4
11

61.6
3

44.8
6

79.6
66

22.0
2

37.0

6

27.1
2

21.2
4

37 0
31

VI

33.7
2

67.3
2

79.3
47

29.6
2

42.6
4

35.2
2

18.5
3

48.1
21

Region and item

REGION IX

Horses and mules;

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per fai-m reporting.

All cattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

MUk cows:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting...

Average number per farm reporting.

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales

REGION X

Horses and mules:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

All cattle and calves:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting.

Milk cows:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Hogs and pigs:

Percent of farms reporting _

Average number per farm reporting.

Chickens 4 months old and over:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

All sheep:

Percent of farms reporting

Average number per farm reporting..

Sales of livestock and livestock products
as a percent of gross farm sales

Economic class of farm

AU
classes

17.7
2

66.2
15

62.6
3

23.6
3

60.4
49

15.4
14

40,2
38

6,9
184

23,0
2

64,8
25

47.3
3

68.3
67

34.7
3

48.6
107

27.4
13

12,2
26

30.4
40

8.2
368

16.7
2

54.7
3

33.9
11

70,7
72

21.5
2

59,0
21

43.2
6

20.1
9

49.2
38

8,3

45

III

14,1
2

64.8
3

75,5
70

4.6

16.1
2

51.3
13

39.1
4

41.9
43

6, 1
19

IV

14.0
2

68 2
12

65.1
3

28,0

73,4
67

11,4
2

43.7
10

30.7
3

14 3
12

48.7
34

5.1
10

18.9
2

61,1
11

62. (

27.5
3

68 7
62

10.5

12,0
1

42,3
3

27.6
1

14.1
3

42.3
32

VI

33.3
2

71.4

71.4
2

14.3
2

81.0
41

7.9
2

21.1
2

21.1
1

6.3
2

39.5
30

2,6
32

40

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION
Section 5.— LABOR RESOURCES AND USE

For two chief reasons the characteristics and the utilization of
labor on cotton farms are of special importance.

First, it represents the input of the human agent in cotton
farming. Second, the extent to which labor is combined with
other resources, in patterns that are economically and techni-
cally effective, determines the levels of income from farming that
are available to the people on cotton farms.

This report provides several t.vpes of data on labor resources
and use: (1) The age comjDosition of the operators of cotton
farms; (S) the days of off-farm work by operators of cotton farms;
(3) the proportion of cotton farms for which off-farm income of
the famih- exceeds the value of farm sales; (4) the man-equiva-
lents of all labor and its percentage distributions by type of
worker; (5) the distributions of expenditures for Jiired labor;
and (6) acres of cropland and acres of cotton harvested per man-
eciuivalent.

AGE OF OPERATOR

Information relating to the distribution of farm operators by-
age groups bj' economic class of farm, and data concerning the
proportions of farms in each economic class that are operated by
persons in each age group, are useful in analyzing the character-
istics of the labor resource on cotton farms.

Data concerning the distribution of farm operators of each
age group among economic classes of farms are found in table 21.

For most regions about 3 percent of all operators of cotton farm
are under 25 years of age. In Regions I through V more than 7
and usually nearer 80 percent of farm operators under 25 years of
age are found on farms in Economic Classes V and VI. These are
farms that had gross sales of between $250 and $2,500 in 1954.
It would seem reasonable to infer that a number of these young
operators would be relatively receptive to opportunities for non-
farm work and/or to adjustments that would permit an increase
In the size of their farm business.

In Regions I through V about one-eighth of all operators of
cotton farms are between 25 and 35 years of age. Most of these
also are on Class V and Class VI farms. They would appear to
face problems of adjustment similar to those of operators under
25 years of age.

In Regions VI and VII about 40 and 35 percent, respectively,
of operators under 25 years of age are found on Classes V and VI
farms. Nearly one-third of the operators from 25 to 35 years old
also operate Class V or VI farms.

For the remaining 3 regions small percentages of the younger
age groups of farm operators are found on the 2 smallest size-of-
business groups.

Table 21. — Percent Distribution of Operators of Cotton Farms in Each Age Group,

BY Regions: 1954

BY Economic Class of Farm,

Region and age of operator

REGION I

All age groups.

L'nder 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

REGION II

All age groups..

lender 25 years

25 to 34 years.. _

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

£5 years and over

REGION III

All age groups.,

[Tnder 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

REGION IV

All age groups.

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

REGION V

All age groups-

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

Economic class of farm

All
classes

100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0

ino. 0

100.0
100.0

ino. 0

100.0
100. 0
100. 0

100. (I
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0

100.0

ion. 0

100.0

ion. 0
if«. n
inn. 0

100.0

0.5

0.2
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.7

0.1
0. 1
0.1

(Z)

0.3
0. 1
0.3
0.3
0,4
0.2
0.2

2.3
0.5
2.?
3.1
2.3
2. 1
2.0

2.4
1,4
0.7
0.8
0.2

2.2
0,9
2,4
2,4
2.3
1.9
1.8

0.5

0, fi
0,4
0,5
0,6
0.2

1.0
0.2
1.0
0.9
1. 1
1. 1
0.6

4.7
2.2
5. 1
0. 1
4. S
.■(.6
2.8

2.4
1.0
2.0
3.0
2.7
2.2
1.6

III

7.7
7 3
7.4
9.5
8.8
6.8
4.2

1.8

1.6
2.4
2.4
1. 1
1. 1

4.0
l.C
3.9
5.4
4.6
3.0
1,9

11,9
6.3
11.0
13.8
13.8
10.4

6,9
2.1
9.8
9.5
7.1
4.8
4,2

IV

25,8
18,4
26.8
30.5
27.9
21.6
16,1

11,9
9,7
11,4
15,9
14,3
8.6
6.0

19. 1
13, 1
17,6
25.0
21.6
IB. 6
8,5

28.2
19.5
25.5
31.6
31.4
26,7
19.5

16.4
17.7
21.4
21.8
17.8
12.3

36.3
42.6
37.4
36.7
36.5
37.3
30.9

39,9
37.7
44.7
46.8
43.8
34.6
24.7

40.6
45.1
46.7
43.9
41.7
36.3
27.8

39.5
59.9
43.6
36.4
36.7
40,4
42,5

32.6
34.4
37.0
3.5.9
34.8
29.3
24.0

VI

27.6
30,8
25.8
20.4
24.0
32.8
46.3

45.8
52.6
41.7
34.4
38.9
55. 0
68,0

35.0
39.9
30.6
24,6
30.6
43.8
61.0

13.4
20.6
12.6
9.0
11.0
16.8
26.0

40.7
44,8
27,4
28.4
36.9
50.6
62,3

Region and age of operator

REGION VI

All age groups. ,

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

36 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

.55 to 64 years

65 years and over

REGION VII

All age groups.

Under 25 years

26 to 34 years

36 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

66 years and over

REGION VIII

All .age groups,
lender 26 years.. .._

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

56 to 64 years

05 years and o-ver

REGION IX

All age groups..

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

46 to 64 years

55 to 64 years.-

65 years and over

REGION X

All age groups..

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years.- -.

65 years and over

Economic class of farm

All
cla.sses

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

ion. 0

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0

2.3
2.6
2.7
1.3
0.6

1.7
3,2
3.2
3.0
2. 1
1.4

Ifi. 6
42.5
20.5
23.0
17.7
8.6
7.9

28.5
17 4
37 3
35.0
26.5
16.4
9.5

37 6
28.8
47.4
43.5
38.6
26.8
17.9

9.7
9.3
13.1
13.9
7.6
6.9
5.8

10.0
6.8
11.4
12.5
10.7
7.7
6.2

25,6
1.9
29,8
29,5
26.2
25.3
13.1

39.6
48.6
38.6
40.6
42,6
35,0
30,2

26. 1
25.1
25.2
28.3
26.8
2.5,4
20.6

III

22,2
27.9
22.4
27.2
20,5
21,6
12,4

21,2
22, 1
26, fi
24,4
21,1
17,5
14.0

21.7

18.3
16.2
19.8
29.8
29.0

16. 1
17.7
13.0
14.4
16. 1
22.7
19.4

17.2
30. 1
13.

15

2

15

1

23

9

21

7

IV

30.0
23.3
31.2
28 6
37.5
25.7
20.7

30. 7
34.5
30.0
31.7
33.2
28.7
25.5

16.9
37.0
18.3
12.6
16.8
16.3
23.5

11.8
7.4
6.3
9.0
16.4
22.3

11.7
9. 1
9.7
9.1
12.2
14.8
17 4

22.7
32.5
24.1
23.2
18.8
23.9
25.3

25.2
24.7
22.8
22.0
23.7
30.2
29.6

14.2
9.3
11.8
12.6
15.0
16.3
16.2

5.3
3.1
3.7
3.4
6.4

5.8
4.6
3.9
3.9
6.3
7.0
12.6

13.3
7.0
6.9
4.6
12.9
20.6
35,2

10.2

10.2

6.0

6.2

8.3

13.8

23.7

5.0
9.3
1.3
6.1
4.6
3.7
11.3

0.7
1.6

0,4
0,4
1.3
3,7

1.0
2,1

Z 0,06 percent or less.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

41

The differences in the implications of these data for the 3
most western and 5 most eastern cotton-production regions seem
significant.

For the 10 regions used in this report from 25 to 30 percent of
farm operators are between the ages of 45 and 54. It seems reas-
onable to suppose that those in this age group would, in general,
have attained most of tlieir adjustments toward an efficient and
productive farm business. In this perspective it is interesting
to examine the distribution, among economic classes of farms, of
operators in the 45-to-54 j'ears of age group for the various regions.

In Regions I, II, III, and V from 61 to 83 percent of the opera-
tors in the age gl-oup 45 to 64 years are found on Class V and Class
VI farms. From 0.6 percent to about 3 percent of operators in
this age group are found on farms in Classes I and II in these
regions.

Region IV, "Tlie Mississippi Delta," has a substantially smaller
proportion of farm operators in this age group in the two smallest
size-of-busincss groups, and a much larger percentage are found
on Classes I and II farms. The actual percentages here are 7
and 48 percent, respectively, for the 2 largest and the 2 smallest
size-of-business groups.

For Regions VI and VII, just under one-third of the operators
between 45 and 54 years of age are found on Classes V and VI
farms, while 10 and 14 percent of the operators in this age group
in these two regions have farms that fall in the 2 largest size-of-
business groups.

In the three remaining regions strikingly larger percentages of
operators in this age group are found on Classes I and II farms.
Conversely very much smaller proportions are found on farms that
fall in the two smallest size-of-business groups.

The iiicture with respect to the age composition of all operators
of cotton farms and of the operators of farms in each of the eco-
nomic classes is shown for each region in table 22. These data
enable one to appraise, for each region, the proportionate age
distribution of farm operators in various economic classes.

For example, in Region IV, 30 percent of the operators of Class

IV farms are shown to be between 45 and 54 years of age. Opera-
tors in this age group account for 27 percent of all cotton-farm
operators in the region. This age group is, therefore, somewhat
more than proportionally represented among farms that fall
in Economic Class IV.

The proportions of the smaller size-of-business groups of farms
that are operated by persons in the older age groups is a statistic
of some interest. For it frequently is, and has in this report been,
assumed that future adjustments in resource use on cotton farms
will significantly affect the number and characteristics of farms
that are now in these economic classes.

It is interesting to observe that in Regions I through V from
about 40 to 48 percent of Class VI farms have operators who are
55 years of age or older, and that in these same regions about 23
to 30 percent of the operators of Class V farms fall in this older
age group. In each of these 5 regions, except Region IV, Classes

V and VI farms account for from about 65 to more than 85 percent
of all cotton farms. In Region IV these two smallest size-of-
business groups comprise about 53 percent of all cotton farms.

The older group of operators account for substantially higher
proportions of all operators of Classes V and VI cotton farms in
the remaining regions. From the standpoint of the regions as a
whole, however, these smaller size-of-business farms are of much
less significance in these regions.

Table 22. — Percent Distribution of Operators of Each Economic Class of Cotton Farm, by Age, by Regions: 1954

Region and age of operator

REGION I

All age groups

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

65 to 64 years

65 years and over

REGION II

All age groups

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

36 to 44 years

45 to 54 years„

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

REGION III

All age groups

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years_

56 to 64 years

65 years and over

REGION IV

All age groups....
Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

36 to 44 years

46 to 54 years

66 to 64 years..

65 years and over.

REGION V

All age groups....
Under 25 years

26 to 34 years

36 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

Economic class of farm

All

classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

lOOO

100.0

100,0

100.0

100.0

loao

100.0

3.1

1,2

2.9

2.2

3,6

3,5

13.0

4.7

14,3

12.5

13.5

13,4

12 2

27.7

28.3

30,3

34.0

32.9

28.0

20.6

27.8

28.4

29,7

31.4

30.0

27.9

24.3

17.3

22 2

15.3

13.1

14.5

17.7

20.7

11.1

16.4

9.2

0. 1

6.9

9,4

18.7

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

loao

100.0

2.2
9.9

1.8
9.4

2,1
11,1

2 6
9.0

13.3

8.5

25.3

27,3

23.9

33.3

33.8

29,6

19.0

27.2

27,3

27.2

36.2

32.6

30 0

23 0

21.2

40,9

29.6

13.0

15.3

18.4

25.3

14.2

4,5

6.1

9,0

7.2

8.8

21.1

100.0

100,0

loao

100.0

loao

100.0

100.0

3.0

0,9

0.8

1.6

2.5

4.0

4.2

13.9

14,7

14.2

13.4

12.8

16.0

12.1

26.0

26,6

2,5.3

35.0

34.0

28. 1

18 2

28.0

36,3

32 6

31.8

31.5

28.7

24.3

17.6

13,4

20.7

13.1

14.3

15.7

22.1

10.9

8,2

6.5

5.2

4.9

7.6

19.1

100.0

100,0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

4.5

1,0

2 1

2.4

3.1

6.8

7.0

16.1

15,2

17,2

14,9

14,6

17.8

16.2

27.0

35,6

3.5,2

31,4

30,3

24.9

18.2

27.2

26,4

27 7

31,5

30,2

25.2

22.2

lfi.9

14,8

12,9

14,7

16,0

17.3

21.2

8.3

7.0

4,9

5,1

6,8

9.0

16.2

100.0

loao

100.0

100.0

100,0

100.0

100.0

2.2

1.0

0 7

2,4

2.3

2.5

8.4

20,7

7.1

12.1

11,0

9.5

5.7

21.6

31,7

26,9

29.9

28,6

23.7

15.0

31.8

24,5

35.4

33.0

34,3

34.0

28.7

24.5

20,7

22.1

17.3

18,3

22 0

30.4

11.6

2,4

7.5

7.0

6,6

8.6

17.7

Region and age of operator

REGION VI

All age groups

Under 25 years

26 to 34 years

36 to 44 years

46 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

REGION VII

All age groups

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 64 years

65 to 64 years.

65 years and over

REGION VIII

All age groups

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 64 years

55 to 64 years

66 years and over

REGION IX

All age groups

Under 26 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

46 to 54 years

56 to 64 years

66 years and over

REGION X

All age groups

Under 26 years

26 to 34 years

36 to 44 years.-

46 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

Economic class of farm

All
classes

100.0
2.8
14.9
24.2
28.2
21.5
8.4

100.0
2.1
12.6
26.0
29.1
21.2
10.1

lOOO
1.2
15.3
22 9
28.6
21.4
10 6

100.0
4.7
20.9
28.9
26.7
13.2
5.6

100.0
1.9
17.0
28.9
26.9
16. 1
9.2

100.0

"li'Y

30.9

36.3

13.6

2.5

100.0
1.4
14.8
29.6
32.1
16.8
5.3

100.0
2.8
18 8
31.8
30.6
11.0
5,0

100,0
2.9
27.4
3,5,4
24.8
7.6
1.9

100. 0
1,4
21,5
33,6
27.6
11.5
4.4

100,0
2.6
20 1
34,8
22 2
16^3
5.0

100,0
1,4
14,3
31,4
31,2
16,4
6,3

100,0
0, 1
17,7
26,4
29,2
21,2
5,4

100,0
6,8
20,3
29.4
28.6
11.6
4.3

loao

1.8
16.4
31.2
27.6
15.7

7.3

III

100,0
3,6
15,0
29,7
26.2
20.9
4.7

loao

2.2
16.7
28.8
28.9
17.6

100.0

12.9
17.1
26.2
29. 5
14.3

100.0
5.2
16 9
25.8
26.6
18.7
6.8

100. 0
3 3
13.6
25.5
23.5
22.4
11.7

IV

100.0
2.1

1.5.4
23.0
35.3
18.4
5.8

100.0
2 4
12.3
25.9
31.3
19.8
8.3

100.0
2.4
16.5
17.1
28.5
20.7
14.8

100.0
6.7
16.0
18.5
24.7
22. 2
12.9

lOOO
1.6
14. 1
22.4
28.0
20.3
13.7

100.0
4.0
16.8
24.9
23.4
22.6

lOOO
2, 1
11,4
21,9
27.2
25,6
11,9

lOOO
0 7
12,7
20,4
30.2
24.6
11.4

100.0
2.8
14.7
18.7
27.3
20.6
16.0

100.0
1,5
11.2
19.2
28.9
19.2
20.0

VI

100.0

1.4

7.7

8.2

27.4

33.2

22.1

100.0
2.1
7,3
15,3
23,6
28,4
23.3

100.0
2 0
4,0
28,0
26,0
16,0
24,0

100,0
10,6

16,8
15,8
26,3
31,6

ino,o

2,8

16.7
22,2
68,3

42

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

OFF-FARM USE OF LABOR RESOURCES

Two types of data are available to indicate the extent to which
operator and family labor resources on the various economic
classes of cotton farms in the different regions are used in off-
farm employment. These data are for operators of cotton farms
classified by the days of off-farm work, and the percentage of
farms for which off-farm income of the family exceeded the value
of farm sales. The information relating to days of off-farm work
is given in table 23. And those concerning the off-farm income
of the family in relation to the value of farm sales are shown in
table 24.

Questions frequently are raised as to whether the farm families
on Classes V and VI farms represent, essentially, a welfare problem

rather than an economic problem in the organization and use of
resources.

Few of the data in this report illumine the question of whether
most of the families on Classes V and VI cotton farms represent
welfare rather than economic problems. Data concerning the
age distribution of operators are only partly applicable. These
data, however, do not indicate, for those regions where there are
appreeiaVjle numbers of these small farms, that most of them are
in the hands of the aged.

The data on off-farm work of operators, and on the proportion
of farms for which off-farm income exceeds farm sales, suggest
that most families on Classes V and VI cotton farms are primarily
dependent upon farming for their incomes.

Table 23. — Percent Distribution of Operators of Cotton Farms by Days of Work Off Farm, by Economic Class,

BY Regions: 1954

Region and days worked ofl

Economic class of farm

Region and days worked ofl
farm

Economic class of farm

farm

All
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

All
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

REGION I
Total.

100.0
70.1
22.9
3.1
3.9

100.0
61.0
29.7
4.0
6.3

100,0
67.0
26.1
3.4
3.4

100.0
71,8
22.1
3.1
3.0

100.0

60.2

32.2

3.7

3.8

100.0
76.3
8.0
4.2
11.6

100.0
65.2
8.7
4.3
21.7

100.0
77.8
7.8
6.3
8.0

100.0

85.8
7.8
1.9
4.4

100.0

82.8

6.6

0.9

9.8

100.0
77.0
9.9
2.6
10,4

100.0

66.7

21.1

5.6

6.7

100.0
79.0
7.7
3.9
9.4

100.0

80,4

13,4

1,8

4,5

100, 0
76,4
12.1
4.5
6.9

100,0
77,0
15.5
2.8
4.7

100.0
69.3
15.1
4.0
11.6

100.0
72.3
17.2
4.9

6.7

100.0
75.7
17.1
3,1
4,0

100.0
71.2
18.7
4.2
6.9

100.0
71.2
20.5
3.6
4.7

100.0

69.7

26.2

5.6

8.6

100.0
69.4
21.8
4.5
4,4

100.0
71.8
21.8
3.6
2.8

100.0
66.6
24.9
5.0
3.6

100.0

66.1

23.1

6.3

5.5

100.0
54.2
27.7
8.1
10.0

100.0

63.3

25.4

5.7

6.5

100.0
68.7
23.7
4.0
3.6

100.0

54,2

30.2

7.8

7.8

100.0
71.8
28.2

100.0
66.8
33.2

160.0
69.0
31.0

100.0
72.0
28.0

100.0
69.1
40.9

REGION VI
Total

100.0
67.4
23.5
3.9
6.2

100.0
62.7
25.3
6.2
6.8

100.0

72.7

8.2

4.7

14.3

100.0

72.4

17.4

4.1

6.2

100.0
66.4
15.8
4.5
13.3

100.0
80.4
9.5
7.1
3.0

100,0

77.9

11.7

2.4

8.0

100.0

82.1

6.0

3.4

8.4

lOO.O

87.0

9.5

1.2

2.3

100.0

82.5

9.7

1.9

5.9

100.0

72.4

22.1

1.6

3.9

100.0
71.4
17.4
3.9
7.3

100.0
79.2
7.2
3.4
10.2

100.0

74.2

17.4

3.3

6.1

100,0
67.5
22,3
3.2
7.0

100.0
68.3
25.1
2.8
3.8

100.0
66.6
24.1
4.2
6.2

100.0

77.7

9.2

4.4

8.8

100.0

59.6

23.6

7.3

9.6

100.0
57.9
17.2
7.8
17.1

100.0
67.7
23.4
3.8
6.2

100.0
60.8
26.2
6.5
6.5

100.0

63.8

9.9

6.6

19.8

100.0
53.6
26.3
8.6
11.7

100.0
38 1
19,4
10.3
32.2

100.0
64.6
17.1
8.3
10.2

100.0
65.5
26.2
7.4
10.8

100.0

48.6

8.4

8.4

34.3

100.0
52.6
22.6
9.1
15.8

100.0
36.3
13.7
7.5
43.5

100 0

None

lto99days..

100 to 199 days

100 to 199 days

200 days or more

200 days or more

REGION II
Total

REGION VII

None

65 7

1 to 99 days

1 to 99 days

34 3

100 to 199 days

100 to 199 days

200 days or more

200 days or more

REGION m
Total

REGION VIII
Total

100 0

None..

90.0

1 to 99 days

1 to 99 days

10 0

100 to 199 days.

200 days or more

REGION IV
Total

REGION IX
Total

100 0

None

68 4

1 to 99 days

1 to 99 days

31 6

100 to 199 days

100 to 199 days

200 days or more..

REGION V
Total....

REGION X
Total

100 0

None

81.1

1 to 99 days..

1 to 99 days

18 9

100 to 199 days

100 to 199 days

200 days or more

Table 24. — Percent of Operators of Cotton Farms With
Other Income of Family Exceeding Value of Farm
Products Sold, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions:
1954

Economic class of farm

Region

All

classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

I.

6.2
9.8
6.6
3.9
7.6

6.8
9.6

12.0
6.0

11.6

6.2

8.0
8.7
6.9
1.9
2.8

2.4
5.6
3.5
1.6
2.6

2.7

7.8
14.4
8.3
2.6
4.9

3.4

4.9
4.7
3.1
6.0

4.3

6.6
12.6
6.4
3.1

7.6

6.5
6.0
6.1
9.2
14.4

5.8

5.9
13.3
6.6
3.4
6.7

6.9
10.0
22.5
16.1
32.8

6.5

11.2
19.9
10.0
6.2
17.9

14.3
18.0
35.2
24.6
63.3

15.8

II

in

rv

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

Total, 10 regions

For example, two-thirds or more of the operators of Class VI
farms in each region, except Region V, report no days of off-farm
work. In Region V, 59 percent of these operators reported no
days of off-farm work. For Class V farms about 80 percent of
the operators in all regions, except Regions VIII and X — which
have very few Class V farms — report less than 100 days of off-
farm work. Generally speaking, from two-thirds to three-fourths
of those who report less than 100 days of off-farm work did no
off-farm work at aU.

By definition, the value of farm sales for Class VI farms must
exceed the total of family income from off-farm sources. This
restriction does not, however, apply to Class V farms. In those
regions — I through VII — where Class V farms are found in con-
siderable numbers four-fifths or more of them report the value of
farm sales as exceeding total family income from other sources.
The value of farm sales on Class V farms is between $1,200 and
.$2,499. Data on the average level of sales from these farms will
be found in Part VII of this report.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

43

MAN-EQUIVALENT WORKERS PER COTTON FARM

The data in table 25 provides a more specific picture of the
characteristics and size of the labor resource on cotton farms.
These data indicate the average size of the labor force on cotton
farms in each economic class for each region, in terms of estimated
man-equivalents. A percentage distribution of this labor force
in terms of operators, family workers, and hired workers is also
given.

The size of the total labor force on cotton farms of various
economic classes varies by region. Generally, regions in which
mechanization of cotton production has progressed the most show
significantly smaller total lalior resources per farm than the other
regions. Among regions of the humid climatic belt, for example,
mechanization is more advanced in Regions IV' and VI than in
Regions I, 11, III, and V. In Regions I, II, III, and V, Class I
farms have an average labor force of 10 man-equivalents, while

in Regions IV and VI the labor resource on Class I farms is
smaller, about 30 and 50 percent, respectively. Similar differ-
ences, though not as great, exist among other economic classes of
farms in these two groups of regions.

Cotton production in Regions IX and X is also highly mecha-
nized. Region IX has one of the smallest inputs of the labor
resource per farm for each economic class of any region. This is
particularly striking in the instance of Class I farms.

The labor resources per farm on Class I farms in Region X may
not seem to indicate a high degree of mechanization, since the
man-equivalents used here are almost twice those indicated for
Class I farms in Region IX. Average sales of C;iass I farms in
Region X, however, are more than twice as high as sales for the
same class farms in Region IX (see table 31).

The percentage of the labor force which is comprised of operator
workers, family workers, and hired workers on different economic
classes of cotton farms is of particular interest (see table 25).

Table 25. — Total Man-Equivalent per All Commercial Farms and per Cotton Farm, and Percent Distribution in Each

Economic Class of Cotton Farm, by Type of Worker, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGION I

Total man-equiviilent number -

Operator percent -

Family workers percent-
Hired labor percent -

REGION II
Total man-equivalent - number-
Operator percent -

Family workers percent -

Hired labor percent -

REGION III

Total man-equivalent -- -- number.

Operator percent -

Family workers percent -

Hired labor percent -

REGION IV
Total man -equivalent - number-
Operator _ _ percent-
Family workers percent -

Hired labor percent-

REGION V

Total man-equivalent number -

Operator -percent -

Family workers - percent-
Hired Iat)or percent -

REGIOiV VI

Total man-equivalent--- --. number.

Operator - percent-
Family workers percent .

Hired labor percent -

REGION VII
Total man-equivalent ..number-
Operator percent.

Family workers percent .

Hired labor percent-

REGION VIII
Total man-equivalent number-
Operator percent-
Family workers percent-
Hired labor percent-

REOION IX
Total man-equivalent - number-
Operator - percent -

Family workers percent-
Hired labor - percent-

REGION X
Total man-equivalent number-
Operator percent-
Family workers _ percent -

Hired labor _ percent.

TOTAL, 10 REGIONS

Total man-equivalent number.

Operator percent-
Family workers percent.

Hired labor ..percent -

All
commer-
cial farms

1.6
63.6
24.0
22.4

1.3

60.1
25.0
14.9

1.5
66.4
31.4
12.2

1.8
48.6
30.9
20.5

1.3

59.0
21.7
19.3

1.7
48.9
17.8
33 3

1.6
48.4
16.7
34.9

3.3
2.3.6

5.4
71.0

1.7

48.0
15.8
36.2

2.8
20.3

8.8
64.9

1.7

49. 8
23.4
26.8

Cotton farms by economic class of farm

All classes

1.6
64.5
.30.4
15.1

1.2
66.5
27.8

6.7

1.5
S6.9
34.7

8.4

1.8

48.8
33.0
18.2

1.5
54.9
27.8
17 3

1.7
51.6
25.1
23.3

1.8
46.7
16.8
36-5

3.4

23.7
6.6
70.8

2.7
31.9

61.3

4.1
18.9

6.0
76.1

1.7
49.9
27.8
22.3

9.4

8.4

1.5

90.1

10.0
7.8
2.6

89.6

8.6

1.5

90.0

7.7
11.7

1.8
86.5

10.8
8.3
1.5

90.2

4.6
19.8

6.9
73.3

8.1
10.9

2.1
87.0

9.4

9.3

1.6

89.1

4.7
20.2

3.4
76.4

8.3
10.6
1.9

87.6

7.3
12.3

2.2
86.5

3.4
24.1

6.9
69.0

3.1

27.2

4.8

68.0

3.2
20.6
13.0
60.4

33.4
12.4
54.2

3.1

27.8

8.6

63.6

2.2
40.4

2.8
30.7

6L4

3.2
26.7

4.6
68.7

2.4
37.8

7.8
64.4

2.0
40.4

2.7
32.9

9.4
67.7

III

2.3

39.7
30.6
29.7

2.0
40. 1
25.0
34.9

2.2
39.2
37.2
23.6

2.0
43.7
35.6
20.7

2.1
42.0
25.5
32.6

1.9
47.0
24.0
29.0

1.9
40.4
15.1
38.5

2.1
39.5

8.3
62.2

1.6

48.6
12.7

38.7

1.4

50.4
16.2
33.4

2.0
43.4
28.1
28.6

IV

1.7
61.7
36.1
12.2

1.5
54.0
34.6
11.4

1.8

48.5
42.7
8.8

1.8
49.7
43.2

7.1

1.7
52.0
33.2
14.8

1.6
56.8
29.6
14.6

1.4
66.3
21.9
21.8

1.4

48.5
14.7
36.8

1.2
60.3
15.9
23 8

1.1

61.6
26.7
22.8

1.7

60.8
38.3
10.9

1.4
60.3
33.3

6.4

1.3
63 3
31.6

5.1

1.4
68.5
37.5

4.0

1.6
68.6
38.4

3.1

1.4
68.8
35.1

6.1

1.3
60.2
32.9

1.2
61.9
26.4
11.7

1.1
66.9
21.9
21.2

1.0
67.2
21.7
11.1

0.9
56.2
31.8
12.0

1.4

59.4
35.9
4.7

1.2
70.0
27.6

2.6

1.1

76.1

23.0

1.9

1.2

70.9

27.3

1.8

1.3

70.1

28.6

13

1.2

70.7

27.5

1.8

L2
69.9
27.3

2.8

1.2

70.8

24.8

4 4

1.2

68.1
23.7
8.2

1.1

63.9
33.6

2.5

1.0
70.0
26.2

3.8

1.2
71.2
26.9

L9

44

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

On Class I cotton farms in the various regions operator and
family labor account for from about 10 to 20 percent of the total
labor resources used per farm. The percentage of total labor
resources supplied by operator and family workers is, however,
generally higher in those regions in which it has been most eco-
nomically feasible to mechanize cotton harvesting. Mechanized
harvesting has, in general, been found most feasible in Regions IV,
VI, IX, and X. For Class I farms in Region X this tendency is
obscured somewhat by the fact that the average size of business
for Class I farms in this region is far greater than for any other
region.

On Class II farms the proportion of total labor resources ac-
counted for by hired labor varies from a low of just under one-half
in Regions VI and X to a high of a little over two-thirds. The
highest percentages of the labor resources accounted for by hired
labor on this class of farm are found in Regions I, II, and VIII.

This same general regional relationship between the degree of
mechanization and the percentage of the labor resources accounted
for by hired labor is found on Class III farms. The overall per-
centages are significantly lower, ranging from a low of about 20
percent to a high of slightly over 50 percent of the total labor
resources accounted for by hired labor.

For some regions, such as Regions VII, VIII, IX, and X, even
Class IV farms hire a rather substantial proportion of all labor
used. In general, however, cotton farms in Economic Classes IV
through VI hire very little labor.

Data in table 26 show the percentage distribution of farms in
each economic class for each region by designated ranges of total
expenditure for hired labor. These data indicate that many of
the larger farms are operated primarily with operator and family
labor. For example, a considerable percentage of the Class II
farms, especially in the more mechanized areas hire relatively
small amounts of labor.

Table 26. — Percent Distribution of Farms Reporting Specified Expenditures for Hired Labor for Cotton Farms, by

Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954

Item

REGION I

Farms with a dollar expenditure of—

Total

1 to 499

600 to 999

1,000 to 2,499

2,500 to 4,999

6,000 to 9,999

10,000 to 19,999

20,000 and over

REGION U

Farms with a dollar expenditure of—

Total

1 to 499

500 to 999

1,000 to 2,499

2,500 to 4,999

6,000 to 9,999---

10,000 to 19,999

20,000 and over

REGION III

Farms with a dollar expenditure of—

Total

1 to 499

600 to 999

1,000 to 2,499.--

2,600 to 4,999 -..

6,000 to 9,999 ,

10,000 to 19,999-

20,000 and over---

REGION IV

Farms with a dollar expenditure of—

Total -

1 to 499

600 to 999-.-

1,000 to 2,499

2,500 to 4,999

6,000 to 9,999- --

10,000 to 19,999

20,000 and over

REGION V

Farms with a dollar expenditure of—

Total

1 to 499

600 to 999

1,000 to 2,499

2,500 to 4,999-

6,000 to 9,999-

10,000 to 19,999-

20,000 and over

Economic class of farm

All
classes

100.0
79.6
10.6
6.4
2.0
1.0
0.3
0.1

100.0
91.1
6.4
2.6
0.7
0.3
(Z)
(Z

100.0
87.6
7.3
3.6
0.9
0.4
0.2
0.1

100.0

67.0

12.6

11.4

4.6

2.5

1.4

0.7

100.0
73.5
12.7
8.6
3.1
1.3
0.6
0.4

100.0

0.3
2.8
12.1
39.8
33.7
11.3

4.3

8.7
34.8
26.1
26.1

100.0
2.4
0.6
8.6
10.6
31.9
31.4
14.6

100.0
0.7
1.8
6.5
15.7
28.6
29,7
17.0

100.0

0.6

0.9

7.0

10.3

33.7

23.8

23.8

100.0
6.1
7.6
30.7
35.0
17.8
2.9

100.0

5.9

8.8

28.2

34.7

20.6

1.8

100.0
10.4
10.9
30.8
32.4
13.4
2.1

100.0
10.9
10.1
28,6
32.7
16.0
1.7-
(Z)

100.0
4.0
6,4
31.8
39,3
16.8
1,7

III

100.0

33.9

23.9

34.2

6.6

1.4

100.0

28,2

27,5

35.1

8,3

0.9

100.0
36.6
28.7
30,1
3.9
0.7
0.1

100.0
36.9
19.0
37,0
6,8
0,3
(Z)

IV

100.0

74.4

19.5

5.7

0.4

100.0

93.7

5.4

0.9

100.0
78.5
16.3
4.6
0.4
0.2

100.0
78.5
17.2
4.1
0.2
(Z)
(Z)

100,0

68.8

22.7

8.1

0.4

(Z)

100.0
20,6
25.2
43 3
10.3
0.6

100.0

68.7

30.2

10.3

0.8

100.0

95.6

3.6

0.7

0.1

100,0

96.9

2.8

0.3

(Z)

100.0
94.0
6.1
0.8
0.1
(Z)

100.0

91.1

8.0

0.8

0.1

VI

1.2
0.1
0.1

(Z)

100.0
99.4
0.5
0.1

100.0
99.7
0.3
(Z)
(Z)

100.0
99.3
0.6
0.1

100.0
99.0
1.0
(Z)

REGION VI

Farms with a dollar expenditure of —

Total

1 to 499

500 to 999

1,000 to 2,499 ,

2,600 to 4,999 ,

6,000 to 9,999 ,

10,000 to 19,999 ,

20,000 and over ,

REGION VII

Farms with a dollar expenditure of—

Total

1 to 499-

600 to 999

1,000 to 2,499

2,600 to 4,999

6,000 to 9,999

10,000 to 19,999

20,000 and over

REGION VIII

Farms with a dollar expenditure of—

Tot.ll

1 to 499---

600 to 999..--

1,000 to 2,499.--

2,600 to 4,999

6,000 to 9,999

10,000 to 19,999

20,000 and over

REGION IX

Farms with a dollar expenditure of—

Total ,

1 to 499..-

600 to 999

1,000 to 2,499

2,600 to 4,999

6,000 to 9,999

10,000 to 19,999

20,000 and over

REGION X

Farms with a dollar expenditure of —

Total

1 to 499---

500 to 999 -.,

1,000 to 2,499 --,

2,600 to 4,999 --.,

6,000 to 9,999

10,000 to 19,999

20,000 and over.- --,

Economic class of farm

AU
classes

100,0

47.7

22,0

22.0

6.3

1.6

0,3

0.2

100.0
43.5
23.3
21.9
7.5
2.5
1.0
0.3

100.0
19.5
14.1
25.2
17.9
12.8
6.8
3.7

100,0
14,7
12.3
29.3
23.1
14.6
6.1
0.9

100.0
15.1
11.8
21.0
16,7
14.2
10.8
10.5

100,0
0.6
10.2
9.6
26.1
33.1
11.5

100.0
0.2
3.0
6.0
13.6
37.9
29,0
10.3

100.0

0.5

1.1

6,6

5,8

33.0

33 0

20,0

100.0
2.3
3.2
14.5
22.7
38.0
16,4
2.9

100.0
1.3
1.2
7.8
13.8
24.2
25.6
26. 1

100.0

8.6

16,0

35,0

34.3

6.1

100,0

6.0

5,2

30.3

46,1

11.4

1,0

(Z)

100.0
1.6
2.3
27.1
43.2
23.6
2.2

100,0
9,6
9,6
36,8
36.7
7.2
0.2

100-0
11.8
10.3
27.8
33 0
16,8
1.3

III

100.0
17.0
20.7
56.1
7.2

100. 0
16,7
19.2
56.4
7.3
0.3
0.1

100.0
7.6
12.1
55.6
22.5
1.8
0.4

100.0
16.8
21.5
62,6
8-8
0.3

100. 0
19.7
18,8
46,2
13,9
1.4

IV

100.0
60.7
36,2
12.8
0.3

100.0
40.0
46.4
14.3
0.3

100.0
23.9
60.3
20,3
3,1
1.8
0.6

100.0
41.5
39-5
18-4
0-2
0.4

100 0
37.2
36,3
24.5
1.6

0.4

100,0
84,2
16,4
0.4

100.0

83.2

14.7

2.1

100.0
77.6
13.2
8.5
0.8

100-0
84.7
12.7
2.6

100.0
68.9
27.3
3.8

VI

100.0

98.3

1.7

100,0

97.2

1.4

1.4

11.1

100.0
80.0
20.0

100.0
88.2
11.8

Z 0.05 percent or less.

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

45

TOTAL CROPLAND AND COTTON ACRES PER MAN-
EQUIVALENT

Most of the information relating to measures of the relative
efficiency with which resources are used on the various economic
classes of farms is presented in Section 7. But data concerning
the acres of cropland and of cotton harvested per man-equivalent
are available in table 27.

In one region (Region IX) there are some special circumstances,
which will be noted, but generally speaking, the acreage of crop-
land harvested per man-equivalent on farms of different economic
classes, for a given region, is indicative of the relative efficiency
with which the labor resource is used on the various size-of-
business groups of farms.

Except for Region IX, there is a steady and substantial increase
in cropland harvested per man-equivalent from Class VI tlirough
Class II farms for all regions. In Region IX, Class III farms
have more cropland harvested per nuxn-equivalent than do farms
in Class 11.

The extent as well as the fact of increased cropland harvested
per unit of labor as between Class VI and Class II farms should
be noted. For most regions, Class II farms have about 4 times
as much cropland harvested per man-equivalent as do those farms
in Economic Class VI. Even between Class III and Class II
farms there is, for nearly all regions, a striking increase in crop-
land per man-equivalent. In 7 of the 10 regions. Class II farms
have about 40 percent more acres of cropland per unit of labor
than farms in Class III. In Region II, this difference between
these two classes is about 38 percent. The differences in cropland
acreage per man between classes within these regions seem large
enough to suggest that labor is utilized more effectively on larger
farms, up to those in Economic Class II.

In Region VII only about 10 percent more cropland is harvested
per man on Class II than on Class III farms. Special circum-
stances, which are discussed later, prevail in Region IX.

While Class I farms are indicated to have much more cropland
harvested per worker, in most regions, than do farms in Classes
III through VI, there are several regions in which Class II farms
indicate more cropland per worker than do those in the largest
size-of-business group. This situation is shown to exist in Regions
II, III, V, and VII. In Region IX, the acreage of cropland
harvested per worker is practically the same for farms in Classes
I and II. In the other five regions the acreage of cropland har-
vested per worker is higher on Class I than on Class II farms.

In the instance of Region IX, the High Plains of Texas, special
circumstances require that the data of table 27 be carefully in-

terpreted. Although in this region there is considerable irri-
gated land, only on Class I farms does there appear to be enough
irrigated land for all cotton to be grown under irrigation. The
proportions that irrigated land accoimt for of cotton acreage per
farm for other economic cla.sses decline rapidly from about 70
percent for Class II, to 25 percent for Class III, and to insignificant
percentages for Classes IV through VI. Region IX has a semiarid
climate which, in general, means that, in relatively frequent years,
there is too little rainfall for good yields. The average yields for
nonirrigated crops are, therefore, much lower than for those grown
under irrigation. At the same time, both terrain and the period of
its development for crop farming favor large-scale mechanized
farming units in Region IX. These latter conditions, taken in
conjunction with the lack of irrigated land and consequent rela-
tively low output per acre, seem to explain the fact that Classes
III and IV farms have larger acreages of cropland per worker in
Region IX than do farms in Classes I and II.

Table 27- — Acres of Cropland Harvested and Acres of
Cotton Harvested per Man-Equivalent for Cotton
Farms, by Economic Class, and by Regions: 1954

Region

I...
II...
III..
IV..
V...

VI..
VII.
VIII
IX..
X...

I.-..
II...
III.-
IV..
V...

VI..

vn.

VIII
IX..
X .-

Economic class of farm

classes

III IV

Acres of cropland harvested

31.9
25.8
20.7
26.1
33.3

36.6
80,6
40.9
120.0
65.4

80.1

74.1

43.9

32.9

27.1

68.3

71.3

52.0

33.3

23.8

57.7

60.3

35,0

23,3

18.6

78.4

03.0

34,6

17,8

11.3

62.7

70.3

51.0

36.5

25.7

84.1

68.2

42.1

26.9

22.3

82.7

112.1

99.5

80,0

57,5

49.1

43.8

32,9

27,1

18.2

118 1

117.1

132.5

119.2

101 0

61.8

42.0

28.6

18.2

13.3

18.3
17.3
13.3

8.6
17.5

14.2
32.6
10.0
38.2
6.0

Acres of cotton harvested

10.0

23,9

21.8

14.3

11.2

8,6

10.0

21,9

26.8

19,6

14.7

10.0

8.7

21,1

21.9

14,6

10,0

7.9

12. H

30,6

25.6

17.0

10,6

7.3

17 3

30.3

33.9

27.1

20.0

14.3

18,8

44.6

38,2

21.6

13.8

10,0

39,4

36,9

64,6

60.0

40.7

29.2

23,5

27,3

25,0

21.0

16.7

11.8

53,3

61.3

63,3

60.6

52.5

47.0

26,3

28,7

22.5

16,4

12.7

8.9

5.8
6.4
6.0
6.4
8.3

6,8
15.8

6.7
16.6

6.0

46

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Section 6.— INVESTMENT ON COTTON FARMS

Information concerning total farm investments and its distribu-
tion by major categories is particularly useful. Through the
common denominator of estimated dollar value, such data provide
the best measure of the quantity of the various kinds and qualities
of physical resources that are used in production on cotton farms.
Investment data are available to us for three major categories of
resources — land and buildings, machinery and equipment, and
livestock.

The land and capital resources on these farms are employed for
other purposes as well as in cotton production, of course, but, as
table 19 shows, the cotton enterprise accounts for an overwhelm-
ingly large proportion of total sales from cotton farms in every
region, on each economic class of farm. The continued employ-
ment of these resources is, consequently, mainly supported by the
cotton enterprise.

The approximately 8.4 biUion dollars of investment on cotton
farms in our ten regions is an impressive aggregate of resources.
It amounts to about 8 percent of the estimated total investment on
commercial farms in the United States.

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL INVESTMENT
AMONG ECONOMIC CLASSES

In this perspective let us examine the distribution of total
investment for the ten regions among farms with total annual
gross sales of less than $5,000. It seems probable that among such
businesses are likely to occur most of the difficulties of remunerat-
ing at "opportunity costs" both the resources which comprise the
investment aggregate and the human agent of operator and family
labor and management.

With respect to this distribution three groups of regions are
clearly discernible. In Regions I, II, III, and V, from just under
60 percent to almost 90 percent of total investment is found on
farms in Classes IV through VI. A much smaller, but still sub-
stantial, proportion of around 35 percent of total investment is
found in Regions IV, VI, and VII on farms with gross sales of less
than $5,000. In Regions VIII, IX, and X these smaller size-of-
business farms account for 9, 5, and 3 percent, respectively, of
regional total investment.

Table 28. — Distribution of Investment on Cotton Farms, by Economic Class, by Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGION I

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment-.
Livestoct

REGION II

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment.-.
Livestock

REGION III

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment...
Livestock

REGION IV

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment..
Livestock

REGION V

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment...
Livestock

REGION VI

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment...
Livestock

All
cotton
farms

Mil.

dollars

428.5

347.7

50.7

30.0

232.8
188.8
29.7
14.3

1, 163. 2

944.1

126.2

82.9

1,717.7

1. 369. 8

306.1

51.8

248.6
196.6
30.4
21.4

182.6

154.4

20.2

8.0

Economic class of farm

Per-
cent
8.3
8.3
9.4
6.1

1.2
1.1
1.4

1.8

6.4
6.6
6.0
4.6

32.7
33.5
29.9
27.1

16.8
17.8
12.7
13.3

13.2
13,6
11.2
11.1

Per-
cent
13.2
13.7
11.5
10.8

3.8
3.8
3.7
3.9

8.4
8.9
6.2
6.3

18.6
18.1
21.9
12.5

11.9
11.9
13.4
9.4

25.9
25.9
28.2
20.6

Per-
cent
16.3
16.3
17.6
14.4

7.3
6.4

11.4
11.4
12.0
9.7

16.4
16.8
15.0
13.7

14,9
15.3
13.1
13.0

26.8
25,9
26.7
22.9

Per-
cent
26.4
26.4
26.8
26.9

19.3
19.6
18.2
17.4

24.8
24.9
25.2
23.4

16.9
16.4
18.2
21.2

18.4
17.8
21.9
18.9

21.0
20.9
21.5
22.4

Per-
cent
24.4
24.0
25.2
27.1

39.2
38.8
41.8
38.3

31.7
31.0
36.3
33.9

12.7
12.3
12.9
19.7

21.0
20.4
22.7
23.6

10.8
10.6

16.2

VI

Per-
cent
11.4
11.3
10.4
14.7

29.7
29.8
27.6
32.2

17.3
17.1
15.4
22.1

2.8
2.9
2.1
6.8

17.1

16.7
16,2
21.9

3.3
3.1
3.6
6.8

Region and item

REGION VII

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment.
Livestock

REGION VIII

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment.
Livestock

REGION IX

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment.
Livestock

REGION X

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machmery and equipment.
Livestock

TOTAL, 10 REGIONS

Total investment

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment.
Livestock

All
cotton
farms

MU.

dollars

1. 387. 6

1,191.0

152.2

44.4

384.4

342.1

37.8

4.6

1, 130. 4

991.7

125.6

13.2

1, 667. 9

1,328.6

198.1

31.3

8, 423. 7

7, 044. 9

1,076.9

301.9

Economic class of farm

.Per-
cent
15.3
16.0
12.0
8.7

66.6
66.6
45.9
68.7

64.8
66,0
46.0
44.4

79,7
81,0
70,9
79.5

36.9
37.2
32.0
20.2

Per-
cent
23.1
23.1
24.5
17.7

23.8
23.1
30.8
21.3

32.8
31.9
40.4
32.3

13.2
12.2
20.0
13.2

18.4
18.2
21.4
12.0

III

Per-
cent
25.9
26.2
23.8
25.3

11.3
11.1
12.2
12.8

7.6
7.6
7.9
12.0

4.5
4.3
6.4
4.8

13.5
13.6
13.2
13.2

IV

Per-
cent
22.0
21.4
26.1
26.2

S. 6
6.3
7.6
3.5

3.4
3.2

4.2
7.4

2.0
1.8
2.8
2.1

14.4
14.0
15.7
20.0

Per-
cent
11.0
10.7
11.6
17.1

3.1
3.1

2.7
2.7

1.3
1.3
1.4
3.4

0.5
0.6
0.7
0.4

12.3
11.8
13.0

22,1

VI )

Per-
cent
2.7
2.6
3.2
6.0

0.8
0.8
0.7
0.9

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.4

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

5.4
6.2
4.7
12,6

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

47

INVESTMENT PER FARM

Aggregate investment data for regions and economic classes of
cotton farms are useful, but information on average investment per
farm for economic classes and regions is perhaps of more wide-
spread interest, and is valuable for several uses. The data on per
farm investment are given in table 29. Such data measure more
completely than any other available data the relative quantities of
physical resources that are used in production on cotton farms of
different economic classes in the various regions. They also
suggest, at the readily compreliensible level of the individual farm,
the quantities of other resources that are used in conjunction with
human resources.

Class I farms in all regions have average investments well in
excess of $100,000, but there is considerable variation in the
average level of investment among regions. The Class I farms in
Region X have far larger total investment than do those of any
other region.

Total investment in Class II farms shows considerably less

regional variation. The range here is from a low of about $45,000
in Region I to a little over $70,000 in Region VII. Considerable
regional variation will be observed in total investment per farm for
Classes III through VI. The general level decreases from Class
III to Class VI. Among Class III farms the range is from about
$16,000 for Region I to almost $.38,000 in Regions VII and VIII.
Class IV farms exhibit a range in total investment of from about
$8,000 to more than $26,000. Investment per farm for Class V
farms varies from a low of a little more than $4,000 in Region IV
to a high of almost $20,000 in Region IX. Class VI farms show a
range in investment per farm from about $3,000 to $12,000.

Table 29 also shows the percentage distribution of investment
among land and buildings, machinery and equipment, and live-
stock. Land and buildings account for 75 percent or more of total
investment for every region and every economic class of farm.
Moreover, there is striking similarity for the different economic
classes in each of the ten regions in the percentage of total invest-
ment which is accounted for by each of the tliree major investment
components.

Table 29. — Total Investment and Percent Distribution of Investment per Farm for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class, by

Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGION I

Total investment - .dollars-

Land and buildings percent-
Machinery and equipment .percent-
Livestock percent.

REGION II

Total investment dollars.

Land and buildings percent-

Machinery and equipment percent-
Livestock percent-

REQION III

Total investment dollars.

Land and buildings percent-
Machinery and equipment percent-
Livestock pereent-

REQION IV

Total investment dollars.

Land and buildings percent.

Machinery and equipment percent.

Livestock percent.

REGION V

Total investment dollars.

Land and buildings percent.

Machinery and equipment percent.

Livestock percent.

REGION VI

Total investment doUars.

Land and buildings percent-
Machinery and equipment percent.

Livestock percent.

REGION VII

Total Investment. dollars.

Land and buildings percent.

Machinery and equipment percent.

Livestock percent.

REGION VIII
Total investment dollars-
Land and buildings percent.

Machinery and equipment percent.

Livestock percent.

REGION IX

Total investment dollars.

Land and buildings percent.

Machinery and equipment percent.

Livestock _ percent.

REGION X

Total investment doUars.

Land and buildings percent -

Machinery and equipment _ percent.

Livestock pereent.

TOTAL, 10 REGIONS

Total Investment -dollars.

Land and buildings percent.

Machinery and equipment percent.

Livestock ...percent.

Economic class of farm

All classes

7,469

81.2

11.8

7.0

6,781

81.1

12.8

6.1

6,737

81.9

10.9

7.2

13,416
79.2
17.8
3.0

11,167
79.1
12.3
8.6

22, 843

84.6

11.1

4.4

30, 872
85.8
11.0
3.2

72, 638
89.0

77, 159

87.7

11.1

1.2

131, 386

85.3

12.7

2.0

16, 718

83.6

12.8

3.6

123, 774

81.4

13.4

6.2

119,347
76.3
16.3
9.4

154, 708

84,6

10.4

5,1

187, 621
81.2
16.3
2.6

194,311
84.0
9.2
6.8

143, 470

9.4
3,7

178, 125
89.6
8.6
1,8

233, 985

90.7

8. 1

1.2

147, 607

89.7

9.3

1.0

276, 743
86.7
11.3
2.0

202, 214
86.6
11.4
2,0

45, 887

83.9

10.3

5.8

49, 141
81.3
12,4
6.3

8, 173
86.7
8.0
5.3

53,685
77.0
21.0
2,0

53, 606
79.4
13.8
6.8

61,210
84.6
12.0
3.6

72, 053
85.9
11.6
2.5

70, 106

86.3

12.7

1.0

64,005

85,2

13.7

1.2

67, 270
78.8
19.2
2,0

61, 984
82,8
14.9
2.3

III

15, 867
81.0
12,8
6,2

21, 350
80.6
13.7
5.7

19, 052

82.4
11.6
6. 1

18, 669
81.2
16.3
2.6

24, 282

81.7

10 8

7.5

26,511
85. 1
11.0
3.9

37, 942
86.8
10,1
3.1

37, 882

88,0

10,7

1.3

36, 584

86.6

11.6

1.9

34, 363

82.6

16.3

2, 1

25, 126
84.0
12.6
3.6

7,614
81.3
11,6

7. 1

9,346
82.4
12.0

5.6

8,746
82.1
11.1

6.8

8,081
77.0
19.2
3.8

12, 459
76.6
14.6

16, 027
84.0
11.3

4,7

22, 096
83.7
12.5
3.8

23,177
85.7
13.6
0.8

26, 399

83.6

13.8

2.6

22, 149
79.7
18.1
2.2

10, 846
81.1
13.9
6,0

.5, 017
80 0
12.2
7,8

6,692

80.4

13.6

6.0

6,239

80.1

12.2

7.7

4,271
77.2
18.1
4.7

7,247
77.0
13.3
9.7

10, 820
83.3
10.0
6.7

13, 432
83.6
11.4
6.0

15, 586

90 3

8 7

1.0

19, 644
85. 1
11.9
3.0

12, 032

80.3

18.1

1.6

5,764

80 1

13.5

6.4

3,104

80.2

10.8

9.0

3,739
81.6
11.8
6.7

3,343

81.1

9.7

9.2

2,802
80.6
13.3

6,2

4,659
77.3
11.6
11.1

78.8
12.1
9.1

8,106

81.3

12.8

6.9

10, 989

89.1

9.6

1.4

12,060
82.2
13.6
4.3

7,873

81,0

17.9

1.1

3,617

80.7
11.0
8.3

48

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

INVESTMENT PER ACRE AND PER MAN-EQUIVALENT

The investment data per farm of table 29 were divided by acres
of all land, acres of cropland, and number of man-equivalent
workers per farm, to obtain the investment measures per farm
shown in table 30.

Perhaps the most significant economic measure of those shown
in table 30 is investment per man-equivalent worker. This meas-
ure provides an index of the relationship of other productive re-
sources to the human resources used on these farms.

In general there is a steady and substantial increase in invest-
ment per worker from Class VI to Class I farms for all regions.

For the 10 regions, taken as a whole, the average investment per
worker on Class VI farms is about $3,000, the comparable average
for Class I farms is almost $28,000. Examination of the data in
table 30 for individual regions reveals some striking differences
between regions for the same economic classes of farms. In gen-
eral, it will be observed that investment per worker is much lower
for each economic class of farm in Regions I though V than in
Regions VI through X. It is interesting to note that in several of
the western regions average investment per worker is higher on
Classes IV and V farms than such investment on Classes I and II
farms in some of the eastern regions.

Table 30. — Total Investment per Acre of All Land in Farms, per Acre of Total Cropland, and per Man-Equivalent,

FOR Cotton Farms, by Economic Class, by Regions: 1954

Economic class of farm

Region and item

All classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

REGION I

Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

Investment per acre of—

71
122

4,6f58

68

131

13, 167

74

146

13, 496

78

133

6,899

76

119

4,479

68

111

3,684

60

109

2,687

REGION U

Investment per acre of —

72

145

4,818

65

124

11, 936

68

160

16,852

72

142

10, 676

83

147

6,230

76

146

4,379

64

143

3,399

REGION HI

Investment per acre of—

83

167

4,491

99

196

16, 627

106
210

18, 179

97

182

8,660

92

164
4,868

80

160

3,742

63

160

2,786

REGION IV

Investment per acre of—

178

246

7,453

189

269

24,366

206

206

19,883

183

242

9,336

167

224

4,489

165
211

2,847

111

188

2,165

REGION V

Investment per acre of—

76

150

7,445

104

198

17, 992

94

170

17,260

79

165

11,563

76

143

7,329

69

134

6,176

68

126

3,883

REGION VI

Investment per acie of —

194
312

13,437

178

290

31, 189

204

336

27,823

196

291

13, 953

216

329

10,017

179

323

8,323

P?

266

4,742

REGION VII

Investment per acre of—

123

174

17, 151

162

232

21,991

135

189

25, 733

118

164

19,969

114

158

16,783

106

156

11, 193

90

166

6,765

REGION VIII

Investment per acre of—

341

418

21,336

330

417
24, 892

342

402

21,908

362

418

18,039

386

476

16, 565

398

604

14, 169

364

416

9, 15S

region IX

Investment per acre of —

All land in larms - -

170
216

28,577

193

246
31,406

173

208

26,669

112
161

22,866

106

168

21,999

88

143

19,644

62

186

10,964

REGION X

Investment per acre ot—

All land in farms -

242

444

32, 046

228

414

33,222

310

597

33,635

323

643

24, M6

317

790
20, 135

497

718

13, 369

824

1,028

Investment per man-equivalent - -

7,873

TOTAL, 10 REGIONS

Investment per acre of —

All land In farms -

135

217

9,834

196

302

27, 701

165

241

22,967

129

194

12,663

112

174

6,380

92

161

4,117

68

146

Investment per man.equIvaleDt

3,014

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION
Section 7.— SELECTED MEASURES OF FARM INCOME AND EFFICIENCY

49

In this section two additional sets of basic data are presented
for economic classes of cotton farms in the ten regions. These are
the value of sales per farm, and per farm amounts of expenditure
for a number of items of cash-production expense. The per farm
totals of these designated items of cash-production expenses are
referred to as "specified expenses."

The basic data on average .sales per farm are shown in table 31 ;
those concerning designated items of expense are given in table 32.

The data relating to average sales per farm probably provide the
best available measure of both the absolute and the relative sizes
of farm business that are found on the various economic classes of
cotton farms.

In recent years concern has been expressed in some quarters
about the fact of secularly increasing size-of-farm businesses.
This report is not, of course, designed to analyze the complex re-
lationships between social goals and necessary economic adjust-
ments on farms that are involved in questions relating to trends
in size-of-farm businesses. An examination of the average levels
of total sales on the three largest size-of-business groups of cotton
farms does, however, provide an objective measure of the size of
these largest cotton farms.

Class I farms include all those with sales of $25,000 or more.
Except for Region X where the average is $110,000, the farms in
this class have average total sales of from $40,000 to $60,000.

Table 31. — Total Sales, Cotton Sales, All Crop Sales, and Livestock and Livestock Products Sales per Cotton Farm,

Economic Class, and by Regions: 1954

Region and item

REGIO.V I

Total sales

All crops-- - -.

Cotton - --

All livestock and livestock products

REQIOX H

Total sales ---

All crops

Cotton -.

All livestock and livestock products- -

REGION III

Total sales

All crops _ --.

Cotton —

All livestock and livestock products

REGION IV

Total sales —

All crops _

Cotton

All livestock and livestock products

REGION V

Total sales

All crops —

Cotton

A 11 livestock and livestock products

REOIO.X VI

Total sales

All crops _.- _.

Cotton

All livestock and livestock products -..

REGION VII

Total sales

All crops

Cotton

All livestock and livestock products

REGION VIII

Total sales

All crops _

Cotton

All livestock and livestock products

REGION IX

Total sales :..

All crops

Cotton

All livestock and livestock products

REGION X

Total sales

All crops

Cotton

All livestock and livestock products

Economic class of farm

.\U classes

Dollars

2, 701

2.657

2.026

193

1,666

1,543

1,390

101

2,142

1,966

1,837

168

4, 6.W

4,405

3,957

161

2,758

2,464

2,288

285

6,380

5.038

4.517

341

5,967

5,474

4.491

492

16,920

16,440

13. 751

479

21,812

21, 210

17,188

602

47,880

45,799

36, 516

2,080

Dollars
42,084
37, 676
29,902
3.958

48.196
36,822
29,252
8,565

m. 842

44,906

38, 936

5,663

57, 071

64,336

45, 309

2,677

fjO, 316
63,626
48, 899
6,650

39, 893

37,468

31,215

2,432

52, 696

50,747

37, 622

1,943

59,207

57, 2fi0

46,999

1,944

46, 675

45,600

36,248

1,075

110,441

105, 776

83,368

4,664

Dollars
14,349
12, 659
9,830
1.602

14,354

12, 656

10, 6.53

1,559

14, 397

12, 766

11,367

1.688

14,643

14, 118

12, 167

615

14, 167
12,684
11.398
1,449

14,385

13,668

12, 276

822

14, 473

13,418

10,996

1.064

16, 670

16, 337

13, 967

333

16, 962

16, 472

13,660

490

15,996

16, 192

12,903

802

Dollars

6,479

6,995

4,628

461

6,839

6,041

6,016

726

6,396

6,764

5,348

606

6,693

6,498

5.891

192

6,573

6,924

6.609

630

6,831

6,430

5,938

399

6,908

6, 266

5,286

641

7,826

7,632

6,577

194

7,723

7,365

6,313

368

,192
,765

Dollars

3,412

3.206

2,602

198

3,290

3,062

2.731

203

3,317

3.068

2.868

248

3,379

3,292

3,118

84

3,369

3,003

2.842

349

3,663

3,419

3.047

■Hi

3,613

3,203

2.766

410

3.513

3,432

2.997

81

3,976

3,666

3,166

319

3,921

3,696

3,352

218

Dollars

1,770

1, 653

1,364

113

1,732

1,635

1,492

86

1,729

1,606

1,622

117

1,769
1,731
1,674

1,706

1,527

1.462

171

1,894

1,729

1,651

165

1,916

1,660

1,472

265

1,918

1,878

1,668

39

1,%9

1,761

1,566

207

1,880

1,837

1,753

43

VI

Dollars

796

750

647

42

776
734
683
37

757

703

670

50

774
753
22

658

582

534

71

787
704
673
83

840
735
673
106

835

827

783

7

721

617
578
105

868

854

847

6

50

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

It will be remembered that the range of sales volume possible
for farms in Class II is from $10,000 to $24,999. The midpoint of
such a range is $17,500. In no region does average sales per farm
for Class II farms go as high as the midpoint of the range for the
class. In most regions, sales for_this class average from $14,000
to $15,000 per farm.

For Class III farms the most general level of average sales found
in the regions is about $6,500. The possible range of sales in this
class is, of course, from $5,000 to $9,999. Only in Regions VIII
and IX, where average sales are $7,800 and $7,700, respectively,
does total farm sales of Class III farms reach the midpoint of the
sales range for the class.

It seems doubtful that sales volumes such as the averages for
farms in these classes would, in the instance of any type of non-
farm business, be taken to connote unusually large or economi-
cally menacing size.

In this general context it is also important to look at per farm
sales on the three smallest economic classes from the standpoint
of the adequacy of business volume to supply generally acceptable
levels of income to a farm family.

The range among regions for average sales per Class IV cotton
farms is from almost $3,300 to almost $4,000. For Class V farms
the comparable range is from about $1,730 to $1,970, while the
range in region-average total sales for Class VI cotton farms is
from about $660 to about $860.

Table 32. — Percent of Farms Reporting and Average Expenditure for Selected Items per Farm, for Cotton Farms, by Economic

Class, by Regions: 1954

Region and Item

REGION I

Machine hire:

Percent of farms reporting..

Dollars per farm reporting, _
Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting. _

Dollars per farm reporting..

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Percent of farms reporting..

Dollars per farm reporting. .
Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting..

Dollars per farm reporting..

Fertilizer and fertilizer material:
Percent of farms reporting.,.
Dollars per farm reporting...

Lime and liming material:

Percent of farms reporting,,.
Dollars per farm reporting...

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars..

REGION II

Machine hire:

Percent of farms reporting.

Dollars per farm reporting.
Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting.

Dollars per farm reporting.

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Percent of farms reporting...

Dollars per farm reporting...
Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting...

Dollars per farm reporting...

Fertilizer and fertilizer material:

Percent of farms reporting...

Dollars per farm reporting. . ,
Lime and liming material:

Percent of farms reporting...

Dollars per farm reporting...

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars..

REGION III

Machine hire:

Percent of farms reporting.

Dollars per farm reporting.
Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting.

Dollars per farm reporting.

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Percent of farms reporting...

Dollars per farm reporting...
Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting. , .

Dollars per farm reporting. , .

Fertilizer and fertilizer material:
Percent of farms reporting...
Dollars per farm reporting...

Lime and hming material:

Percent of farms reporting,,.
Dollars per farm reporting,..

Economic class of farm

All
classes

67.8
146

65.4
479

46.0
151

47.0
305

97.2
444

4.6
112

1,062

63.2
90

61,5
226

44.8
121

42.1
154

97.2
281

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars..

5.1
81

569

55.1
112

62.2
317

53.6
128

43.4

200

95.6
237

2.2
110

60.6
1,628

8.3
U, 681

61.7
1,664

95.8
3,730

23, 814

66.5
1,191

100.0
12, 110

87.0
2,216

100.0
3.023

100-0
8,394

62.2
642

26,411

69.1
2,060

97.9
12,188

66.1
2,000

97.7
3,386

4,326

23.6
633

63.9
661

96.2
3,204

65.6
731

96.6
1,401

97.4
2,471

21.9

270

7,804

48.9
670

94.4
3,062

48.3
984

94.4
1,302

95.0
2,608

23.3
334

61.6
722

92.5
2,772

63.8
752

93.0
1,106

97.2
1,387

16.0
249

III

69.9
343

84.2
1,023

54.1
316

77.6
492

98.5
916

10.8
129

2,669

69.7
342

90.6
1,073

48.3
536

85.9
651

99.3
,197

21.4
122

56.2

80.0
866

60.2
347

80.7
430

97.2
589

7.6
138

612 I 22, 414 6, 903 1, 992 832 426 226

IV

B8.7
171

75.8
353

46.0
144

57.8
241

97.6
474

6.0
83

1,056

66.6
162

69.3
346

43.4

218

69.9
222

96.6
479

9.7
103

1,036

54.2
160

64.9
317

52.4
168

61.0
213

96.2
330

4.0

68.4
106

34.6
185

43.4
154

96.7
320

3.6
63

612

63.1
95

66.6
161

42.8
115

45.0
122

97.6
281

5.4
65

66.4
91

62.6
143

61.2
102

44.1
123

96.7
201

1.7
66

65.9
57

48.6
87

46.6
67

97.1
167

1.6

64

62.9
54

40.6
74

46.6
72

32.6
73

97.1
158

2.7
41

276

63.6
49

56.0
71

26.7
72

Region and item

REGION IV

Machine hire:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting.

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Fertihzer and fertilizer material:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Lime and liming material:

Percent of farms reporting...

Dollars per farm reporting

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars..

REGION V

Machine hire:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Fertilizer and fertilizer material:

Percent of farms reporting

DoDars per farm reporting

Lime and liming material:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars..

REGION VI

Machine hire:

Percent of farms reporting..

Dollars per farm reporting

Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm rcportmg

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Percent of farms reporting.

Dollars per farm reporting

Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting^

Fertihzer and fertihzer material:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Lime and liming material:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars.

Economic class of farm

All
classes

I

II

III

IV

v

68.5
320

70.1
3,366

73.3
1,124

69.3
474

67.7
236

68.5
132

66.1
1,104

98.9
12,644

95.4

2,887

79.3
1,004

59.7
399

46.9
184

40.8
166

60.4
1,444

64.2
373

47.9
181

42.5
118

36.6
88

49.6
462

98.6
3,989

95.3
1,064

76.1
422

53.4
209

37.6
120

87.9
281

95.1
3,286

90.9

877

87.4
364

88.2
198

88.8
120

1.6

244

11.3
713

5.0
248

2.9
200

1.1

93

0.6
61

1,386

22,726

6,603

1,856

735

360

49.1
228

06.6
3,630

63.4
1,266

60.6
439

55.9
225

49.2
119

67.4
723

99.5
15,311

96.2
3,190

86.7
1,197

78.8
497

60.1
219

69.7
202

57.2
2,974

63.0
773

66.3
401

64.8
222

65.3
159

53.9
302

100.0
3,649

96.4
1,000

85.8
479

77.6
272

68 2
163

82.9
243

83.3
3,199

90.9
880

85.8
459

83.8
307

82.5
192

1.3
126

10.7
381

4.0
174

1.7
162

3.2
99

0.8
105

1,033

25,609

6,128

2,378

1,133

548

65.4
361

85.1
2,408

68.4
767

69.8
387

49.1
215

48.5
103

81.4
968

93.6
7,303

93.5
2,224

89.9
1,236

87.7
523

73.3
254

72.9
259

75.0
1,062

69.5
506

74.7
320

72.9
207

72.7
161

76.8
310

100.0
1,648

94,2
624

92.6
358

77.9
199

66.6
143

45.8
229

0.6
71

66.7
1,466

0.6
1,250

48.3

450

42.2

267

0.3

5

47.8
151

0.6

45

60.2
126

0.8
40

1.613

12,303

3,754

2,069

942

612

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

51

Table 32. — Percent of Farms Reporting and

Average Expenditure for Selected Items per Farm, for
Class, by Regions: 1954 — Continued

Cotton Farms

, BY Economic

Economic class of farm

Region and Item

Economic class of farm

Region and item

AU
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

All
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

REGION VII
Machine hire:

82,9
463

85.6
1,262

69.9
288

90.4
447

21.4
217

0.2
62

2,107

58.5
1,031

93.8
4,171

34.1
565

91.8
1,109

48.7
826

0.4
319

6,129

88.4
3,128

99.5
11,169

58.9
871

99.7
2,151

29.1
1,138

0.8
164

16, 867

69.1
2,919

100.0
13, 957

37.2
1,508

98 9
3,128

68.0
2,198

1.8
376

21, 132

91 7
1,022

98.4
2,973

70.3
613

98.2
893

23.4
363

0.2
134

5,184

62.9
966

98.1
3,736

40.0
403

98,3
1,108

54.5
677

5,891

89,4
507

94.4
1,298

73.6
331

96.8
631

24,8
228

0.2

48

2,493

53.5
603

97.4
1,842

35.2
415

96.6
023

60.4
309

0.4
134

2,966

84,6
288

89,9
606

71.4
267

93,0
328

20,6
161

0.3
46

1,318

49.5
319

91.8
981

29.2
372

89.6
360

39.0
201

77,*3
169

77 2
315

68,9
192

86 6
222

20.0
116

0.1
46

721

66.3
223

86.4
441

25.8
116

78.8
230

31.7
117

68, 1
89

59,3
142

62 8
128

69,4
136

16,0

74

331

69,3
99

66 7
239

29,6
94

61,1

182

27.8
74

REGION IX
Machine hire:

90,7
1,431

93.0
3,284

65.3
470

98 0
1,538

15.7
691

(Z)
60

6,274

81.3
3,365

93.1
9,099

43.8
1,298

94.6
2,001

77.4
2.612

1.6
662

16, 696

94.2
2,801

99.0
6,665

69.9
696

98,7
2,951

28,0
1,035

(Z)
270

12, 858

86.7
7,023

99.1
19, 834

38.2
3,016

97.6
4,103

92.1
6,214

L8

847

36. 726

90.7
1,157

94,5
2,440

67.1
440

99.0
1,303

13.8
406

0.1
6

4,998

84.4
1,356

94.5
2,828

51.4
490

97.9
966

79.6
717

1.8
418

6, 593

90.7
692

92.0
1,266

68.7
367

98.0
675

7.7
239

91.2
352

85,3
618

69.5
331

96.1
449

6.6
108

75.9
207

74,6
286

64.9
231

92,1
301

86
53

Dollars per farm reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

123

Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting

Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting

23 8

Dollars per farm reporting

259

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Percent of farms reporting

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Dollars per farm reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

138

Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting. .

Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting

86.7
145

Dollars per farm reporting

Fertilizer and fertilizer material:

Percent of farms reporting

Fertilizer and fertilizer material:

4 8

Dollars per farm reporting

DoUars per farm reporting

80

Lime and liming material:

Percent of farms reporting

Lime and liming material:

Dollars per farm reporting -

Dollars per farm reporting

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars. .

REGION VIII

Machine hire:

Percent of farms reporting

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars. -

REGION X

Machine hire:

2,633

77.9
634

89.0
1,418

48.4
654

96.0
536

70.2
303

2.2
253

2,761

1,615

73.7
357

89.8
750

44.3
277

88.8
291

58.6
176

0.4
250

1,422

802

61.6
322

78.6
352

33.4
225

77.1
177

47.5
108

327

Hired labor:

Percent of farms reporting...

Hired labor:

Dollars per farm reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

188

Feed for livestock and poultry:

Percent of farms reporting

Feed for livestock and poultry:
Percent of farms reporting

36 8

Dollars per farm reporting. .

Gasoline, fuel, and oil:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting

Gasnlme, fuel, .and oil:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reportmg

Fertilizer and fertilizer material:

Percent of farms reporting. _

66.8
84

18.4
53

Fertilizer and fertilizer material:

Percent of farms reporting

Dollars per farm reporting...

Lime and liming material:

Percent of farms reporting

Lime and liming material:

Percent of farms reportmg

Dollars per farm reporting.

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars. -

Dollars per farm reporting

Average of specified expenses per farm
dollars..

1,567

762

378

738

256

Z 0.05 percent or less.

The interpretation of these sales levels in terms of the levels of
income from farming that are associated with them is facilitated
by examination of the data in table 33. In this table the total
of specified production expense items has been subtracted from
total sales per farm. The fact should be borne in mind that,
in general, the total of these specified items of expense probably
does not exceed 60 percent of total cash production expenses
when all items are included.

For Class IV farms the sales minus specified expenses per farm
are, for most regions, between $2,200 and $2,500. Only in Regions
IV and VI, which show $2,600 and $2,700, respectively, does the
average of sales minus specified expenses for Class IV farms
exceed $2,500.

In the instance of Class V farms, the cash incomes above speci-
fied expenses are between $1,100 and $1,200 for seven of the ten
regions. Farms in Region IV have the highest value for per farm
sales minus specified expenses for Class V farms. This is shown
to be $1,400.

For farms in Class VI average value of sales minus specified
expenses for the ten regions is $520. The highest value for any

region is $603, while in the region having the lowest value the
amount is $394.

Table 33. — Sales Minus Specified Expenses per Farm for
Cotton Farms, by Economic Class, by Regions: 1954

Economic class of farm

Region

AU
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

I....

Dollars
1,699
1,087
1,630
3,172
1,726

3,867

3,860

10, 791

15, 538

32, 186

a, 406

Dollars
18, 272
21,787
28, 429

34, 345
34,711

27,590

35, 828
38, 076
33. 817
74, 714

46.103

Dollars
6. 546
6,884
8,494
9, 039
8, 029

10. 631
9,289
10, 779
11,964
10,403

9,887

Dollars
3,910
3,716
4, 403
4, 8,36
4, 195

4,772
4,415
4,86')
6, 090
4,441

4,547

Dollars
2, 3,55
2,254
2,485
2.644
2,227

2,721
2,296
1, 946
2,461
2.499

2,478

Dollars
1.158
1.199
1,303
1,409
1,159

1,382
1,194
1,166
1,167
1,142

1,289

Dollars
496

II

498

III

IV

596

V

VI

524

VII

509

VIII

IX

X

603

Total, 10 regions

620

52

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

It has been mentioned that, since Census data do not cover all
cash expense items, the value of sales less specified expenses per
farm probably overstates net cash farm income. It also prob-
ably overstates, even more, net incomes on tenant-operated farms
since they receive only a share of crops. There is one important
item of noncash cost for which it is possible to make an estimate
using Census data as a basis. This is interest on investment per
farm. Estimated values for this item are shown in table 34.
These values were obtained by applying rates of 5 percent to
value of investment in land and. buildings, and 7 percent to the
value of investment in machinery and equipment and livestock.

Table 34. — Estimated Interest on Investment per Farm for
Cotton Farms, by Economic Class, by Regions: 1954

Economic class of farm

Region

All
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

I.__

Dollars
403
312
364
724
603

1,211
1.636
3,772
4,012
6,963

886

Dollars
6,684
6,504
7, 735
10, 132
10, 298

7, 604
9. 263

12, 167
7.676

14.614

10, 717

Dollars
2, 432
2,654
3,083
2,953
2,889

3.244
3.819
3.716
3.392
3,633

3,285

Dollars
857
1,163
1,029
1,008
1,311

1, 405
2,011
1,970
1,939
1,821

1,332

Dollars
373
495
472
444
685

849
1,171
1,228
1,399
1,196

686

Dollars
246
307
283
235
399

573
712
810
1,041
650

311

Dollars
149

II

202

Ill

181

IV

151

V

252

VI

307

VII

438

VIII

571

IX

661

X

425

196

When this allowance is made for remuneration of the aggregate
of physical sources that are employed, the residual of sales that
is left to compensate the human agent, to take care of nonspecified
cash expenses, and to allow for replacement of worn-out equip-
ment, is strikingly small on the three smallest size-of-business
groups. Even for Class III farms, the residual of around $3,000
per farm for most regions suggests very modest returns to the
people involved.

Table 35. — Sales per Farm Minus Specified Expenses and
Imputed Interest on Investment for Economic Classes of
Cotton Farms, by Regions: 1954

Region

I-

II

Ill

IV ..._

V __

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

Total, 10 regions

Economic class of fai-m

All

classes

Dollars
1,296
775
1,166
2,448
1,122

2,666
2,224
7,019
11, 626
25, 222

2,620

Dollars
11.588
15, 223
20,694
24, 213

24, 413

19, 986
26, 665

25, 909
26, 141
60.100

36,386

Dollars
4.114
4,230
6,411
6,088
6,140

7,387
5,470
7.063
8,572
6,770

6,602

III

Dollars
3,053
2,663
3,374
3,828
2,884

3,367
2,404
2,890
3, 151
2,620

3,216

IV

Dollars
1,982
1,769
2,013
2,200
1,642

1,872
1,124
718
1,062
1,303

1,892

Dollars

912

892

1,020

1,174

760

809
482
366
126
492

978

VI

Dollars
347
296
360
445
144

217

71

-114

-267
178

326

Data that relate more specifically to the levels of labor produc-
tivity on cotton farms are provided in tables 36 and 37. In these
tables sales per farm minus specified expenses, and sales per
farm minus both specified expenses and imputed interest on
investment have been divided by the estimated man-equivalent
workers per farm.

For these two tables expenditures for hired labor were not de-
ducted. This procedure was used because hired workers are a
component of the farm labor resources. The reader should keep
in mmd that not all cash expenses are allowed for, and that no
deduction has been made for depreciation. The values shown in
these two tables, therefore, overstate the net output and produc-
tivity of the human agent.

Attention is invited to the relatively modest values shown for
even the largest farms. In a different context, and with different
implications, it is important to note also the progressive increase
shown in this crude measure of labor productivity as the size
of business increases from Class VI to Class I in any region.

Table 36. — Sales Minus Specified Expenses (Except Hired
Labor) per Man'Equivalent, for Cotton Farms, by EcO'
NOMic Class and Regions: 1954

Economic class of farm

Region

All
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

I .._ .

Dollars
1,272
959
1,121
2,091
1,393

2,789
2,788
4,405
6,860
9,866

2,401

Dollars
3,163
3,372
4,064
6, 055
4,631

7,421
6,846
5,604
8,667
11,396

8,106

Dollars
2,784
3,132
3,453
4,346
3,664

6,743
4,369
4,488
6,097
6,254

4,734

Dollars
2,121
2,324
2,281
2,742
2,644

3,091
3,037
3,202
3,766
3,979

2,748

Dollars
1,648
1,640
1,478
1,600
1,646

2,031
1,926
1,927
2,462
2,907

1,618

Dollars
911

1,027
947

1,006
942

1,176
1,163
1,435
1,325
1,716

984

Dollars
435

II

Ill

470
461

IV

499

V .

356

VI .

493

vn

607

VIII

624

IX

401

X -.-

716

Total, 10 regions

459

Table 37- — Sales Minus Specified Expenses (Except Hired
Labor) and Imputed Interest on Investment per Man-
Equivalent, for Cotton Farms, by Economic Class and
Regions: 1954

Economic class of farm

Region

AU

classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

I

Dollars

1,020

699

878

1,689

991

2,077
1,879
3,296
6,374
8,168

1,880

Dollars
2.442
2,716
3,283
4,739
3,678

5,768
4,702
4,210
7,034
9,634

6,637

Dollars
2. 069
2,276
2,490
3,262
2,632

4,268
2,995
3,327
4,684
4,448

3,617

Dollars
1,748
1,747
1,813
2,238
1,920

2,352
1,979
2,264
2,543
2,678

2,082

Dollars
1,329
1,310
1,216
1,363
1,143

1,500
1,089
1,060
1,296
1,820

1,273

Dollars
736
791
746
848
667

735
660
699
284
994

762

Dollars
311

II

286

in

310

IV

383

V -

146

VI

237

VII

142

VIII

48

IX

-191

X - . ..

291

Total, 10 regions

297

COTTON PRODUCERS AND COTTON PRODUCTION

53

INDICATED RETURNS PER OPERATOR AND FAMILY
MAN-EQUIVALENT WORKER

The data examined above give some indication of tlie produc-
tivity and possible returns to all labor. Data are presented in
tables 38 and 39 to indicate returns to operator and family labor
and management. Table 38 shows the return per man-etjuivalent
operator and family worker for the use of capital and their labor
and management.

Table 38. — Sales Minus Specified Expenses per Operator
AND Family Worker for Cotton Farms, by Economic
Class and Regions: 1954

Economic class of form

Region

AU
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

I . . -

Dollars
1,214
988
1,093
2,116
1,438

2,976

3,509

10, 791

16,538

32, 185

2,620

Dollars
20,302

21, 787
28, 429
34,345

31, 655

22, 992

32, 671
38, 076
30, 743
67, 922

41, 381

Dollars
6,546
6,884
6,634
7,632
7,299

8,859
8,445
10, 779
10, 876
10, 403

8,988

Dollars
2,444
2,858
2,690
3,023
2,996

3,409
3.679
4,860
5,090
4,934

3,248

Dollars
1,570
1,734
1,462
1,655
1,486

1,944
2,086
2, 162
2,734
2, 777

1,662

Dollars
891
999
1,002
939
892

1,152
1,080
1,295
1,297
1, 428

992

Dollars
413

II

453

Ill

443

IV

458

V

VI

330
437

VII

VIII

463
415

IX - -

358

X

603

Total, 10 regions

433

In table 39, on the other hand, imputed interest on investment
has been deducted. The indication here, therefore, is of return
to operator and family labor and management per man-equivalent
worker.

Table 39. — Sales Minus Specified Expenses and Imputed
Interest on Investment per Man-Equivalent of Operator
AND Family Workers for Economic Classes of Cotton
Farms, by Regions: 1954

Economic class of farm

Region

AU
classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

I

Dollars
926
705
833
1,632
936

2,043
2,022
7,019
11,626
25, 222

1,938

Dollars
12, 875
15,223
20, 694
24,213
22,194

16, 656
24,150
25,909
23,766
5i636

32, 169

Dollars
4, 114
4,230
4,162
6,072
4,673

6,166
4,973
7,063
7,793
6,770

6,002

Dollars
1,908
1,972
1,986
2,392
2,060

2,406
2,003
2,890
3,151
2,911

2,296

Dollars
1, 321
1,353
1,184
1,294
1,028

1,337
1,022
798
1,180
1,448

1,261

Dollars
702
743
785
783
685

674
438
396
140
615

752

Dollars

II

Ill - - .

292

IV

V

120

VI

VII

65

VIII

IX -

-104
234

X.

178

Total, 10 regions

It will be ob.served tliat for Class VI farnxs the returns per
worker for both capital and labor and management are below
$500 in all regions except one ; there it is only $000.

After allowing for interest on investment, the range among
regions of indicated returns per operator and family worker on
the various size-of-business groups is as follows: Class VI — from
a loss to about $342; Class V— from $140 to $785; Class IV— from
about $800 to about $1,450; Class III— from about $1,910 to
about $2,910; Class II— from about $4,100 to about $7,800; and
Class I— from $12,875 to $54,636.

INVESTMENT PER DOLLAR OF SALES

In table 40 data are given that show the ratio of total invest-
ment to total sales and to sales minus specified expenses. These
data afford a very rough indication of the relative productivity
of capital employed on the various economic classes of cotton
farms, in the different regions. In a general way, relatively low
values of investment ner dollar of sales indicate relatively high
productivity of capital.

The principal conclusion which might tentatively be drawn
from these data is that the productivity of capital — like that of
labor — -is generally higher on the larger than on the smaller size-
of-business farms.

Table 40. — Total Investment on Cotton Farms per Dollar
of Sales, by Economic Class of Farm, by Regions: 1954

Region

I...

II....

Ill

IV

V

VI... -

VII .._

VIII

IX

X

Total, 10 regions

I -

II

Ill

IV

v....

VI

VII

VIII

IX _

X

Total, 10 regions

Economic class of farm

AU

classes

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

Investment per doUar of gross sales (doUar)

2.71

2.94

3.20

2.45

2.23

2.83

3.49

2.48

3.42

3.12

2.84

3.29

3.14

3.04

4.04

2.98

2.64

3.03

2.94

3.29

3.67

2.79

2.39

2.41

4.U5

3.22

3.78

3.69

3.71

4.26

4.25

3.60

4.26

3.88

4.38

6.71

5.17

3.38

4.98

5.49

6.12

7.01

4.29

3.96

4.21

4.84

6.60

8.13

3. ,54

3.16

3.77

4.74

6.64

9.98

2.74

2.50

4.21

4.78

6.66

6.40

3.34

2.92

4.03

3.71

3.18

3.27

3.91
4.83
4.41
3.62
7.08

7.23
9.64
13.16
16.72
9.16

4.72

Investment per dollar of sales less specified expenses
(doUars)

6.25
7.50
6.29
4.70
11.77

10.85
15.91
24.03
30.61
13.05

6.95

4.40

6.77

7.01

4.06

3.23

4.33

5.32

5.48

7.14

6.75

4.15

4.75

4.40

5.44

6.85

4.33

3.62

4.02

4.23

6.46

5.94

3.80

3.06

3.03

6.47

6.60

6.66

5.79

6.60

6.25

6.91

6.20

5.76

6.66

6.89

7.83

8.00

4.97

7.76

8.69

9.63

11.26

6.72

6.16

6.50

7.79

11.91

13.37

4.97

4.36

6.35

7.19

10.73

16.83

4.08

3.69

6.47

7.74

8.86

10.64

4.90

4.39

6.28

6.63

4.38

4.46

U. S. GOVERMMENT PBINTINS OFFICE. I95I