FARMING AS A BUSINESS.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 14, 17 January 1924, Page 4

FARMING AS A BUSINESS.

SOME PERTINENT POINTS. \ ; That farming- generally would prove ; More profitable if those engaged in ! if were keener business men cannot j ; be. doubted. Farming is as much a I business as any other of a score of activities which might be named, and | it certainly is far more complex in i character. Personality is a most im- | portant factor in the successful business man. Another essential is lots of energy, and as farming is a business these factors certainly apply. Some pertinent points on the business of farming* were recently addressed to a meeting of agriculturists. The speaker advised:—“ Harness your energy with common sense and guide it with system.” He added that if a I farmer hoped to be wholly successful I he must be systematic. . Concentra- | tion is another very necessary feature lin farming. Continuing, he said:— 1“ Do not allow anything to pass half finished, but devote all your energy and concentrate your mind upon it, and see for yourself that the work is complete.” A prominent British financier once, said: —■** Focus your ability on one point until you burn a hole in it.” Some men never get up until they are called. If no one happens to apply the stimulus they are gunpowder without the spark, dough without the yeast, or an engine without- the steam. No alarm clock is going to strike the hour of our opportunity. Fate never yet failed to turn down the manYwlio waited for something to turn up. SCIENTIFIC AIDS. Business men have been known to fail as farmers, but that is not proof that business acumen is not essential to success on the land. In fact, keen business ability is needed more in farming than in. any other concern, because most trades are so thoroughly organised that a price can be fixed for an article based upon the cost of production, while the farmer has to abide by tiro ruling rates in the market. Here again a system is required, and on a farm which is managed systematically and has a good business man in control all the work must go along smoothly without any overlapping. To make a success of the business of farming the farmer must be fully alive to all the scientific aids to agriculture, and it is fully believed that the farmer of the present day is in the majority in this respect. Research work is conducted on all Government experimental farms solely to assist the man on tlie land, and the individual who allows the advantages like, those to go by the board is not conducting his holding on correct business lines. Constant scrutiny of the various operations will quickly show where improvements arc possible. It is not possible for any business to be conducted satisfactorily unless complete records are kept, and it is here that a good system of keeping accounts is necessary. Of course we know the old adage that exnerience is a great teacher.” Quite so. But there are many men to whom flu* lesson does not appeal; they are content to just muddle along, and consequent.lv do not get the best out of the land by supporting everv proetessive movement and being alive to the possibilities of their holdings. Thev can increase the production and enhance the value of the property. CARE OF MACHINERY. There is one other point, and that I is the proper care of machinery and implements on the farm. We do not find a good business man neglecting the machinery with which he operates his concern, but how often do we sec valuable farming implements left to Hie tender mercies of the weather; machinery neglected in this manner means a loss that can be avoided and should .be avoided. The depreciation on farm implements is quite sufficient in the ordinary course of operation without any avoidable loss. A farmer, to be successful from a business standpoint, must study the cost -<>f production in every direction. He can turn to his records of sales, etc., and then turn to the cost of production. The margin representing profit must i * always be the factor for the man on j the land to keep in view. Competition I is another feature that every business I man should be alive to. Certainly there is not one business where there is not competition. In these days, when power farming is gradually gaining a foothold, it behoves the farmer to study the cost of production and to ascertain the cheapest possible methods by which to conduct his business. Of course we recognise that the producer has at his disposal the markets of the world, but there again in one country the cost of production may be far below what it is in another. Here time-saving and labour-saving machinery is going to be not only a convenience but an absolute necessity if the farmer means to run his farm on business lines. Consequently, if the farmer wishes to apply correct business methods and shrewd management to his property, he must be fully alive to all the emergencies relating thereto. There is an old saying, “ Nothing succeeds like success.” Well, it is only with the application of a good system, based on sound business management in relation to the business of farming, that any man can hope to succeed.