Agribusiness Commons^™

Eastern Wheatbelt Farm Economics, Peter Eckersley

Soil conservation survey collection

This booklet outlines the current cost structure and profitability of a farm in the eastern wheatbelt. Rather than being figures for an 'average farm', they reflect the use of practices widely recommended by the Department of Agriculture on a typical property in the area. This does not mean the Department of Agriculture believes every farm in the area should be run this way. The best way to run any particular farm depends on the resources and objectives of that farmer.

Options For Machinery And Labour, A F. Herbert

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Machinery is one of the highest costs in farming today. It is not unusual for capital investment in machinery to be 20 to 30 percent of the total investment in the farm.

On an annual basis, expenditure directly attributable to machinery can be 40 per cent or more.

This article cannon be a panacea for everyone to reduce machinery costs - each farm is different. But some of the issues might be of help.

Finance For Farmers, P P. Eckersley

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Financing has always been an important part of farming. With more and more sources of farm finance, it has become more complicated.

This article outlines present sources of farm finance and suggests how a proposal for a loan should be presented.

The Machinery Crisis, W T. Brown

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The machinery crisis - I believe we have come through a crisis in farming efficiency. To maintain his income, the farmer has had to reduce his costs of production, or increase production per man. He has done this by climbing to a new plateau of efficiency, and he expanded or got out; he has substituted capital for labour.

In many cases this means bigger, more powerful machinery. This is not a simple or easy move and there are many potential ways to mske the wrong decision.

Service And Spare Parts, D Hosken

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Service is the preparation, delivery and after-sales maintenance of machinery. It involves responsibilities for both the dealer and the purchaser.