44

Family Farm Surplus on Livestock and Mixed Farms

The livestock and mixed farms constitute what may be designated the
typical farm types in the area. Accordingly they were subjected to a more
detailed analysis than other types with respect to farm surplus.

On these farms, as might be expected, the number of productive livestock
units per farm proved to be the most important factor influencing farm surplus.
Moreover, productive livestock units also were associated closely with improved
acreage per farm. The relationships are indicated in Table 34. Most note-
worthy is the fact that the progression from a smaller to a larger farm unit is
associated with a fairly regular increase in farm surplus.

TABLE 34.—FAMILY FARM SURPLUS AND IMPROVED AREA PER FARM ON
LIVESTOCK AND MIXED FARMS BY PRODUCTIVE LIVESTOCK
UNITS, PRINCE GEORGE-SMITHERS ARBA 1943-45

Family
Productive livestock units Number Tmptoy ed farm
surplus?
acres $

Number

Prince George

In order to present these data more clearly, they are illustrated graphically?
in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. In these figures a straight line drawn parallel to the
base will. show the probable farm surplus from a farm the size of which is
measured in productive livestock units and the associated acres of cropland.

1 Adjusted to offset partial crop failure at Smithers and Francois Lake. The value of grain and hay
purchased and reduction in feed inventory was added to farm surplus. On Prince George and Vanderhoof
farms the increase in feed inventory value completely offset the value of grain and hay purchased.

* For graphic presentation the data of Table 34 were smoothed. Since the relationship was clearly
linear smoothing consisted of fitting a straight line by the least squares method to the data plotted on
arithmetic scale paper. The relationships in each district were found to be as follows:—

Prince George: :

Improved acres=30-+1-7 (productive livestock units)
Farm surplus = —571+30-5 (productive livestock units)

Vanderhoof:

Improved acres = 55+1-7 (productive livestock units)
Farm surplus = —527+25-2 (productive livestock units)

Smithers:
Improved acres = 56++2-8 (productive livestock units)
Farm surplus = —259+8-8 (productive livestock units)

Francois Lake:
Improved acres = 112+-0-6 (productive livestock units)
Farm surplus = —518+14-0 (productive livestock units)