Average costs per acre of producing the major crops dropped about 1 percent from 1982 to 1983, mainly because of lower prices for petroleum-based products and fertilizers. Production costs for cattle, hogs, and sheep rose an average 4.4 percent, mainly because of higher feed costs. Milk production costs per hundredweight increased 6.9 percent. Reduced acreage from the payment-in-kind program and lower yields from drought depressed 1983 farm income. On a per-acre basis, however, crop enterprises improved overall earnings in 1983 compared with 1982, but livestock farms and dairies saw returns sag again.
