The need for local farm product prices for a long period of time is generally conceded, since numerous problems in agricultural economics depend for their solution upon the existence of adequate and accurate farm product price series. Terminal market prices are suitable for many purposes, but for studies of local significance it is necessary that "farm" price averages be available. No attempt will be made in this bulletin to develop any of the possible uses of a price series. Their actual applications may be so varied that any treatment given here would necessarily be inadequate.

Rather, the intent is to furnish a long time series of prices which may be used for any occasion requiring historical prices. An historical record of material, which has been compiled at great expenditures of time and effort, has been brought together in table form ready to be employed on inquiries concerned with prices.