Connecticut western news., 1912-09-26
MILK PRICES
Plain Talk to the Farmers, by One of
 Them


 There is about as much activity in the milk business nowadays as there is in the political situation. The old line dealers are acting rather conservative, reaotionary in fact, and here and there new parties are scurryilg around. who promise more to the producers in the way of prices, etc.
 The dairyman had hoped that the winter prices for milk would keep pace with the increased price of, living, but have found that while the price of milk in the city, and of condensed milk to the merchant, is advancing. that the price to the producer is falling off.
 Now, the farmers are asking them selves lot of questions as to why these things are so; in fact, there seems re- luctance on the part of a great many of our producers to sign the contract for the next six months. Stalled" seems to be the word expressing the condition in which the producer finds himself. Stalled; afraid to sign up for another six months lest he shall lose money; certain that if he sells his COWS his farm will go back to primeval conditions, and afraid to go seeking new dealers because of their financial standing. Thus the pro- ducer hangs fire, nothing left but hope, and that clouded by doubt.
 The price of milk, under the now con- nnk xnps;nnc Fnr %hn a lac does not offer much encouragement to the producer. They had supposed that prices would be maintained, that they would be as high, at least, as they were for the corresponding period the year previous. The prices beginning Sept. 15, 1911, were: Oot., $1.85; Nov, $2.00; Dec., $2.00; Jan, $1.95; Feb, $1'90; March, $1.75, or an average of about 4 1 cents per quart, figuring 85 pounds to the 40 quart can. The prices for the same period, 1912, are: Oct, $1.80; Nov, $1.90; Dec, $190; Jan, $1.85; Feb, $1.75; March, $1TO. which, figured as above, is about 37s cents per quart, or about one-quarter of cent per quart less than the price for the corresponding period the year previous.
 But on top of the 1912 prices, those who have sanitary barns, etc., get an additional 10 cents per 100 pounds, making the price about the same as it was for the winter period of 1911. Those who do not rate up to certain standards are not getting the addi- tional 10 cents per one hundred pounds, and thus are getting for the six months, Sept. 15, 1912. and ending March 15, 1913, about 316 cents per quart for their milk. Now the question arises, can milk be made for either S% cents or Az cents per quart Is there profit in it at these figures?
 To answer this question fully, offer the results submitted by our own exper- ment station, and as the figures are long and tedious, I will set forth the and recommend that every milk producer send for bulletin 73, or Records of Dairy Herd for Five Years, by J. M. Trueman, Storrs, Conn. The conclusions set forth in this bulletin are: Figuring the milk at cents per quart at the farmers dairy house, gave 8 net loss every year. Figuring the milk at cents per quart gave net profit every year but one. Figuring the butter at 30 cents per pound at the dairy, gave net loss every year.
 Thus it will be seen that milk cannot be made at profit by those who are getting S7s cents per quart; in fact, cannot be produced at this without con- loss, and it is very doubtful If there is anything in milk at Az cents per quart. No wonder the producer is looking for other than our long estab- lished channels, through which he may dispose of his dairy products at prices in advance of those offered by our local concerns.
 It has been said that the milk pro- ducer is the only person who can sell his product at price less than it cost him, at or 8 loss and still continue in business and not starve. Taking the situation as it actually exists, is it any wonder the young men leave the farms and seek employment In the city? Washington said: Agriculture is the noblest, and most useful employment of man." yet in many instances we find it yielding no profit. There is probably no place in the world where nature has done more for the dairyman and dairy ing than in New England, and no place where the conditions imposed by the middlemen have been harder to meet or overcome, and because of these condi- tions New England farms and New Eng land villages are far from growing and prosperous.
 If the farmer gets profit out of his dairy, or from the farm he begins to spend that money in repairing his build ings and making the home more attrac- tive, and, as he gets his supplies for this work in the village near him, the