The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-04-26
WHY the DAIRY BUSINESS
CONTINUES TO GROW

show the expansion of the dairy
business. That it is growing, every
one in position to observe, will adj
nit.
One of the chief reasons for it's
growth is the improvement in the
demand for dairy products. The
demand is larger because of the in
creased proportion of urban popula-
ton to the rural population. This
is also enlarged because dairy pro-
ducts are now being used in greater
variety of ways than formerly. We
have but to note the extensive use
OF milk and cream for ice cream,
which few years ago was a luxury
INDUCED in by few. Condensed
milk and powdered milk also add
to the demand made upon the dairy
farmer. The wide demand is an
important element in the growth of
the dairy business, since it has not
only maintained prices but pushed
quotations to the extreme heights
attained in the past few years.
Another element in the improve
ment of the dairy business is the
utilization of the by-products. But
termilk is also becoming more popu-
lar as a drink where it can be Sc.
cured fresh, and whey is being rec
ognized as an animal food that is
worth too much to be thrown into
the gutter. The use of these pro
ducts is bringing an increased in
come into the pockets of the dairy
farmer.
A third factor in raising the dairy
business to the popular position
which it now occupies is the higher
intelligence which men are gaining
of the variation in economic produc.
ton by different animals. Perhaps
there is no division of farming where
such margin exists between the
profits on a poorly conducted farm
and a well conducted one. The gen.
eral recognition of the possibility of
securing large profits through the
selection of good COWS has done much
to place the business upon it's pres
ent high level in our agricultural
economy. A good COW that will
yield around 800 pounds of butter
per year produces from the food she
consumes about SIS worth Of pro-
ducts when butter is figured at 25
cents as the farm price. In addi-
ton to this she also produces 5000
pounds of skim-milk which, at 20
cents per cwt., is worth $12, and a
calf that is valued at $40, making
in all total income of about $97.
The average cost of feed for such a
COW will run between $45 and $50
per year. At the highest figure
there would remain a net profit of
$47 per COW. This calculation is
only tentative in that under condi-
tons where the milk can be sold
directly to a retail trade the net pro-
fit can at least be doubled. This,
however, shows the possibilities of
an attractive income for the man
who applies intelligence to the work.
| But possib oily the chief source Of
encouragement and enthusiasm in
the dairy business arises from the
indirect benefit accruing to the land
itself. Dairying has rehabiliated
many acres of land that otherwise
would have had to be abandoned.
The business increases the capacity
of the farm, not by adding more
acres, but by increasing the num-
Der of blades of grass that will grow
upon the area. This, in turn, en-
hances the labor put upon the fields.
Corn, oats and any crop can be
grown cheaper upon rich soil than
upon land poorly provided with
plant food. Thus the dairy bust
ness enables the farmer to increase
his profits in a sort of geometrical
ratio and it is this feature, combined
with others including those men
toned above, that is bringing dairy
farming to the front in our north
western states. And certain lines of