The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-07-02
Dolgyiag y CsssssAs b Nest Frsois.
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mA01$6me6t OeRATIm60t Vi tnc JulStU
States department of Agriculture. pre-
sents the following most interesting
data on the dairying business in Colo
RADIO. 1t will be found of special inter-
est to the farmers Of Logan county in
view Of the fact that SO great interest
has developed in this section in the
dairy industry.
Investigations conducted In 1903
showed that there were shipped into
Colorado that year about $4.9l6.0OO
worth OF dairy products. including but
ter, cream, cheese, condensed and
matted milk and butterine used as a
butter substitute. This amount of
product is estimated TO represent about
a. per cent of the total consumption
of the state. which means that the
state is producing about 56 per cent OF
the dairy products which it uses.
Other comparisons equally interest
ing might be given but they are un-
necessary for this paper. |
The above figures have been used
Of whether state produces everything
direct arguments for greater dairy
production in the state. However,
strictly speaking. they have little or no
significance when used in this way.
Fundamentally it is not question
of wheher state produces everythings
which 1t consumes; but 1t is a question
Of whether the things it produces are
the things which can be produced most
economically as compared with all
other possible things. For example. if
Colorado can, all things considered
more profitably raise sugar beets. po-
tatoes, alfalfa, grains, etc, for market
and buy her dairy products there is no
4 reason why the state should raise its
own dairy products. In word Colora-
do should raise things which are most
profitable and buy the other things
needed.
From this point ofe view, the fact
that Colorado buys A per cent of its
dairy products is absolutely, Of itself.
|
them. These figures simply show the
possibility of expansion of this indus
try before the state has supplied its
own wants. Whether it should be
profitable or not is another question.
There are in state communities
which appear to be violating all
economic laws of supply and demand
and cost of production. Some of these
places are raising fruit and letting it
rot on the trees and raising grain and
lay which they can't market at a prof'
while they ship in from long distances
butter, cheese and eggs to supply their
own tables. furthermore these COM
munities are in many cases surround
cd with good markets for all kinds of
animal products.
4 There are a number of reasons why
the people of the state ought to give
more attention to the dairy indusry
Colorado soils as a whole are sadly
lacking in organic matter This ma
terial in the soil increased its aeration
and water holding capacity, binds to-
gether sandy soils and loosens up the
elays, and improves the physical con-
dition in other ways.
Colorado soils are not inexhaustible
of available fertility, despite some
statements and apparent experiences
to the contrary. The organic acids re-
sulting from decay act on the soil min
eral matter, and assist in rendering it
soluble and available to plants. The
process of decay also liberates the
food material which theaorganic mat
ter itself contains, thus adding to the
total supply in the soil.
The manure produced through the
consumption of large amounts of
roughaSe and grain by dairy cattle will
make it possible to supply the soil
with the necessary organic matter.
Dairy cattle are able to consume
profitable crops which in most cases
would otherwise be an entire loss.
i This is particularly important in up
land farming sections where adverse
climatic and moisture conditions FREE
quently prevent the crops from reach
ing marketable stages of development.
furthermore, many of these sections
are remote from markets and the cost
Of marketing the crops makes raising
them at profit, prohibitive. During
the past winter numerous cases were
observed where the farmer who had
silo and few dairy cows was able to
pull through the winter in good condi-
ton, while the farmer who was de-