The chronicle=news., 1914-08-26
DAIRY FARMING
IS PROFITABLE
IN new MEXICO

Albuquerque, N. M, Aug. 26.-
That New Mexico is to become one OF
the chief dairy farming states OF the
union Is the confident prediction of
President Ralph c. Ely Of the state
fair commission, himself practical
dairyman and owner of herd OF
pure blooded Jerseys on his farm near
Deming. The state fair commits
sion has been pushing the organiza-
tion of the New Mexico Dairymen's
association. A secretary has been
employed whose entire duty is con-
fined to organization work and the
encouragement of cooperation in the
expense of breeding up the dairy
herds OF the various farming dis
|tricts.
Information being gathered by the
association. for presentation to a
state dairymen's convention, to be
held in Albuquerque October 5-10
during the state fair contains some
interesting facts about the develop
ment of the dairy industry in the
state during the past five years, at
which time there was one creamery
in New Mexico; small plant which
confined itself to supplying a small
part the local demand. AS
against production OF creamery but
ter of practically nothing five years
ago, New Mexico creameries in the
1913-l4 year, to July 1, paid to
farmers and dairy farmers, for cream.
or butter fat an average OF $4,000
a week. or approximately 100000.
Ell Paso hotels alone use from 700
to 500 pounds of New Mexico but
ter each week. The Harvey system
uses several hundred pounds each
week, and the requirements of that
system are very high. Large quanti-
ties of butter are being shipped toI
west Texas. Trinidad and La Junta,
Colo, and into the mining camps OF
southern Arizona.
Only New Mexico owned dairy
herds will be allowed to share In the
prize money at the state fair exhibit
of dairy cattle this year. but the COM
mission is encouraging breeders OF
high grade dairy stuff from other
states to bring in their stock and is
offering every advantage for sale Of
such stock. The result will be an
unusually large exhibit OF dairy cat
tie and this will be used in series
Of practical lectures on dairying and
breeding by well known experts. The
dairy farmer. active or prospective.
in fact will be given thorough short
course in the industry. from the
breeding to the finished creamery
product. The Albuquerque creamery
. thoroughly modern plant Of large
capacity. Just completed, will be OPP
lures there will have to do with but
ter fat values, shipping. cream test
ing and other practical details of the
business which will be of value to
the producer of butter fat.
The theory OF the fair commission
is that all conditions in New Mexico
being favorable to dairy farming.
and the native people being primar-
lily pastoral people. the commission
can do nothing more profitable than
to encourage dairying on a large
scale. The average Mexican farmer
OF the state has q small tract of land
whicn yields him. bare living. Fig
ures compiled for the commission
show that the same farmer. putting
the amount OF energy into dairying
that he must put into his work to
succeed with general farming, would
realize several times as much money.
When a little company OF Illinois
stock farmers clubbed together few
weeks ago and paid $4,000 for sin
gle bluff calf" said President Ely in
discussing the commissions plans,
i"they did not do 1t for advertising
purposes; although they achieved
considerable publicity. They did 1t
because 1t was a sound investment.
When we can teach our New Mexico
farmers that by clubbing together:
pooling their interests, they can at
very slight expense breed up valua-
BILE herds of highly productive cat
tie. we will have accomplished some
thing material in the way of devel-
opment in this state. That is why
we are backing the dairymen's or
ganization and that is why we are
paying 80 much attention to dairying
and stock breeding in connection
with this years fair. We have prac-
tical results enough to show now that
our theory is sound and our work
this year ought to bring substantial
rosultSN