Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-06-05
A GROWING INDUSTRY
THE OUTLOOK FOR DAIRYING
IN OREGON.
]. D. Mickle, State Dairy and Food
Inspector Addresses the Linn
County Jersey Breeders.

we shall not attempt to speak frol
the viewpoint of a phophet, remember
ing that it is said that she is withou
honor in his own country"
In order to arrive at any definit
conclusion as to the future outlook o
any business or industry we can b.
guided in judgment only by results o
the past and conditions of the present
For a number of years past al
branches Of the dairy industry have
enjoyed remarkable prosperity
throughout the state of Oregon, anC
at the present we can see no clouds il
the industrial skies that would indi
cate impending depression or serious
arrangement of existing conditions
During the years of 1912 and 1913
dairying made more advancement than
during any like period of time in our
history. More milk, butter and cheese
were produced, more heifer calves
were raised, more cows were MIXED,
more cattle were imported into our
state, better cattle were on exhibition
at our dairy shows, more registered
sires were placed at the head Of in
dividual herds, and more attention was
paid to the individual production of
dairy animals.
With these facts before us we come
back to our subject with the ques-
tion, What of the future? Can the
next two years show equal advance
ment? Why not? l hear one man
say, "The bottom is going out of
the market and we are not going to
get anything for our product. "
Another says, "There is going to be
so much foreign butter brought into
the state, that ours will be crowded
out"
l do not accept either of these
views as being correct, but I will
make the statement that if ever a
foreign product displaces the Oregon
made product from first place, the
dairymen and creamerymen of Ore
gon will be Ito blame for that result
Let us keep in mind the subject of
these remarks, namely, The Outlook
for Dairying in Oregon, and | desire
to say here and now that | am not a
pessimist and for that reason | cannot
look out into the future and see the
page all dark, also | wish to avoid
every appearance Of discussion on the
subject from a political standpoint,
while on the other hand, | am trying
to look into the future guided by the
light Of the past and the indications
Of the present, and say what that fu-
ture portends. Therefore, with this
freedom in remarks | can reply to him
who expects to see the bottom and
both sides of the market disappear.
Hold on just little longer brother,
md don't give those COWS away Just
'et, for when the market for butter ]
S gone the people will still be asking t
or cheese and when that market has s
.lso vanished (n your imagination, I
he people will then be using con- f
ensed milk. can also say to him, i
hat they tell me that Oregon is a u
cry fine country in which to live, and C
hat many persons outside of her do t
lain are beginning to acquire know
edge Of that fact. So | have only to Il
ook few years ahead to see her t.
opuation doubled and trebled, and k
bserve all of the people using Oregon Is
lade butter, cheese and condensed h
nix. | can show him that the little is
tate of Rhode Island, with territory II
1850 square miles has a population N
$4,000, while Oregon, with $4,000 tt
lmare miles, has a population of only d.
$4,000 people, according to our 1910 IL
ensus, with an average rural popula- II
on Of SO persons to the square mile, tt
hich gives us an idea of how much b'
noccupied and undeveloped territory tt
e still have within our borders. Is
Furthermore, in all this great area fc
e have only 100000 dairy cows. or st
pproximately five COWS to every th
luare mile of tillable land, while &C
IisconSin, with an area of $4,000 in
luare miles, has 100000. w
These statistics are not new. never al
lcless they lose no force in argument an
'om having been used before. but Ol
lcy go to show some of the future
disabilities of the State of Oregon.
| do not need to rehealse before Won
lie natural advantages of our state, 20
hich contribute materially to our bo
anding in agricultural pursuits, for wi
know full well that few dairvmen IN
ould think for one moment of ex- oIl
hanging an Oregon farm for one in MI
/ eastern state On the other hand, 90
e former eastern dairyman or cream Sb
lyman, looking for II home among
/, Is very common visitor. and all
cause we have something to offer
m.
If, therefore, there is any truth in pa
e foregoing, with a marvelouslv rich col
untry for production and an ever SIC
sreasing demand, why should any me
e prophesy a poor market for the TO
ture. 10,
TO the man who is afraid of foreign trc
npetition. | have TO repeat as stated
Dve. that the result thercfrom rests
irely within the hands of our dairy
n and creamerymen themselves as Jr.
what the years of the future may ed