Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-03
COST OF A QUART Of MILK
Problem to BE Discussed at
Agricultural Meetings.
Producers Urged to Attend Hearings
for Investigation to he Held at
bellows Falls, Rutland, bur-
Iington and st. Johnsbury.

The cost to the Vermont farmer OF
producing a quart OF milk and the prob
lens pertaining to the possible reductions or
this cost will be the subject OF in
vestigation at hearings to be held at
Bellows Falls Dec. II, Rutland Dec. Il,
Burlington Dec. -, and st. Johnsbury,
Dec GOTH 1914 under the auspices of the
United States Department Of Agriculture,
Vermont Department of Agriculture the
State .gricultural College, the State
Grange. the Vermont Dairymen's Asso-
citation and the Boston Chamber of Com
merce. 1t is hoped that by determining
lust how much it costs each farmer to
produce his milk day by day, facts rela-
tive to the business of milk production
will be collected, and when these facts
are boiled down and put into disable
form, the farmers will be given the
opportunity to benefit by the experience
OF those Of their number who are pro-
ducing milk on the lowest and most
profitable basis, and 1t will be ascertain
ed II present prices are too low to afford
d reasonable profit to the producer.
The New England MIX Producers
Association recently asked the Boston
Chamber of Commerce to look into the
milk situation with a view to making rec
concentrations as to how the situation
could be Bothered On July l, a meeting
was held in Boston by the Chamber OF
Commerce at which were present rep
resentatives from the State Department
of Agriculture, Agricultural Colleges, and
Oranges of each State and the United
States Department Of Agriculture. 1t
was voted to hold hearings in each State
to collect statistics on which recommen-
dations for the improvements of dairy in
terests and the preservation of the New
England COW might be made. Hearings
similar to those to be held in this State
have occurred all over New England
throughout the fall
CHANGES IN MILK SITUATION.
The milk situation In New England
has changed greatly during this past fiji
teen years. In New England there are
21o cities and towns of over 5000 pop
ulation with total population of over
five million persons, Fifteen years ago
most Of the cities and towns received
their supply of milk from the immediate
vicinity. Now throughout New England
the railroads handle sixty cars Of milk
a day, or over half a million quarts of
milk, some Of it coming from a distance Of
over 200 miles Transportation charges
icing together with more modern de-
mands for pasteurization and more
c,eanly methods In the handling and
production OF the commodity, required by
the State boards Of health. have created
a problem In management and accounts
which many of the farmers and con-
sumers do not understand.
Fifteen years ago practically no milk
l.
cally none OF it escates either process
The ordinary Individual does not be-
lieve that it costs the farmer money to
daily remove the piles of manure which
before the present day regulations went
into effect could stand for season, or
to ice the milk, or to pasteurize it or
provide modern equipment Of various
description Perfect pasteurization means
heating the milk and holding it at 143
degrees for % minutes to half an hour
Under the old methods it was a COM
paratively easy matter for the farmer
to keep his cows and milk them and
then sell the milk with little or no re-
gard for what 1t was costing him for
feed. one hardly needs to be told now
however that in these days when food
stufrs are mounting higher and higher
know exactly what 1t is costing him to
produce his milk per quart that he may
adjust his expenses to work proftably
and economically This is an age or
scientific management when every item
NJ EXPENSE must be placed where It be-
longs or the balance sheet will come
out awry.
LINE OF INVESTIGATION.
To bring out the facts that those in
charge of the hearings desire to Know,
as we'll as to bring these facts home to
the persons interested, the questions
asked will be framed along the follow
ing lines
What price is received for milk whether
as butter fat or whole milk, at per can
or hundred pound basis, for certain
months Of the year1
What does It cost the farmer to produce
milk as he figures it2
What does it cost to keep a cow per
year?
Is the milk weighed and is there
cow testing association in the vicinity
Are other lines of farming carried On
in connection with the dairying opera
tion?
By determining the original cost OF
harm. the length of time 1t Will last,
cost of repairs each year and str1king
off 10 per cent. for depreciation the
cost Of housing the COW per year can
10 determined and the same analysis OF
iced costs will show the feed cost OF
,ows The cost of labor, interest on
money invested in cows and barns
axes, depreciation, etc, should De taken
INTO consideration.
I'm the same way the costs OF trans
,ortation and distribution viii DO
analyzed and the results finally puolished
n pamphlet form and distributed TOT the
attenuation of those concerned,
representative each from the Yer
mont department of agriculture college,
~ Agriculture, State Grange, state
Dairvman's association and from the
committee of agriculture Of the Boston
rba,ober of Commerce will conduct the
hearings. all of which will commence a.
u.OO a m. and continue throughout the
day. =,
II Is necessary, If the hearings are t'
he Of real benefit to the producers o.
milk An Vermont that every farme
urge his neighbor to attend the hear
tngs and contribute his store or KNOW
adgo IN the common fund, that the piai
nav succeed, and that thereby, the RAPID
decrease in the dairy business whici
Nn