Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-09-24
FARMERS COOPERATIVE
PACKING EXPERIENCES

Washington, -. C.--Farmers co
operative. meat packing companies
recently have been organized in q
number of communities in Wiscon
sin, Iowa, and Minnesota and more
than "a score of others are reported t
be contemplated. Such marked in
terest in the possibilities OF co-opera-
ton in the packing business is being
manifested in various sections Of the
country that the department of agri-
culture is making a study of the
movement to determine what condi-
items are essential to the success of
this plaza of cooperation and to give
rational counsel in the matter
wherever help is requested. Special
lists of the dep2rtm ents office of
markets and rural organization,
working in conjunction with the bu-
reau of animal industry call atten-
ton to number of important fac
tors which can not be disregarded
without danger of disappointment, ii
not disaster.
In the first place, it is said that
communities in which cooperative
packing houses are proposed should
understand that one Of the requisites
for interstate shipment of meats from
any plant, whether cooperative OF
privately owned, is government in
spection of the plant and of the ami
mails and meats handled. Regulations
OF the United States department Of
agriculture provide that an au-
thoriZed federal inspector or inspect
ors be stationed at every plant en-
gagged in interstate business. Before
granting inspection privileges to a
plant, however, the government re-
quires the plans and specifications OF
the plant, including sanitary arrange
ments, to conform to official stand
aIfs. BY comm unicating with the
department regarding this matter
and with officials of the state agri-
cultural college and experiment sta
ton or others who are in position
to give official aid, serious mistakes
may be avoided by communities
which are on the point of organizing
such an enterprise. The Importance
OF this point is evident, in view of
the fact that most of the companies
recently organized, it is said, were
promoted by persons from outside OF
the communities concerned The de-
partment of agriculture is prepared
to furnish advice relative to proposed
plans, and welcomes inquiries re-
garding these matters wherever It
can be of service to the farmers OF
ely locality, or to officials of cities
Gel templating the establishment OF
municipal abattoirs.
Attention also is called to the i'm
portance of considering the complex
ity of the packing-house business be-
fore attempting to engage in the in
dustry in a cooperative way. AS
beef and mutton in the main must be
sold fresh and the equipment, refrig-
orator cars and extensive selling or
ganlZation essential to the success of
this business obviously. make it so
complex as to render cooperative
management extremely doubtful,
such establishments naturally will be
confined chiefly to pork packing. The
first consideration is a uniform and
adequate supply of hogs and rea-
sonably even distribution of receipts
during the year is required for the
most satisfactory operation of a pack
ing business. Private plants have
been abandoned in many places be-
cause of an insufficient supply of
hogs tributary to them and it is not
uncommon to find smaller packing
houses running at a loss during the
summer season in order to keep up
the organization and equipment
necessary for the winter kill.
1t should be borne in mind that
tho statistics showing the total mum
Der of hogs in county or district are
not reliable indication as to the
number of hogs available for
slaughter. In considering the census
statistics of live stock, for example.
due allowance must be made for
breeding stock and immature ami
mails, and in the case of cattle, dairy
COWS would not be available for
slaughter, although included in the
total number of head reported.
There is danger of oyerestimating the
surplus OF stock to be had for killing
purposes in the same way that the
number of cows frequently is over
estimated in figuring on the posi-
bilities of a creamery in a new loca-