Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-06-29
Creamery Promoters In West virginia.


There has come under the observation
Of the Agricultural Extension Department
of the West Virginia University, the fact
that creamery promoters have been op-
Grating in several sections OF the State.
Creameries are good instruments for the
development of any agricultural commun-
ity, where there are enough COWS TO
support such an enterprise, but to 60 into
a section where there s practically no
interest along dairy lines, organize stock
company and open creamery, IS hazard
Gus in the extreme. The history OF
several such cases is that man will enter
a prosperous community, claiming TO be a
practical dairyman, aiiiisies himself with
two or three of the most influential and
prosperous farmers and shows them the
advantages that creamery affords.
These men will then 60 with him TO see
some OF the neighbors, and interests agi-
tated to such an extent that before the
hard working farmers realize what they
are doing they have signed their names
to a contract which will bind them for one
or two shares of stock at $4,000 each.
The creamery will open with no cream
routes established and not sufficient
number OF cows to supply the cream re-
quired. AS a result the plant will shut
down after operating from sixty days TO
six months and the farmer has his money
locked up in something that twill not real
ize Is cents on the dollar. However, this
is not the worst OF il. Any prospects
that the section might have had OF be-
coming dsiry section have been para
lyzed. Again, the prices charged for the
creamery machinery is from 25 to 80 per
cent in excess ofwhat it should be bought
for from reliable creamery supply COM
pany, and even then the plant is not al
ways completely equipped.
II requires about 400 good cows to Sup
port creamery. This number will vary
somewhat, depending on conditions.
Most OF the feed for them should be grown
on local farms.
The advantages that creamery offers
are many. In the firstplace, dairy farming
is generally considered TO be one OF the
most satisfactory methods OF building up
the soil-where cream is sold, practically
all of the fertility is retained on the farm.
Secondly. the crops raised are marketed
very profitably in selling cream and thus
bring in a steady income throughout the
entire year.
The Extension Department OF the West
Virginia University, cooperating with
the Dairy Division OF the United States
Department OF Agric il'ure. will be glad
to get in touch with any section desiring
a creamery and will send man to make
a survey oftfe situation TO determine the
advisability OF creamery organization.
Then, if the prospects are good, spe-
cialist can be obtained from the Dairy
Division, who will determine the proper
machinery necessary and will give an
accurate estimate as 10 the cost. The
Extension Department strongly recon-
mends that no contracts be signed with
any creamery promoters until an expert
from this department has ooked over the
proposition TO determine whethera cream
cry can be profitably established. BY
acting upon this advice, which costs the
farmer nothing, serious losses may be
avoided and more efficient creameries es-
tablished.