Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-07-10

APPLIES BUSINESS Principles LEARNED
IN CITY AID Is sUcCEssFUL.

to bis boyhood home In Vermont and
began dairying. The call of the soil had
kept him In discontent with bis city
work and brought him to . decision to
give 1t up for the satisfaction which
comes to the man who ends each day
with the knowledge of having benefited
the world through actually producing
something.
Back home he found things changed.
Farming was not carried on - 1t Was
when he left nearly quarter OF GEN.
tury before. New machinery had speed
ed up farm work, new methods Of cult.
walton were being followed, and new
crops were being favored by the best
farmers of the section. Even the famil.
lar scrub COW of bis early years was be-
ing rapidly replaced by COWS Of dairy
breeding. 1t was something OF venture
to remake an acquaintance with farming
at an age at which many farmers retire
About the only equipment he bad was
thorough business training and firm
determination to make good. he has
been on the job about eight years now
and by the application of the methods Of
successful business organizations be has
"made good" Last year the Boston
Chamber Of Commerce found him to be
the "best milk farmer 10 New England. I"
OF the $500 dairies investigated by the
Chamber, that operated by the ex-com.
mission merchant manufactured milk at
the lowest cost OF production.
A successful business organization
keeps its overhead expense a. low ~
possible. The new farmer learned this
fact as commission man and decided II
would apply In dairying. Consequently
q minimum equipment was maintained
In the dairy. For example, $1,000
barn furnished stall space for about y
per. COW per year. The money which
might have been expended for ., costly
building could thus be used In other
ways. Only the necessary number OF
pals, cans, etc., were used. These were
kept In good condition 40 that the cost
of repair and replacing was small. Milk
was sold at the farm, the cost OF haul
ing being left to the purchaser.
Another business truth brought from
the city was that leaks reduce profits.
Poor COWS are leaks in dairying, so good
ones were bought and mated with bull
from an established dairy breed. AZ
rapidly as practicable, grades were re-
placed by purebreds. In the commission
house, leaks had been Uncovered only
BY careful system of bookkeepiDg-on
the farm the scales and tester were used
to keep books on the herd. When COW
testing association was started seven
years ago, the city farmer was quick to
see it's advantages and was the first to
sign for membership. He has been
president of the organization for five
years and has led In the work OF making
it one of the best associations In the
country, with about 1900 COWS and en-
ploying two testers regularly. When
the Milk Producers' Association asked
at . meeting q few nights ago what
farmers will have to receive for milk IN
order to clear profit, this farmer could
base bis estimate on fact. The associs.
ton record showed that the $40 feed
cost per 100 lbs. of milk two years ago
has increased to cost In feed OF $1.S9
last month. In the Chamber OF Com
merce Investigation the association
figures showed herd average OF $3.50
lbs. OF milk per year-considerably more
than on the majority of New England
farms.
BUSINESS SYSTEM CUTS OUT LEAKS.
Time is money In the city and should
be go valued on the farm. The commits
sion farmer believes COWS should pay
for the time spent In their care. In
figuring the cost of milk production, he
charges rs COWS with 10 hours per day
for 8 months Of the year and with 8
hours for 4 months. The total charge
at the date of the Investigation was
$lS. 15 per COW per year. Such Items a.
interest, insurance, etc., are also charged
the COWS; $5.S5 per COW for interest;
Sc. rs for depreciation S.37 for insurance; !;
s IS for taxes; and $50 for veterinary
care. Charges of 81 for bedding and OF
s. for bull service were made. The
total cost OF keeping COW year on the
farm was reported at $92.91, this includ.
ing $51 "a for feed. A credit Of 80 was
given for manure and $11 for the calf.
The total cost of 100 lbs. Of milk was
81 O9-au amount less than half the cost
on some farms supplying the same mar
ket. It gave . good margin OF pront
when many farms were losing money.
Increases in feed prices, labor charges.
etc., have raised the cost 90 greatly that
in April 81 80 was spent in the produc-
tion of 100 lbs. of milk. This month 1t
is costing about $1.40. ,
The commission man has made good
by applying business precepts to agri-
culture. He knows what his product
costs and what It returns. Consequently,
he knows "where be 10 at''. A glance ut
milk quotation any month OF the year
enables him to estimate closely the
margin of profit on his production. he
has cut down overhead expense to .
minimum; has maintained high efficiency
in production; and has watched the
details of his business to reduce "leaks"
he has earned bis high rank - . dairy.
man. :.
When q sback-to-the-dairy farmer
decides to try his hand With milk COWS,
be may we'll ponder the example OF this
New England farmer. Also, tho sppli.
cation of the methods followed In max.
ing q business of dairying, II practiced
by more men already on tho farm,
would increase the figure In the columns
beaded In their farm account book,
s.smount returned per dollar expended
and "net it''.-Hoards Dairyman.