The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-09-27
STATE OFFICIAL
UPHOLDS INCREASE
IN PRICE OF MILK

The action of the Connecticut State
Milk Producers Association in rails
ing the wholesale price of milk to be
paid to the farmer is justified in the
opinion of L. H. Healey, secretary of
the state board of agriculture. He
bases his contention on the condition
|. Of the dairy industry at the present
time, and on the need that there is,
especially in this state, for growth
in the industry. N
While in no way wishing to depre-
cate the raising of cattle for beef. Mr..
Healy makes the point that this pro-
.cedure to a large extent, means ten
dency toward a decrease in the dairy
herds. He feels that every agency in
the state which is engaged in stimula-
ting the agricultural production
should always keep in mind the inn
portance of maintaining a proper bal
ance which will stimulate the produc-
ton of animals as well as crops, es-
pecially such animals an may be es-
sential to dairy productions.
The retaining and increasing of the
dairy herds, says Mr.. Healy with en-
phasis, means the retaining and in
creasing of the fertility of the soil. He
points out what the farmers part is
in the mater of dairy production.
ct is his duty says Mr.. Healy,
''to produce good clean milk of STAN
dard quality at the lowest cost price.
A great majority of our Connecticut
milk producers are doing this. And
yet after the farmer has done this
in the most perfect way possible he
finds that at the average current price
received for milk, he does not get the
cost of its production. Thus there is
no incentive for the farmer to increase
his herd. Yet, never, through organ
led effort, has he attempted to ,curtail
his product as means of boosting the
price"
Mr.. Healy gives the results Of a re-
cent survey made by workers at the
Connecticut Agricultural College. By
studying conditions as they existed in
dairies composed of 3,25S cows, he
finds that the average production of
each cow is 5000, pounds. There is
a balance on the wrong side of the
ledger, however, between what the
producers received for their milk and
what it COST them to produce it.
The average loss to the producer
for each quart of milk that was sold
to the consumer was found to be two
thirds of cent. Each cow. then,
which averaged 1888 pounds a year,
was net loss to it's owner of 1924.
The supply Of milk. it is argued
should be permanent and adequate,
yet it is felt that this Is not possible
when the price received for milk con-
tinues to be below the cost of produc-
ton. The price received for milk
within the past three years, 1t is ad-
mitted, has Increased considerably, but
the cost of production, it is argued.
has increased much more rapidly
The only way OF insuring a! continu-
alton of the dairy industry in Connec-
ticut, as Mr.. Hea1y sees the situation,
is a higher price for the milk. It Is
assumed that the consumer will see
the justice as well as the necessity OF
such a course. Jsl $50
The value of milk Is taken up. No
food furnishes nutrftive material at so
low a. relative cost, says Mr. HeaIey.
Many people, he AYERS, look upon milk
as a beverage, when in reality 1T 1s5 b
most nourishfng food. One pound of
steak at IS cents a pound he finds,
has the same nutritive value as one
quart of milk at 4 cents quart.
The only method by which the dairy
herds may be retained, Mr.. Healey
feels, is by raising the price of milk
to Is or 16 cents a quart. He declared
that the condition Of the dairy indus
| try Is more serious than the public
realizes. He points out that in order
to have good milk the cattle must
have a good quality of grain to eat
and that this grain is at present ex-
ceedingly high in price. Unless the
farmer can obtain a high price for his
milk. he can not bay this grain. it Is
EeN1-
WIN be hard to get hold OF this win
ter f.. 49, -