Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-02-05
WIDENING OF STATES
DAIRY LEAD PROBABLE
BY B. n. HIBBARD,
Agricultural Economist, University OF
Wisconsin,

Wisconsin is contributing much to
the worlds production by continuing
to produce we'll what she best knows
how to produce.
What the world needs most and
what Wisconsin is doing to help supply
these needs are questions that have
been asked over and over again during
the last two years.
There were calls at times for Badger
farmers to try new things, to furnish
large amounts of some products in the
production of which the state has not
excelled. A patriotic urge aided indl-
rectly to achieve these ends.
The world needed breadstuffs which
to many meant only call to produce
more wheat Wisconsin answered by
producing not only more wheat but
also more of the other four-maklng
cereals. She produced what her farms
were best adapted to produce. And
therein lies the secret of Wisconsin's
success-her place in world production
has been won through the states pro-
ficiency in raising what it can best
raise.
Europe Short on Fats.
Europe will probably produce enough
bread-grains and other field crops to
satisfy her needs before her normal
yield of dairy products and live stock
is regained. Wisconsin produces large
ly the field crops that she can consume
herself. AS a rule she has more p0ta-
toes than she needs at home, and nor
mally the state ships out $4,000 to 3d.
600 carloads Of potatoes each year.
AS a packer of peas Wisconsin
easily leads the other states, since she
annually packs some 40 per cent OF
the entire output of the country. Wis
consin leads in the production of pure
bred seed grains, and it is likely that
she will continue to hold this lead,
and to continue to furnish other areas
with her purebred seed stock. Hemp
and sugar beet production is also as
Stunning an important place in the
states farm cropping lists.
In dairying, too, is found one Of the
Jobs in which Wisconsin covers herself
with glory. Undoubtedly tho state will
continue to make one Of it's largest
contributions to world production
through her dairy products. The
worlds shortage Of fats and also of
meats is likely to continue for some
time, and Wisconsin can be relied upon
to help fill the worlds wants in dairy
products. One-tenth Of the milk sup
ply of the United States or 10,OOOOO0,-
600 pounds are annually produced in
this state.
Future for State Bright.
The condensed milk industry of the
state is assuming an increasing impor-
lance each year. During the year 1918
the state produced some 40O,OO0,OO0
pounds Of condensed milk, which rep
resents two-thirds of the amount that
was sent to Europe during the same
year. Although Wisconsin is far ahead
of the other states in the production
of cheese, exports to foreign coun-
tries will probably not be as heavy.
Wisconsin produces about IS per cent
Of the cheddar cheese and 70 per cent
Of the Swiss cheese made in America,
most of which is consumed in the
United States. There is still a con-
siderable world shortage of fats, and
the state has an important part to play
in the production of butter fat We
know that the demand for butter fat is
big, since the demand for it is reflected
in the high prices. If butter is 70
cents a pound, that price shows how
badly the world wants it.
The outlook for Wisconsin is good
and the Importance of it's farm prod
ucts to world production can only con-
tinue to increase, since cultivation in
the state has not been extended to it's
limits as yet. Tt has been said that
only one-third of Wisconsin's available
land is under cultivation. Some 9,OOO,-
600 acres of unimproved and cut-over
land remain uncultivated. This total
is larger than in many other states,
duU WAcu CulIlFdtIOu 10 uudlly CAI0I1U-
ed to these areas there must be an in
crease in the states production Of
dairy and live stock.
AS profits from farm products rise,
cultivation will, when the labor supply
permits, be extended to land not eco
nomically available at lower prices. In
some instances the land later brought
into use will be among the best. The
subjugation of the waste lands should
bring out greatly increased production.
1t is said that the corn belt is the
bread basket of the United States. But
Wisconsin can fifty be called the
creamery of the country. We can
furnish more butter than the other
states, and indications are that we
should continue to do So Settlers