Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-07
By A. H. Keller
Vice President of First National Bank

By A. H. Keller
Vice President of First National Bank
The dairy herds of Imperial Valley annually turn
ing the pockets of people 26O6lOOOO or S579l
for every man, and child living in our county
Although they of the largest of
they without doubt of the dependable and they
ought receive careful thought and consideration
~ Conservatvely estimated have 25,OOO cows repre-
senting investment of not far from quarter OF mil
lion furnishing labor for than two thousand people
and ready market for thousands OF acres OF alfalfa
Our valley is peculiarly well adapted to the industry.
Green feed to be found month in the year. makes 1t
of the places to be desired for the dayng industry
During recent financial disturbance, country wide
while the dairy business suffered and losses OF
various yet weahered the storm better than many
other lines 1t is we'll known fact that financial nsttu
ons sustained fewer losses in credits extended to
than any other line, and taken whole they nave fouho
this line of paper quite satisfactory.
This business has been operated not without mistakes
both the standpoint of handling the COWS and also IN
the of extenon OF credit Too liberal terms ana
too much anxousness the part of those who had
money be first to offer aid permitted the specu
ator years past to enter this field of industry Many
been sold at prices far beyond their worth and
in the days of retrenchment losses which Should not
exist are being at the OF dairy business
Had these been purchased and valued at then true
worth from dairy sctandpont and not from the stand
point that just good another many OF the
losses the darymen ir the past eighteen months would
have been avoided. .
But these mistakes not without lesson for us all
for today darymen before making care
full study of the business Our County Board Of Supervs
ors with keen insight the future have recently very
wisely set aside fund for the purpose OF securing one or
the best young state department could send to US
He will devote his studying valley conditions and
daymen the problem of the hour better feed
better care better stock will each in its turn be the
of better results
Imperial county stands fourth in production in the
ought to stand first for have the conditions for
making do TO do this do not necessarily need more
COWS, but better and greater results
The average of the valley is producing less than
lbs of butterfat annually and of them perhaps
have fallen below the point of being profitable to own
and feed and thus have become what generally termed
boarders thorough test for 365 days in the year would
no doubt furnish startling figures and be the of elm
mating unprofabe to be replaced by those able
to produce.
This of the results to be hoped for with the aid OF
new assistant Farm Advisor. If the dairymen OF our
valley could by half the present production and
this is within the range of possibility, then would have
an annual lbs of butterfat On the
basis returns this would bring increase of
million three hundred thousand dollars This is not an idle
Dream but easily within the of things that can be
done
made in older sections of state where
conditions are so favorable have here have in
creased their annual production from 100 to 14O lbs
cow based upon last years he price
butter for Imperial Valley 1921 42c lb this
would make increase from $42 to $3.50 or half
the price of good cow today
900 cows follows: $4,000 best produce an
nuay 475580O lbs Gan of 1897 lbs per cow or
1873 82800 The $4,000 poorest produce 369o2OO
Can average of 2638 lbs. cow S2437512OO Were
possible for Humboldt County to raise the $4,000 poorest
cows the level of the $4,000 best and believe s
the money to be gained would amount to the
snug sum $70 316 These not idle figures but cond
tions have existed there who believes that in
all that Humboldt Co. do Imperial Valley can excel
Humboldt County is second in the state IN point OF produc
tion Let Imperial be first.