The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-11-16
ELIMINATE HIGH
FREIGHT RATES
Message to Idaho From
an Experienced
Dairy Editor

Larry EQlCOT
J. H. Frandsen, dairy eritor, Cap
per Farm Press of Lilcoln, Nebr.,
makes the following comments on
dairy conditions in Idaho:
On August s, when I left Neb-
raska, upon invitation Of Governor
D. w. Davis, to help make survey
of Idaho dairy possibilities, Neb-
raska corn prospects were rated at
about 100 per cent. When / re-
turned home two weeks later 1t was
to find that extreme heat and lack
OF rain at the critical time had cut
these prospects to about 20 per
cent and that in some parts Of the
state the corn is practically ruined.
Coming, as I did, fresh from your
irrigated fields could not help but
wonder IL Idaho farmers realize
their good fortune In having on
hand an abundant supply OF water
that can be turned on In just the
right amount and at just the time
when needed for the best develop
ment OF the various crops and
pastures. Surely this eliminates q
large part of the gambling chances
which farmers In most sections Of
the country have to take.
Since leaving the dairy depart
ment of your state university eleven
years ago, my work has taken me
pretty much all over the country
and have visited practically all the
leading dairy sections. Nowhere
have l found lands that can raise
more or better dairy feeds than can
be raised right in the irrigated dis
tricts Of Idaho. In addition, your
sunny, temperate climate is we'll
adapted to the best growth and de-
velopment of dairy cattle.
AS yet, no one has discovered bet
ter dairy feeds than alfalfa and
silage, both of which can be raised
in abundance in most of your irri-
gated sections. Your good pastures
will easily support twice as many
cows on the same acreage as would
be possible in ordinary dairy Sec
tions.
Markets
Since Idaho has no big cities with
large consuming populations, there
will, Of course, be but limited
local demand for milk and cream.
However, there is a strong demand
for cheese and butter in the coast
cities and in fact turnout the west,
which could be supplied largely by
Idaho producers. A prominent
cheese man has stated that his
Chicago factory is shipping, daily,
two carloads Of cheese to Pacific
coast points. Idaho cheese factories
can produce as good cheese as can
be produced anywhere, and with
the proper men and organization to
advertise the merits Of their pro-
ducts, Idaho cheese should bring
Wisconsin cheese prices plus the
freight rate Of getting Wisconsin
cheese into Idaho.
Some midwestern butter is going
to western cities, indicating at the
present time, prices sufficiently
high to overcome the difference in
freight rates.
Being so far removed from the
large consuming centers of the east,
Idaho farmers are seriously handi-
capped since the high freight rates
went into effect. This is especially !
true as long as they persist in ship I
ping east only bulky products like
alfalfa, hay, grain and fruits.
During our recent tour we saw as
good dairymen and as good speci-
mems of Holstein, Guernsey and
Jersey cattle as one would see in
most of the older dairy states, and
here and there thruout southern
Idaho are dariymen who are making
a splendid success of their dairy
business. The progress which these
men have made should be called to
the attention of all farmers who
have not yet seen the Importance of
turning their coarse rough feeds into
condensed articles such as butter,
cheese and condensed milk
Dodging Freight Rates
am very sure that the sentiment
in Idaho for the dairy COW is COM
ing into its own. AS they get back
to normally" Idaho farmers will
want to get better returns than they
can get or expect to obtain from the
sale of alfalfa, wheat, barley, oats
or cheap forage. Those who have
given the matter attention know
that the good dairy cow constitutes
the safest and most desirable
market for these feeds, and that she
will help Idaho farmers in evading
the high freight rates which during
the last few years have SO seriously
threatened the prosperity Of all
western farmers.
In putting the merits of the dairy
COW before Idaho people as means
out of the present depression, Gov
ernor D. w. Davis is doing signal
service for the state.
However, though Idaho may be a
vertible cow paradise, and though
prosperity admittedly follows the
good dairy COW, Idaho will not be-
come a serious competitor in the
dairy world until she develops more
dairy minded men, men who will be
as attached to the dairy cow and
the dairy business as the orchadist
is to the fruit business. She must
lo-a ,,oop rpbn will cfov with tho