The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-04-26
new MONTANA LAWS
AFFECTING FARMERS
(By Chester C. Davis, Commissioner
of Agricultural
Concluded from Issue of April IL
State Dairy Laws Reorganized

Strict requirements governing dis
elimination between individuals an
localities in prices paid for butterfa
and making the fact of price differ
ence not based upon quality or trans
p%ortation costs in itself proof of I'm
lawful discrimination are embodied
in the new dairy laws enacted by tn,
Eighteenth assembly. In the pas
the Montana law has required proc.
that prices were adjusted with in
tent to destroy competition before i
could be held that unlawful discrim
nation had been practiced. Othel
important phases of the dairy Law
are definition Of strict sanitary
conditions that must be met by cream
cries and cream buying stations ope-
rating in Montana, required to pre-
vent harmful deterioration of cream
after it has passed from the posses
sion of the producer, and proof of
competence to make Babcock test
before license to engage in this work
is granted. This law specifically de-
fines the fields with respect to dairy
ing of the Livestock Sanitary Board
and the Department of Agriculture,
the former having all responsibilities
and duties connected with livestock
sanitation and the production and
handling of whole milk, the latter
being given jurisdiction over the eco
nomic side of the cream and butter
production and processing, including
the sanitary condition of ~creameries,
cream stations and ice cream factor
les. The law fixes a schedule of Ii
cense fees to be paid by them.
Prohibits Sale Filled Milk
Montana joined the list OF states
prohibiting the sale or possession for
sale of "flled milk" or similarly
adulterated dairy products, by legis-
lative action last winter. This covers
milk, cream or other dairy food from
which the natural butterfat has been
extracted, and in which has been in
troduced vegetable oils or fats, or
other substance in place of the ma
tural butterfat. This is SUPPLEMENT-
ed by national legislation forbidding
interstate mmerc in filled milk or
similar products, passed by congress
early in March, known during passage
as the Weight bill.
Insects and Weeds
Several changes of minor import
ance were made in the weed law, pro
viding for the appointment of a weed
commissioner by city or county for
a period limited to June 15-Oct. /.
The period of notice to a land owner
to destroy weeds is shortened from
six to four days and the period given
him in which to comply is likewise
shortened from six to four days.
The amended law provides for no.
tice by registered mail as well as in
person. Expenses of the weed com
missioner are met out of the general
fund of the city or county instead of
the road fund as in the past, to be
reimbursed by collection of taxes if
payment has not been made on Oct.
18th. One of the most important
changes empowers the weed COM
missioner to destroy any growing
crop or part Of it that is so mixed
with weeds as to be a menace
County Insect Pest Law
The law providing for county act :
ion in fighting insect pests that men
ace crops was greatly widened by !
the taxation limit in any one :
year for this purpose from one-half :
mill to one mill, and by providing for :
payment of warrants out of the
county general fund, which is REIN
Dursed out of a special tax levy in \
an amount sufficient to meet expen- :
~litures, but not to exceed one mill.
This law provides for the employment
If men to conduct insect poisoning
campaigns, and for the purpose of
and supplies. Any board of g
commissioners can take act Q
under this law, but the general s
directions of the poisoning campaigns A
s by the state entomologist. f
State Hail Insurance t
Important changes made in the plan s.
# the state hail insurance grew out c
f experience in administering the K
a
The state treasurer is placed on
he board instead of the state audit Il
r. This is at the request of the 81
tate auditor because of his position c.
S investigator of all controversial o.
laims regarding insurance. b
A reduction of maximum insur- a.
nee from $12 to SO is made with CO
he idea of removing speculation as p
ar as possible and leaving the claim
MT so that under average conditions pl
e will not get more per acre from al
all payments than would be ~realiz- III
d from the crop if harvested with SC
ut hail damage. So
Insurance will be written on crop tf
This is done on account of the sa
cry large number of farmers who e1
ach year desire hail insurance and N
re unable to get it for various rea- al
ms, mainly, more than n years a
alinnuent taxes on land. or lack of al