Smyrna times., 1926-04-28
FARMERS DOWN STATE TO MAKE
BETTER GRADE MILK STATION
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING HELD
AT HOUSTON LAST WEDNESDAY
Farmers Residing in The Vicinity of
Harrington Desire To Have
Class A Rating in Milk

Eighty-five farmers from all parts
of the lower section of Kent county
attended a dairy meeting which was
held in the public school building in
Houston on Wednesday evening of
last week to consider the possibilities
of making the receiving station at
Harrington an "a" grade plant, and
to obtain an expression from each
milk producer as to how this change
might be put into effect. This plan
has been before the leading dairymen
in the Harrington community for
some time, but nothing definite was
attempted toward the realization of
this project until recently when sew
eral of these farmers requested that
meeting be called for the purpose
of bringing this matter before the
dairymen who are delivering milk to
this particular station.
Kent County Agent Russell E. Viii
son was present at this meeting and
explained the objects and purposes of
calling together the milk producers of
this area, and expressed the hope that
conditions on the dairy farms in the
near future would be such as to make
it possible for the Supplee-Wills-Jones
Company of Philadelphia to place the
Harrington receiving station on an
"a" grade basis which would result
in the patrons receiving greater re-
turns from their milk.
c. /. Cohee, of the Philadelphia In
ter-State Dairy Council, was one of
the chief speakers, and he stated the
standard requirements for an "a"
grade station, and promised the farm
ers in this community all the coopera-
ton and assistance possible in their
efforts to bring about this much de-
sired change in their milk marketing
program. Mr.. Cohee emphasized the
necessity for all cows to be tuberculin
tested, as this is the prime Importance
in producing "A" grade milk. The
next requirement is that the average
butterfat test must not be below 3.8
per cent, and that bacteria count
must not exceed $4,000. He also
stressed the Importance of farmers
keeping their dairy barns in sani-
tary condition at all times as one of
the essential factors in reducing the
bacteria content of their milk.
Following Mr.. Cohee's address Mr..
Robert F. Brinton, Treasurer of the
Interstate Milk Producers Associa-
tion of Philadelphia, spoke concerning
the need of improving the quality of
the milk as a direct means of the
farmers securing better prices at the
receiving stations, and strongly en-
phasized the necessity of cooling the
milk Immediately after it has been
drawn from the cows. If this practice
is followed each day the bacteria
count can be materially reduced, and
in addition to the general sanitary
conditions about the barn and milk
house the farmers should be in a po-
sition to produce milk of "a" grade
quality as far as these requirements
are concerned. The aid of this milk
producers organization has also been
promised to the farmers in the Har-
rlngton area in promoting this project
and every effort possible will be put
forth by all the interested individuals
and organizations toward making this
proposed dairy improvement program
a success.
MS. Grubbs, field man for the Port
land Cement Association and former
ly county agricultural agent in Ale
ghany County, Pa, was also present
at this meeting and offered his serv-
ices free of charge to the farmers in
helping them with any of their prob
lens of concrete construction.