The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-02-13
Thursday, February, 13, 1880

figures available we know that we.
consumed some 100000 pounds
more imitation butter in 1929 than
we did in 1928, but we must also
add to this some 100000 pounds
of so-called cooking fats which are
used by many as butter substi-
tute. We can safely say that at
least 100000 pounds more imi-
tation butter was used in 1929 than
in 1928, which wouldmore than ac-
count for the surplus we now have:
in storage.
Some effort has been put forth
to find out where this imitation
butter is being consumed and we
have been greatly surprised to find
that the bulk of it has gone into
rural districts. The Department
of Agriculture of Iowa has recent
ly made a survey of ten Iowa
Counties; the Inspectors of the
State conducting the work. This
survey was very carefully and sys-
tematically done and it was found
that 42O stores, during one week,
sold 37,782 pounds of butter, and
29, 1888 pounds of butter limitations.
In percentage this is about Sc per
cent for butter and A per cent for
limitations. The Counties selected
did not have large cities but were
considered strictly rural counties.
These facts are certainly start
ling when we consider that Iowa,
probably the best farming state in
| the Union, ranking second in but
| ter, with nearly 20O,0O0,0OO pounds,
and certainly having a high stand
ard of living in city as we'll as in
country, should use such an enor-
! nous amount of limitations per cap
| tia.
Studies carried on in other states
have resulted in similar findings,
especially in the Middle-West, or
the butter-producing area. Now
this is not a very pleasant situa-
ton for we are certainly mindful
of the fact that in order to receive
good prices we must maintain a
close balance in both production
and consumption. Surely the dairy
farmers of the Middle West cannot
ask the laborers of the East to eat
butter when they themselves re-
fuse.
/ There may be some good excus-
es for this questionable economy;
the necessity of saving and econo-
MIXING, but even that is question
able when we consider the value of
butter and it's superior flavor over
limitations. The dairy farmers in
Iowa who bought imitation butter
in order to save, really lost twice
as much as they gained, for the
shrink in butter price due to sur
plus, caused them a loss of some
thing like twenty cents per pound.
Mr.. r. G. Clark of the Dairy Div
sion of Iowa, has figured that while
the farmer saved one dollar in
buying imitation butter he lost two
dollars on the price of his product.
The American people, without
doubt, have the highest standards
of living of any of the peoples Of
the earth, and we are inclined to
live as we'll as we can. 1t may be
assumed that some of this lack of
! consumption was due to unemploy-
ment and a business depression in
all channels of our trade, farm in
Guided. Surely butter has better
flavor, and surely most people un-
derstand the food value of butter;
it's high vitamin content; its excel
lent flavor when used for spread
and cooking, for this is Natures
own food.
So much has been said and writ
ten about this subject that the peo-
pie are actually increasing their
consumption and it would not be at
all surprising to see this surplus
disappear by spring. This would
indeed be happy condition for
we don't wish to curtail our pro-
duction. Grass butter will soon be
on the market, and much of it, will
have to go into storage. 1t certain
ly behooves us all to be mindful of
this condition and to put forth ev-
cry effort to stabilize this, our
greatest industry.