Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-02-08
ASKOV CREAMERY
REVIEWS YEAR
Production of Cooperative Concern
Is Seen to Increase Over
Last Year.

Askov Cooperative Creamery Associa-
the past year. The financial state
ment was gone over thoroughly by
the secretary and discussed by the
patrons. With the exception of the
sum of $4,797.40 still tied up in the
closed First State Bank of Askov, the
Association is in excellent financial
condition.
Field Man Talks.
Art C. Rentz. field man Of the Land
OLakes for this district, was present
and talked ON the butter market in
general. Mr.. Rentz first complimented
the board for having made such
full financial report to the patrons.
Mr.. Rentz had a chart which showed
the butter market when controlled
and one representing the price trend
when uncontrolled.
Mr.. Rentz told Of the Land OLakes
going into the emergency last fall to
buy up the surplus of butter until
such time as the government would
have machinery set up for the task
under the Farm Administration Act.
The next day after the authorization
from the government, Land OLakes
borrowed 100000 with which to buy
butter. Each day thereafter the sur
plus was taken and then on the ris
ing market it would be sold. The
Land OLakes was supposed to have
filled the breach in this capacity for
the government for 10 days, said Mr..
that it controlled the market for be-
tween ten and eleven weeks during
which time the price was maintained
at level of about "a cents per pound.
The speaker, in showing how a con-
trolled market favors the producer,
said that during the period that Land
O'Lakes was buying the surplus, the
Askov community alone realized ap-
proximately $4,000 more than what
it would have received if it had not
been for the controlled market.
In answering the question as to why
Land OLakes did not keep on buying
the surplus in order to keep the price
up, Mr.. Rentz stated that it would be
a big financial risk to continue and
especially so since there are so many
on the outside of the organization re-
ceiving the same benefits as the
Land OLakes co-OperatOrs without
risking a cent of their own capital.
This, the speaker intimated is good
reason why every one should stick
to his group and grow.
Good Production.
In reviewing the statement of the
creamery for the year 1888, it is
found that an increase was made in
the manufacture of butter from 446,-
991 pounds in 1892 to 447.934 pounds
in 1888. The price paid patrons for
butterfat in 1892 was $75,747.9O as
compared with $7S,O9S.4S. The aver
age price paid in 1892 was 20.94 cents
and in 1893 21.59 cents. The man.
ufacturing cost per pound of butter
including overhead dropped from
2.35 cents to POI in 1888. The per-
centage of Land O'Lakes sweet cream
butter made from cream graded Land
OLakes grade the past year was
$3.50 and this would indicate careful
and efficient handling of the product
in the creamery operation.
The Askov creamery has grown by
leaps and bounds since it's organiza
ton in 1911 during which year the
creamery ran six months and paid
patrons S5,6OS.SS for 24,9OO pounds of
butter made. The following year the
creamery made 65,545 pounds and
paid to patrons $16,470.4O. The pro-
duction Of the plant reached its peak
year in 1929 when 459,6O5 pounds
were made. This however, was not the
peak year for income to the patrons
for it is seen that with an average
price of 1884 cents per pound paid
for butterfat in 1928 the total was
$191,176.01 as compared to 1854.
in 1929 when the price had dropped to
1896 cents per pound.
Several New Officers.
The election of officers for the as
ISOLATION resulted in several new men
being chosen on the board. Chr. Nor
gensen was chosen by the patrons to
head the board for the coming year
as president. Mr.. Morgensen served
last year as director and some years
ago as president. l. A. Ecklund was
chosen vice president; Chris. Freder-
iksen was reelected as secretary; j..
r. Petersen Is the new treasurer
elected and Christoffer Nielsen, Hol-
ger Dixen and P. Simonsgaard were
elected as directors. The retiring
officers from the board are Christ
Larsen, who was president last year,
A. P. Jensen, Thorvald Jensen, C. d.
Nielsen and A. Gravesen.