Evening star., 1936-08-11
Dairyman Disputes The
Stars Milk Editorial
To the Editor Of The Star:

Az Vic buitOi VI ne OtdTs
The residents of the counties In Mary
land and Virginia comprising the WASH
ington milk shed have learned to look
upon The Evening Star as being Just in
its treatment of problems, whether local
or national in scope. Your editorial,
1.-The Price of Milk" in the issue of
August compels us to question your
frankness when considering the problems
connected with the production and sale
OF milk. You state "the price Of milk in
Washington is high-too nigh!" 1t
would be interesting to have you state
how you arrive at this conclusion. Is it
because grade A milk is retailing in New
York City, Hartford, Conn. and Boston,
Mass, at 16 cents per quart? In Phila-
delphia, Pa; Birmingham and Mobile,
Ala; Greensboro and Winston Salem,
N. c.; Charleston, w. Va, at IA cents
per quart? In st. Louis, Mo-; Charles
ton, S. c.; Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla,
at Is cents per quart? These figures are
from the Market News Service of the
Bureau OF Agricultural Economics. Or,
perhaps, 1t is because a survey of 300
dairy farms completed in July, 1893,
showed the cost of producing milk to
be BOIL cents per gallon, with 1914 per
cent increase in feed costs over 1888,
making the cost now approximately 80
cents per gallon, whereas, we have been
receiving 26 cents for base milk over this
period, and are now asking 80 cents-per
gallon, which is still less than the cost
of production.
A comparison of the costs of the diff
ferent articles used in feeding a herd of
dairy cows is as follows:
349o feed, per ton $500 $4,000
Bran. per ton --------- 26.00 5000
Cotton seed meal. per ton $500 1900
Corn, per buShel ~ .85 los
Wheat, per buShel ---- 1T los
Hay, per ton -------- 1900 5000
The move for an increase in price to
the producer at this time is based upon
the increased feed costs, although costs
OF other articles such as grass seed, etc,
has advanced. The Health Department
regulations have nothing to do with the
present contemplated advance. The idea
that an advance price of milk to the
producer is not necessary because of
10 per cent surplus at this time ignores
the well-known fact that unless a sur
plus is in existence in August it would
be impossible to meet the demands for
milk in the city of Washington in late
September and October. Also that the
production of herd of dairy COWS must
be maintained at the maximum. That is.
1t cannot be lowered or raised by with
holding or supplying abundantly, feed
at will, such as is the practice in the
ordinary manufacturing plant or in other
manufacturing enterprises. Milk pro-
ducers are confronted with the situation
OF being able to sell what feed they have
grown in 1896 on the open market or
feed it to the dairy herd and sustain a
loss thereby, unless the price received by
producers is increased
We are all consumers, whether we
happen to live in the country or city.
What happens when the prices of pork,
beef, vegetables, cotton goods, automo-
biles and other articles advance? MY
experience is that the consumer pays.
What is the big idea in trying to make
consumers OF milk believe they are
dinerent from consumers of other manu-
factured articles when in reality the
cheapest article of food for sale is milk,
when we consider its value as nutrient?
You advise that dairy farmers should
be working for a decrease in the price
OF milk, apparently ignorant of the fact
that hundreds of dairy farmers are and
have been striving to decrease their cost
OF production by organized effort,
which is the first step in reducing the
price to the consumer. but when con-
fronted with such situations as exist at
this time, such organizations as dairy
herd improvement associations are out
Of the picture.
In 1882, when salaries were being re-
duced and production of milk costs were
down, the dairy farmers of this milk
shed voluntarily reduced the price of
milk paid them by cents per gallon,
which reduction was passed on to the
consumer by the distributors. When the
milk marketing agreement under the
A. A. A. was first considered, no increase
in price was contemplated but within the
last month an emergency has arisen. So
why should the dairy farmers not be
interested in an increase in price as well
as the marketing agreement?
Purcelville, Va. H. T. PANCOAST,