The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-08-14
MILK PRODUCERS FIGHTING
FOR PRICE INCREASE


Review is leading the fight for an in
crease in milk prices for the pro-
ducers, and in its August issue pub
fishes the following:
Progress is being made in the eff
forts to get price increase-but it
is slow, too slow. July 16 passed
with no increase, except for IL cents
in New Jersey which restored pre-
vious reduction That was the date
for which the increase was originally
asked. New Jersey prices of milk
for cream have also been increased
35 cents since. June.
No action has been taken by, the
PENNSYLVANIA control board toward
getting the increase-nor toward
holding a public hearing, as required
by law, for collecting facts about the
need for an increase.
The AAA has been asked to come
into the market and issue an order
to cover the price to producers of
milk entering interstate commerce.
This has not been done, presumably
because they will not go into mar
ket until they have full information
about prices. price structure, buying
plans, movement of milk, ETC., and
that they are also influenced by the
probable relations with state control
agencies This might require some
compromise between present Penn
sylvania and New Jersey policies.
Work is now under way to get the
information needed by the AAA.
Having failed to obtain satisfac-
tory action from the Pennsylvania
control board and with the drought
sending feed prices sharply upward,
Interstate officials called in buyers
of milk to discuss with them % the
need for substantial price increase,
CD the need for developing uni
form price plan which will insure
producers in all states of the milk
shed getting the same prices under
the same conditions.
Results were unsatisfactory as the
milk distributors were not in accord
ON how to base their prices nor on
any plan for equalizing prices among
states. Sentiment among them seem
ed to be unfavorable toward a price
increase.
This attitude prevailed in spite of
the widespread admission that pro
duction costs have gone up and that
feed prices are expected to advance
even beyond the increase noted re-
Gently. Protests were made that an
early increase is due and that failure
to grant it may make it improbable
for farmers to maintain production
also that if production should drop
because of lack of proper feed and
care it will be impossible to regain
normal production.
With a shortage of milk expected
next fall and early winter, it is clear
that price increase is needed. 1t is
the surest and most satisfactory way
to stimulate production and thus re-
duce the seriousness of the shortage.
1t may possibly be means of entire
ly avoiding a shortage.
1t is cleaerly the duty of the con-
troll board to take immediate action
toward getting price increase as
the producers are not getting cost of
production and, therefore, the pres
ent orders discriminate against milk
producers. The law and regulations
specify that discrimination must not
be shown.
The dealers are making a mistake
in opposing the increase. The Penn
sylvania Milk Control Board is max
ing a mistake in not taking a more
active part in efforts to get the in
crease. Ten thousand Pennsylvania
farmers in the Philadelphia milk
shed expect it, deserve it, DEMAND
1T.