Evening star., 1942-11-20
Milk PriceR Rise
Called Answer
To Shortages
QUESTIONABLE Finds
Higher Pay Would
Keep Men on Form

Higher Pay Would
Keep Men on Farm
Higher prices for milk and more
money for the dairy workers is the
answer to the growing milk Short
age in the District, in the opinion
of the farmers in nearby States
who constitute the principal source
of supply.
The shortage of fluid milk here
now about 1000 gallons a days
due entirely to the labor situation,
according to B. B. Derrick, man.
ager Of the Maryland and Virginia
Milk Producers Association. Sew
eral hundred members, responding
to a QUESTIONABLE, have expressed
the opinion that a pay increase of
approximately $13 a month-which
would be reflected in increased con-
sumner costs-would halt the migra-
ton of farm labor to other indus
tries and permit production to get
back to normal level.
The results of the QUESTIONABLE
were made public today by the asso-
citation as the Commissioners, SEEK
ing to combat the shortage, con-
ferred with Secretary of Agriculture
Wickard on measures to bolster the
supply The principal proposal in
this connection is for relaxation
of the Federal milk marketing rules
to permit certain price differentials
to be maintained by producers in
other milk sheds who sell milk for
consumption here.
Price Ceilings Involved.
A cross section of more than $50
producers, representing Is per cent
of the associations membership, re-
sponded to the QUESTIONABLE and
some 200 of these believed the S13
raise was needed This, it was said,
would bring the prevailing wage for
mixers to SIS, as against $62 now,
and would be 10 per cent over the
prevailing wage Of January. 1941
Higher prices are one of the meas
ures for squirting production that
now are being studied by Federal
food officials, but if this course is
followed, it will be necessary to
break through the ceilings estab-
lished by the Office of Price Admin
istration.
In the absence of higher output
in this area, the conviction is grow
ing among those conversant with
the situation that Washington con-
sumers will have to forget about such
products as coffee cream, whipping
cream, cottage cheese, buttermilk
and chocolate milk, as the supply
of fluid milk viii hardly equal the
demand for that particular COM
modify.
At the conference Of milk men
yesterday when it was decided to
discuss further measures of relief
with Secretary Wickard, the Com
missioners urged sharp curtailment
and consumption of these milk
"specialties" and MI. Derrick agreed
there was no other way out unless
production picks up.
10000 Gallons Daily Demand.
In round figures, the District con-
sumes about 100000 gallons of milk
a day. This includes 104, 900 gallons
of fluid milk, and 26,O00 other. Mem
bers OF the association are producing
around 10000 gallons, while the in
dependents contribute 10000. The
dlf1erence between consumption and
production has been made up bv
purchases outside of this she'd prin-
cipally in New York.
In order to fulfill commitments
here, producers ano distributors are
taking loss of $500 day, equally
divided, according to Mr.. Derrick.
who says that they have felt obligat-
ed to do that. At one time. he
adds, the producers were sustaining
a loss of $1,400, but this was cut
down, first by price adjustment in
the outside markets, through the
offices OF the Agriculture Depart
ment, and later by the arrangement
WIFI IIe QlStrlDutOrS.
Now, however, due to the demands
OF the armed services and lease
lend, these outside sources are drv-
ing up, and in the past week, the
association has been obliged to re-
duce its daily purchases from 30
O0O gallons to something over $4,000.
With normal labor supply, accord
ing to association figures, the pro-
ductlon would just about meet the
consumer demand. AS it is, the out
put has been going down steadily
since May, until it is now below
last years level, although still over
1910. In the meantime, however.
there has been a tremendous in
crease in population.
Labor Losses Figured.
The association covers MARYLAND
Virginia, 20 counties in West Vir-
glnia and about a dozen in Penn
sylvania. In the labor supply SAM
phng the reporting members showed
that the exodus from the farms
averaged 1856 men a month in
1910; 208 IN 1941, and 312 this year.
At present, SIS per cent go into
non-farm employment and 27.1,
military service. Others are not &C
counted for.
The compilation also shows that
while the exodus involves largely
male hired help-18 per cent-many
family workers also are seeking
other occupations, with 3!4 males
and IL females going elsewhere.
The reporting farmers derive GIL
per cent of their income from milk.
At present, they are receiving $685.
a hundredweight, which is 11.6 GAL
Ions, making the gallon rate about
1872 cents.
The labor shortage and increased
operating costs generally are driv-
ing many farmers out Of business.
according to Mr.. Derrick. In the
last year. he said So members
abandoned production, as against a
normal yearly average of IA. How
ever, the association added 10 mem
bers, he said.