Evening star., 1943-11-19
More Butter Unlikely
For Civilians DURING
Next Few Months

Warning that prospects for fur
ther increases in butter production
"are not bright" the Once Of War
Information said today that sup
plies for all civilian use will not in
crease during the next few months
despite the fact the Government has
discontinued purchases till next
April.
On the basis Of data supplied by
the War Food Administration and
the Office of Price Administration,
the Owl reported that higher point
values have improved distribution
and ended shortages in some areas,
but the annual per capita supply for
home use will continue to be about
I pounds less than in prewar years.
The agency disclosed that j. B.
Hutson, director of the Food Pro-
duction Administration, has been
given authority to set aside 20 per
cent of the monthly output OF GER
tain protein feeds of professors and
to allocate their shipment as neces-
sary.
Seizure Held Up.
This seizure has not yet been
made. Owl said, as the director is
first appealing to professors to al
locate voluntarily their output of
feed so as to give first preference to
milk production in feed shortage
areas.
Prospects for further increases in
butter production are not bright"
the Owl announcement stated
They depend primarily on increased
production of milk and on a greater
diversion of cream into butter" The
agency then observed: THE ques-
tion might be asked why not cut
down on the consumption of other
dairy products, such as ice cream,
condensed and evaporated milk and
cheese, so that more cream will be
available for manufacturing butter
and more skim milk for making
dried milk"
The OPA admits, owl said, that
30 long as meats, fats and oils are
rationed along with butter, it will
continue to be possible for persons
In producing areas to obtain
more butter than those who live in
metropolitan areas. "OPA is thor
oughly conscious of this problem
and the apparent inequality in
volved," Owl said. For MANY
months, it has considered the sep
aration of butter. fats and oils from
meats, but has hesitated to take this
step in the belief that the disad-
vantages of doing so outweigh the
advantages"
Government Needs Met.
Between February l and Septem-
Der 80 of this year, the Government
has purchased 456,000,000 pounds of
creamery butter, which is enough to
meet its full requirements for 14I
months. according to Owl. No pur-
chases have been made since Sep
tember and none will be made for
war needs before April /, 1914.
VIA reports that since the be-
ginning of lease-lend operations in
March, .1941, about 60,OO0000 pounds
of butter have been shipped abroad
100000 pounds in the last IL
months.
In the IL months from October,
1943, through September, 1914, 65,-
100000 pounds of butter will be al
located to lease-lend. OF this, 64,-
100000 will go to the Russian Army. |
Meanwhile, the Agriculture De-
partment estimated that butter pro-
duction in September was 126, ,485 900
pounds, the lowest for that month
since 1881, and warned that "in re-
cent months, the margin of produc-
ton below corresponding months
year earlier has widened steadily"
Greatest declines in milk produc-
tion per COW from october /, 1912,
to October /, l943, were in the South
g per cent? and in the North At
lant1c States 6 per cent?