Evening star., 1943-09-03
Milk Agency
Weighs2-Cent
Price Increase
Hearing on Roising
Cost for District
Set for Next Week

p
The Virginia Milk Commission to-
day had under consideration a re-
quest from the Maryland and Vir-
ginia Milk Producers Association
for a 70-cent per hundredweight in
crease in the price of milk to the
producer. Commission members
promised a decision in "the next few,
weeks"
Meanwhile. the Agriculture De-
partment announced a hearing
would be held next Friday on an as
sociation's petition for an increase
In the producer price of milk sup
piled Washington. The hearing will
open at 10 am. in the south build
ing auditorium of the department.
In its petition, the association pro-
posed no specific revisions, but con-
tended that substantial increase
In the minimum prices milk dealers
must pay is needed.
After a hearing in Alexandria yes
terday at which testimony in favor
Of the increase was presented by
officials of the association and dairy
farmers, commission members said
the absence of consumer representa-
tives indicated either lack of in
terest or agreement that the price
increase Is necessary and must be
borne by them. The increase would
represent 2-cents per quart rise in
the retail cost of milk, it was said.
Derrick Sums Up Case.
Summing up the producers case,
B. B. Derrick, secretary of the asso-
citation, said that 1t is impossible to
supply the Washington area without
importing milk The cost of outside
milk is too high and it is becoming
scarce, he said. Even rationing,
which he believed to be inevitable,
will not solve the problem unless
farmers are given the encourage
ment to increase production, he
added.
Mr.. Derrick emphasized his argu-
ment by stating that the sale of
milk cows for slaughter is now so
per cent higher than it was last year.
Saying that 81 per cent Of the
men who leave farms go into other
occupations where they work 20 to
80 fewer hours week for much
higher wages, Mr.. Derrick said, I'VE
are told by some people that the
farmers have an eight-hoyr day.
They do; one before lunch and one
after"
M. E. BircheI, secretary treasurer
of the Alexandria Dairy Products
Co., said distributors believe that the
70-cent increase should be granted
the farmers, and that the con-
sumner should pay the 2-cent-per-
quart increase to enable the dis
tributors to get along without, the
Federal subsidy which has recently
been reduced from 43 cents to %
cents q hundredlweight.
Henry Thompson, representing
Thompson's Dairy of Washington,
also preferred rise in cost to con-
sumner over the subsidy, of which
he said, NOW you see it, now you
don't"
Both Mr.. Birchell and M. v. Davi-
son, vice president of Chestnut
Farms Dairy of Washington, testi-
fed that increased business and in
labor are causing great
Of equipment, and the
prospect of an expanded market In
the Washington area makes the
situation more serious.
Mr.. Dawson said he believed ra-
tioning would have to come, but
hoped it would not be on coupon
basis because of the clerical diff
ficulties it would add to already
overburdened personnel.
Cost of Feed Cited.
introduced by Mr.. Derrick, six
farmers concurred in placing the
blame for their present situation,
which they deem worse than in the
1890 draught year, on labor condi-
tions, the drought, and the high |
cost of feed.
w. M. Kline Of Manassas stated |
that the Is acres of corn which he
planted to fill his two silos has
Yielded only enough to I'LL half of |
one silo. The hay stored for winter
iced has been used up, and he said
ne was forced to purchase an addi-
,ional truck to haul feed which he
will buy from farm 6 miles away.
Mr.. Kline said that feed which
'ost $3.50 ton in 1941 now costs
;60, while his labor costs have in
,reased from $45 a month to $65 for
unframed help.
In addition, Mr.. Kline stated that
he lowering of protein content in
he feed, plus the fact that the
iifficulty of obtaining feed makes it
to keep cows on a uni
'orm diet has materially curtailed
w. r. Burton of Calverton, o. r.
aersch of Manassas, o. A. Groves of
Bealton and r. S. Oliver of An
landale presented testimony differ
ng only in minor details from Mr..
alines.
Subsidy Opposed.
Frank S. Walkel. Orange produc-
er, said that dairy farmers will have
TO draw dangerously on their re-
serves If they wish to weather the
present crisis. He pointed out that |
1t costs 81 cents day to feed a cow
capable of producing three gallons
Of milk for which the farmer gets
s1O5.
Where" he asked, docs the labor
cost, which is supposed to be 30 per
cent of the cost of production,
come IMP"
Frank Davis, representing the
Arlington County Dairy, agreed with
the other producers in preferring in
creased retail costs to Government |
and said that ALLEGATION of |