Evening star., 1943-08-29
Virginia Commission
To Hold Milk Price
Hearing Thursday

A hearing on request by the
Maryland and Virginia Milk Pro-
ducers Association for an increase
in the price of milk will be held by
the Virginia Milk Commission at
1890 am. Thursday in the Alex
andria Council rooms, E. c. C.
Woods, secretary of the commission,
announced last night.
Bruce B. Derrick, secretary of the
association, said requests for a SIM
liar hearing have been made to the
Agriculture Department, but a date
for this hearing has not been set.
Mr.. Derrick said the association
is requesting an increase to the pro-
ducer of 10 cents hundredweight,
or is cents quart. This repre-
sents Is per cent increase over
the present price of s4.35 per hun
dredweight, or 9.4 cents a quart for
4 per cent milk, including premiums
Mr.. Woods said producers and
distributors will be given an oppor-
tunity at the hearing to present
details showing their costs of pro-
duction. He said consumers also
will be allowed to present evidence
IN support of the present milk prices.
Rise Declared Necessary.
MIR. Derrick said the increasing
costs of milk production, together
with the drought which has affected
milk production in the Washington
milk shed, have made an "immedi-
ate" raise in prices absolutely
necessary"
Since January, 1871, he said, the
local cost of dairy feed has increased
10 per cent, while farm wages have
risen IS per cent and the overall
cost of producing milk is up 81 per
cent. During the same period, he
pointed out, the local fluid milk price
to producers has increased only "a
per cent, and the blend of all milk
and cream sold by distributors has
increased only 36 per cent.
"Rising costs. together with the
drought, are causing q sharp re-
duction in milk production in this
area" Mr. Derrick asserted. PRO
duction this month is 8.6 per cent
under that of last August" he said,
while fluid sales this month are
20 per cent above last years.
THE declining production and ris-
ing consumption is causing the Dis
triet to depend on other cities for
ans alarming proportion of its milk
supply" Mr.. Derrick said.
Estimate of Needs.
Mr. Derrick said that according to
present estimates Washington will
need 100000 quarts of milk day
this fall and our local farmers will
produce only about 100000. This
will mean that 10000 must be
found from other areas if the de-
mand is supplied, he added
During the shortest month last
fall we we're able to obtain. only
10000 quarts per day from outside
sources, Mr.. Derrick said. With
shortages prevailing in other cities,
he said, it is doubtful We will be
able to obtain 10000 quarts more
this fall
'The drought has aggravated the
situation here" Mr.. Derrick said,
"but actually Washington faces a
longtime shortage unless farmers
are encouraged to increase their
production substantially. BY the
end of next year the Metropolitan
Area will need more than 100000
quarts of milk a day. a
Even If the downward trend in
production can be stopped" he ad-
ded, local farmers probably will
produce only about 100000 quarts,
thus causing this market to be short
by 100000 quarts, or Al per cent"
Drought Area Spreads.
Meanwhile, Virginia's drought area
continued to spread with reports
yesterday that 10 more counties
all in the eastern section-were
recommended for participation in
the proposed Federal relief program.
Dr. John R. Hutcheson, State EX-
tension Service director, said he had
no doubt that others would be added
to the list if the drought continued.
In Augusta County farmers and
cattlemen, expressing concern over
failing cattle prices and shortages
of feed, named committee of three
to act with Representative Robert
son. Democrat, of Virginia, to ar
range a conference with War Food
Administration officials in an effort
to secure relief.