Evening star., 1943-03-14
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.

Montgomery County dairy farm
ers waded through ankle-deep mud
In blustery March snowstorm yes
terday on the farm of Paul Burdett
near Germantown. Md. to pay up
to S275 each for milk cows.
The high prices for good COWS and
secondhand machinery indicated
the farmer is not yet standing with
his back to the wall. Farmers are
not inclined to pay 5000 for a milk
COW if they think they may be
forced out of business the next day.
Mr.. Burdett sold all his livestock
and equipment and has rented his
185-acre farm, with the exception of
his home, one barn and q grass
field, to his neighbor, Herbert King.
He said that poor health and labor
conditions had caused him to make
the decision to get out of the farm
ing business.
Bidding Is Brisk.
Bidding was brisk as Mr.. Burdett's
herd of go milk COWS were knocked
down to bidders by Auctioneer John
Null of Frederick at prices ranging
from $165 for good heifers to $275
for a fresh grade COW at the peak
Of her productivity. All but few
Of the herd were sold to Montgomery
County farmers.
The scarcity of farm machinery
was indicated in the prices paid by
farmers who snapped up ploWs.
drills, rakes and other items at
prices ranging to more than $1,000.
A hay loader, valued new at $l55,
brought $302.50 A disk harrow.
worth Sl30 new, was bid in at Sl60,
and a side delivery rake, vlaued at
s135 new, was bid in at S161. Other
items Of farm machinery included
two riding ploWs bid in at S45 and
sos, a moving machine for S55,
binder at $185, tractor pillow at $l15.
Moving Machine Comes High.
The lowest price paid for a piece
of machinery was $ll for walking
ploW, and the highest price was
$1,061 for a moving machine. with
tractor thrown in The tractor was
not offered for sale due to $700
ceiling price, but it was understood
when the bidding started that the
mower would not be detached from
its motive power A 1885 model,
112-ton truck brought an even $500.
Farmers who inspected a pair of
draft horses before they went on
the auction block were uniform in
their opinion that $3.50 each would
be a fair price" A 6-year- -old bay
mare brought $177 and a 11-year-
old gray, trained to work with one
line, was bid in for SITS. A regis
tered Holstein bull brought $500.
Among pieces of dairy equipment
sold, four-unit De Laval milking
machine brought S595, just IS under
its estimated cost new. and milk
cans went for S. to $3.50 each. A
washing machine which had seen
its best days brought a little more
than $50
New Owner Buys Much.
The bulk Of the Burdett dairy
herd went to Mr. King, who said he
planned to continue to operate the
dairy. A few of the COWS were sold
to w. f. Miller, Washington furni-
ture dealer, and his son, who have
recently purchased a dairy farm in
Loudoun County. Va. Mr.. Miller
said he planned to buy as many as
eight of the COWS, and was paving
$3.50 to 5000 each for some of the
best stock.
William j. Ensor and w. r,
Nottingham, representing the Farm
Security Administration. said none
Of the COWS were being sold for the
| beef market. MI. Ensor said he or
other representatives of the FSA
attended all dairy sales to see that
no milking prospect would be sold
| as beef.
| If there is a possibility of a good
| cows being sold on the beef market
| he said, the Government bids them
in to resell later to dairy farmers
Blame Government.
The machinery prices brought
/ angry remarks from two farmers
One man threatened to sell out
and sit on the porch" and the other
man blamed the Government for
forcing farmers to pay such Gigh
prices"
This man said farm machinery
should be placed on the same level
as tanks and ammunition since 1T
is impossible to fight a war without
| food"
However, Virginia farmer, j. M
! Dickerson, who bought several pieces
OF farm machinery, said he planned