Evening star., 1943-10-17
Federal Price Policies Blamed
For Threatened Milk Rationing
By Ovid A. Martin,
Associated Press Writer.

Associated
The dairy cow may move into the
political spotlight in Washington-and
In thousands of American homes-before
many weeks.
There is growing belief in the dairy
INDUSTRY and among Government food
officials that before the winter is over
1t Will be necessary to ration fluid milk.
The milk supply situation already has
grown so tight that the War Food Ad-
ministration CWFA) has imposed quotas
on dealer sales Of fluid milk and fluid
milk products in a number of metro
politan areas.
Political rumblings and charges of
Government mismanagement of food
production, particularly milk production,
followed In the wake of the dealer re-
str1ctions. With milk considered per-
maps the most important food for chill
dren and sick persons, and an important
source OF necessary nutrients for work.
Ing adults, rigid rationing could be ex-
pected to stir up political storm
In New England and Middle Atlantic
States, where milk output appears to
be declining more sharply than is nor
NAL Tor this season, dairymen charge
that unwise Government policies are
ruininf dairying in those areas.
More Cows, Less Milk.
Somewhat similar cries come from
dairymen in the great Midwestern sur
plus milk producing area.
Government statistics show that milk
production is falling below last years
level even though there are more milk
cows on farms
The decline is greatest, official figures
show, In Atlantic Coast States and In
some section of the Far West.
The Bureau of Agricultural Economics
says production this year may total 49,
Oo0,000,000 pounds, compared with 49,
OOO,OOO,OO0 last year, and that the out
put next year may drop to 1000 OOO.-
600 pounds although the War Food Ad-
ministration has set goal for 122,0O0,-
100000 pounds as the minimum necessary
to meet military, lend-lease and civilian
requirements.
This failure of milk production to
hold up is attributed to a number of
factors, including a shortage of skilled
labor declining feed supplies, unfavor-
able weather and milk and dairy product
prices. The factors with the most in
nuence on production are generally
agreed to be feed supplies and prices.
Take feed first. When the war started.
this country had surplus of corn and
other grains. The Government asked
farmers to expand production of hogs.
beef cattle, milk, eggs and poultry. 1t
inaugurated policies designed to encour-
age them to use the feed surpluses.
Too Much Livestock.
Farmers followed through In fact
they did so we'll that today there is too
much livestock for the amount of feed
available. The country doesn't have suf-
f1cient land, labor and other facilities
to step up feed production to meet needs
OF the expanded livestock industry and
still grow other food crops.
Consequently, the time has come when
there will have to be some LIQUIDATION
In livestock numbers. Animals must be
brought into line with feed supplies. I
Then the question arises: Where
should the liquidation be made?
In hogs? Beef cattle? Poultry? Eggs?
Milk? Or should the reduction be equal
for all
The VIA says milk production should
be maintained at all cost 1t points out
that various kinds of livestock differ in
their ability to convert feed materials
into human food. Scientists have found
the dairy COW is the most efficient con-
verter of feed into protein and energy
foods.
List Desired Cuts.
The VIA suggests sharpest reductions
In the number of hogs, commercial broil-
ers, beef cattle normally finished on
grains and concentrate, feeds and chick
ems. 1t asks that egg production be
maintained at present record levels.
The recommended reduction in hogs
Is about 20 per cent measured in terms
Of pork output.
Dairymen assert, however, that Gov
eminent price policies on hogs, corn and
milk encourage maintenance of hog pro-
duction at present high levels, and dis
courage milk and egg production.
Milk producers in the East don't raise
all the feed required to maintain their
herds. Consequently, they must depend
on supplies imported from surplus feed
producing areas of the Midwest.
Now that feed supplies are short in
relation to the demand, they report they
are unable to obtain corn. This grain
has virtually ceased moving out of mid
western producing areas. Dairymen say
and Government livestock authorities
agree with them-that the Midwestern
hog farmer can outbid the milk producer
The Government has established a
ceiling price on corn at the rate of
SLOT bushel, Chicago basis.
Big Gain Through Pork.
The corn belt farmer can make more
money by feeding his corn to hogs at
present ceiling prices for that class of
livestock than by selling the grain at
SLOT. Corn fed to hogs brings the equiva-
lent of s1.30 to sl4O bushel.
Reports have reached officials here
that much Midwestern corn has changed
hands at black market prices as high
as $1.40. Eastern dairymen don't blame
the Midwestern farmer for refusing to
sell grain at the corn ceiling when he
can get more by feeding it to hogs
They do contend, however, that the
Government should adjust prices on
corn. hogs and milk to make it possible
for the milk producer to bid for and OBJ
tain feed. They suggest that the Gov