Evening star., 1946-05-12
All About
The Farm

Maryland and Virginia producers
who sell milk to the Washington
market are awaiting a decision by
the Agriculture Department on de-
mands for an increase of SO cents
per hundredweight In the price of
milk.
While producers expect an early
reply to their request, officials on
the Dairy Division, Production and
Marketing Administration of the
Agriculture Department, last week
would make no definite commitment
as to when the decision would be-
announced. They said the request
is still in the analysis stage and that
it may be some time" before a
recommendation is made.
Meanwhile, producers pointed out
again that some assistance in prices
is necessary beyond subsidy pay
ments to offset increasing produc-
tion costs. Since January l, 194l
they say, labor costs have risen 1928
per cent: feed costs are up los per
cent, and other costs have jumped
so per cent.
Milk Subsidies Hit.
While Maryland and Virginia pro-.
ducers are loud in their demands
for a price increase, they are against
these increases being paid in the
form of Government subsidies. Sub
sides, they say, place the dairy
men in a fools paradise"
Many producers feel toward sub
sides as j. c. Eller, Culpeperl
County dairy farmer, does. Mr. Eller
points out that under the subsidy
formula, which now provides pay
ment of SIS cents per hundredWeighti
and will be further increased 20.
cents on July l, the dairyman's price
future is too uncertain.
Furthermore, he says, subsidy pay
ments are made about three months
late so that dairymen, in effect, are
behind that long on about one-fourth
of their income, while labor and
other costs have to be met each
month
I'VE are in about the same posi-
tion," he said, "aS an Office worker
who would get one-fourth of his
monthly income three months after
pay day
While many farm organizations
are clamoring for an end of sub
sides. economists have warned that
to end Government food payments
at this time would result in an up
ward spiral of imitation.
Secretary of Agriculture Ander-
son has repeatedly stated that the
Agriculture Department favors an
end of subsidy payments, timed with |
balance of production with de- |
nand.
Breeding Program to Begin.
The Maryland Artificial Breeding
Cooperative, Inc, sponsored by the |
University of Maryland, will begin
active work Wednesday in seven of
the States dairy counties.
Association officials announced
Yesterday that 13 bulls, the best sires
obtainable, representing the four
main dairy breeds-Holstein, Ayr
shire, Jersey and Guernsey-are now
at the co-operative'S stud at the uni
versity. Only bulls whose daughters |
have been high producers were Sc
lected.
For example. an Ayrshire bull |
leased from Scott Swartz, Middle |
burg, sired Is daughters who av-
eraged 1881 pounds of milk in a
305-day test. This compares with |
their dams average of 8,765 pounds |
for the same period, or an increase
Of LIS pounds.
Officials pointed out that under |
the program, the smallest dairyman
has had the same advantage as the |
large producer, since he can receive
the services of bulls that he could |
not afford to buy
AS the program begins, officials
said 5000 cows have been registered
from the seven counties, 1,40O from
Montgomery. This represents about
one-half of the total number of |
COWS being MIXED in the area.