The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1946-08-23
Hancock Coop Is Paying Off For
Dairymen AT sis, 600 Each Month


Jacksons County $ land area and
less thar half of its population,
1as developed in the last few
years into the dairying center of
the mississippi Gulf Coast. Resi-
dents Of this county weekly con-
sumo more than 5000 gallons of
milk produced there, about so
percent OF the total production
of 70 diaries in that county.
A large but undetermined am
CUNT of the county's milk produc-
tion from its other 81 diaries is
also consumed in this county.
The Chronicle-Star and Adver-
tiser sent 6 reporter to Bay st.
Louis Hancock county seat, this
week for a first hand report on
the Farmers Cooperative there,
which has been largely RESPONSE
bic for the development of dali
ry farming in this county.
The movement to organize the
cooperative, which began more
than three years ago and which
did not get underway until May
Of las. year, has developed into a
major enterprise, paying 70 dairy
men $4,000 monthly and employ
ing Ia people in the plant with a
payr,l oil $4,000 monthly.
New diaries are signing up al
most weekly and most of the 70
now belonging to the cooperative
are increasing their herds and i'm
proving the bloodines of their
cattle The $40, 600 milk process
ing ard bottling plant is running
at less than half its 5000 gallons
a day capacity and the manager,
II. B. DueNworth. expects milk
production to jump from 1900 to
1900 gallons within this month.
How 1t Began
The cooperative movement be-
gan in Hancock County in Febfu-
airy, 1913, when IS men met with
Mr.. Duekworth. then a Federal
Security Administration agent,
and c. Il. Stone, county agricul-
tural agent. Eleven of the fne
were made charter members TO
give a tight-knit group an oppor-
tunity to work out the details.
Many of the 70 dairymen began
business literally without a dime,
this UNDUE situation resulting
from tie cooperation of the FSA,
which financed their purchase Of
Cattle. the local banks, which fl
uanced the building of their dali
ry barns, and the cooperative,
which supplied them with cool
ers, miller, and feed on a credit
basis.
Mr.. Ducxv orth reported that
one forntr pascagoula shipyard
worker we. into the dairy bust
ness with no4hing down and soon
had cleared himself of debt and
was earning more each month
than his pay check as a frs.
class riechanic had totaled. A. @.
Farve, publisher of the Sea Coast
Echo, and . director of the co.
operative, relates the story of
a 17-year-old boy who went into
business With $25 a few years
ago and nnw tss a herd of 80
cattle, money in the bank, and IS
one of the &C unty's most prs
gressive citizens.
Equipment Needs
The dairy barns, built mostly of
rough lumber a. a material cost
of about 5000, are divided into
three sections and have concrete
floors in accordance with health
laws. Six-can coolers can be p IT.
chased from the cooperative for
about $3.50 each and the milk
cans can also be purchased at he
cooperative as we'll as milking
machines, for the larger operators.
Mr.. Duekworth stated that
about 20 lows are necessary for a
profitable business and resson-
able returns for the owner. Prop
erly managed. a dairy with that
number OF rows will support a
family and give returns on the
investment.
Seven veterans of World War
II are employed at the plant prop
er In Bay st. Louis, five of them
in the on-the-inb training status
while they learn vsrious phases