Smyrna times., 1952-05-29
STATE DAIRY
HERDS CUT
Decline In Milk Production
Could Become Alarming
State Board He'd Says
SURVEY MADE

A sharp decline in Delaware's
milk production could become
alarming if the present trend to
do away with dairy herds contin-
ues, according to Walter Lee,
president of the State Board of
Agriculture. A survey conducted
by the Department of Agriculture
indicates that farmers are reduc-
ing herds or abandoning them en-
tirely in favor of other crops, pou:-
try raising and similar more profit
able operations. Cause for this
change, according to the survey,
is the inability of farmers to secure
what they believe is a fair price
for their product. They sight the
fact that the professor is able to
secure increases in his price when
costs of operation rise, but the
same has not held true to the farm
er. "The State Department of Ag-
Iiculture feels it has a duty to per-
form in reporting the following
facts to the people of the state, ;"
he said. Milk is one of our most
staple food products. Our babies
and young children are in need of
a sufficient quantity of milk in
their daily diet if parents wish to
keep them healthy and develop
strong bodies. Adults as well are
large milk consumers.
State Now Has 3O,62O Dairy Cows
"Our survey disclosed, Lee con-
tinued, that during the past year
there, was a decline of COPS in the
number of dairy cattle in Delaware
herds. The fact is also reported
that we had 1,768 dairy farms in
1850, while in 1851 there were only
1861 drop of 203 farms which
previously were producing milk.
These farmers have entered now
and more lucrative fields of activ-
ity.n Lee continued by stating
that the long farm day-often IL
hours or more-the inability to
secure help which will work these
hours at salary which the farm
er can afford to pay-are all con-
fributing factors to this problem
Low raw milk or wholesale prices
to the farmer-and increased costs
in operation have forced the states
dairy men to look at other fields
ne said. 1t was also pointed out
that there has been a great in
crease in the number of babies
born in Delaware during the post
war era-a condition that holds al
over the nation. This means thai
more-and not less-milk should
be produced within the state. There
were $4,000 dairy cows in Della
ware, according to the u. S. DE
partment of Agriculture figures il
1850. Now, the current state agri
culture department report reveals
a drop to 30,620 head.
Wants to Work Out Some Plan
'Erhe State Department of Agri
culture is charged with the respon
sibility to see that enough foot
Stuffs are produced or available fo,
our citizens. That is why we hav,
conducted this survey" Lee con
tinued. 1--WE hope to he able Il
take necessary steps to alleviat,
this condition. We hope that w,
will be able to secure help and co
operation of milk professors anC
others in the area to work ou
some plan which will keep oul
dairy farmer on the production
line. 1t is not only highly desired
but most necessary if we are tt
guarantee our citizens an adequat,
supply of fresh milk daily. If tn,
same is true in other states ant
we believe it is, unless the pric,
of milk to the producer is increas
ed, a serious shortage will develop