Evening star., 1952-07-31
Drought Sears
Nation 'sCrops
And Pastures
Virginia and Maryland
Forms Are Hord Hit;
Milk Price Rise Seen,

OIHiS N'S HuIO Htt1
Milk Price Rise Seen,
Drought took a costly toll in
many Eastern States today, in
cluding Maryland and Virginia,
where devastating dry spell may
cause higher milk prices.
The Virginia State Milk Com
mission and the State Department
of Agriculture predicted an In
crease in milk prices this fan be-
cause Of ruined pastures. and milk
production cuts resulting from
heat.
New England States, particu-
larly Massachusetts, and Connecti-
cut, battled against a month-long
drought which has damaged or
threatened dairy products and a
variety of crops such as tobacco,
potatoes and grain.
Grazing Threatened.
Fairfax County Farm Agent Joe
Beard said the milk industry in
the northern Virginia area is
geared on a system of grazing six
or seven months out Of the year.
But. he said, unless rain comes
soon. grazing will be cut down to
only three or four months this
year.
THE farmers then will have to
turn their stock out into hay
fields" Mr.. Beard said. This will
cut into their winter supplies.
Figured on total digestible solu-
bles, it costs only so to so cents
per 100 pounds Of feed to Craze
on grass but between $3.50 to $3.50
to dip into hay supplies"
Mr.. Beard said the regular graz
ing fields in this area ARE about
famished."
Heat Is Troublesome.
In Maryland, Montg meryl
County farm agent o. w. Ander-
son said, conditions so far are
nowhere near the stage reached
during last years dry spell. But
some farmers are beginning to
feed silage and hay.
There hasn't been as much
trouble from the drought as from
the heat-up to this point. High
temperatures caused a considera-
BILE drop in milk production"
Mr.. Anderson said corn crops
have reached a stage where water
is particularly needed.
The University of Maryland said
Southern Maryland tobacco "iS
hurting" for rain and does not
look so good now. Truck and field
crops on the Eastern Shore also
have been hurt with coloring and
early volume of tomatoes affected
adversely.
=. Other Areas Hard Hit.
Other parts of the country also
are coping with severe, drought
problems. The United States
Agriculture Department already
has declared Tennessee and parts
of Missouri and Arkansas as dis
aster areas. Similar action is
planned for Alabama. Kentucky,
Mississippi and other regions.
The dry spell has cost farmers
so much money that an agricul-
ture spokesman commented that
rainfall would be worth about a
million dollars an inch. The Bos-
ton area got only SO of an inch
of rain in July, the longest dry
spell in 1874 years in that region.
Added to the plight of farmers
was the menace of forest fires in
New England.
In Virginia, officials reported
that milk production in June was
z per cent less than in the cor
responding month last year and S
per cent less than in May. It
was the lowest June production
since 1947. The situation was be-
lieved to have been worse in July.
Price Inquiries Received.
John w. Owen, secretary of the
State Milk Commission, said milk
producers in several areas had
made inquiries regarding prices
this week, although none had
made any formal requests for in
creases. Petitions for price ad-
juStment hearings can be expected
momentarily, he said.
Minimum wholesale prices were
raised 81 cents per hundredweight
or one cent per quart retail in
five markets last week. These
increases will take effect August
l in the Newport News. Norfolk
Portsmouth. Suffolk, Williamsburg
and Smithfield markets