Evening star., 1954-10-03

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. a.
Milk is giving Ohio farmers a
headache. But its the only real
headache they have.
Too many people-including q
lot Of ex-GIs-have the idea
that mere possession Of dairy
Mr.. Fox is on Q section by section toss
Of the Notions formIonds. sounding
out the formers opinions and moods in
this pre- election season.
herd means prosperity. It isn't
working out that way.
Overproduction has hit the
dairy business-bad. AS a result.
milk has become a major prob
lem In rural Ohio. State Farm
Bureau Federation leaders who
were here this week shaping
tactics for an upcoming mem
bership drive say, however, It's
the one dark spot in an other
wise bright agricultural picture.
The same story comes from
the Agricultural Sterilization
and Conservation Committee for
Ohio, the Agriculture Depart
ment's policy making group for
the farm program.
Quarter-BilIion Business.
Dairying Is . quarter-billion-
dollar business in this State
That sounds like a lot Of money
But the only part of the busi-
ness that really brings in the
cash is the production of the
fluid milk which finds it way
to the dinner table. And even
some fluid milk producers are
not doing so well these days.
Right now, the producers are
getting the equivalent of from
7 to 10 cents a quart, and il
takes the top flgure-received
only by the top operators-tc
meet operating costs and make
a profit. That spells trouble.
The milk that can't be sold
on the open market goes into
such products as butter and
cheese, but at a lower price.
These are supported commodi.
ties and it is in this area that
the pinch began to be felt sew
eral months ago when Secretary
Benson reduced the support
level.
Fluid milk was brought under
support In the new farm bill, but
there hasn't been time to work
out a formula and there may not
be until June, 1855.
Lot Of GTs Hurt.
The effect Of the Secretary's
support price cut is summed ur
this way by D. r. Stanfield, di-
rector Of organization for the
Farm Bureau:
There are q lot Of good dairy
men standing this squeeze ir
good shape; they are holding
their own. But q lot Of fellows
new to the business. like GIs. are
being hurt and many are being
forced out of business.
"We've got to find ways Of sell.
ing more milk"
The milk producers are hope.
full, for one thing, that they car
get coin-slot milk-dispensine
machines legalized to boost sales
They also look hopefully toward
the school milk program author.
lied by the last Congress.
Everett Garrabrant, who SELL
q lot Of milk from his 180-acrt
farm at Delaware. Ohio. think,
such efforts to popularize ths
drinking Of milk already arr
paying of. He says the mill
business is better than q yea
ago. But he feels the small-timt
producers are In for q rough
time, nonetheless.
Kenneth Dougal, who farm.
600 acres with the help of thret
brothers, takes the position tina
disappearance Of q number ol
small dairy farmers is not only
inevitable but desirable.
Rain In Drought Year.
SO much for the milk problem
Except for milk. Ohio farmer
| will tell you their State wal
lucky this year. because it COL
rain while so much Of the coun.
try was gripped BY drought.
The result was D good whea1
| and corn crop. and hogs also
are holding up to the tune d
more than $3.50 million.
Ohio farm income, true. hal
declined about 20 per cent sine