per cow per year) than that for the State (10,417 lb of milk per cow per 

 year). Cash receipts generated by the sale of fluid milk to commercial plants 

 was $61.6 million in 1978 dollars, or $31.5 million in real dollars, an in- 

 crease of 15% over the last decade. The 15% increase in cash receipts, 

 adjusted for inflation, was much better than the national increase of 8.0% for 

 milk cash receipts and Florida's increase of 11.0%. Hillsborough and Pasco 

 Counties, which are the main dairy areas, accounted for over 75% of the dairy 

 production in Southwest Florida in 1978. 



The real price of milk received by farmers has remained virtually 

 unchanged since 1970. Real prices declined about 0.3% annually, but that 

 amount is not statistically significant. The current dollar price received by 

 farmers rose from $7.41 per 100 lb in 1970 to $12.80 per 100 lb in 1978. The 

 real retail price of milk at the grocery store has declined less than 1% 

 annually. 



The per capita consumption of milk in Florida currently is 236 lb per 

 year. Despite increased productivity from 3.200 kg milk per cow in 1970 to 

 3.900 kg in 1979, additional milk has been imported to meet the State's need. 



Beef Cattle 



The beef cattle industry in Florida in 1968-80 ranked second only to 

 oranges in total value. Both Florida and Southwest Florida are calf-cow pro- 

 ducers. A majority of cattle and calves are shipped west to be fattened. In 

 general, the beef industry in Southwest Florida has been increasing, but pro- 

 duction tends to fluctuate up and down. In the 1978 census, beef cattle were 

 reported in only five counties of Southwest Florida. Figures for the other 

 counties were not released to avoid disclosure. The five counties accounted 

 for 9.6% of the State's production, but it would be substantially higher (as 

 high as 17%) if the statistics of all counties in Southwest Florida were 

 available. Current dollar cash receipts in 1978 for Southwest Florida were 

 $60.8 million or $31.2 million in real (1967) dollars. Hillsborough County is 

 the major beef producer. 



The real price of cattle and calves received by farmers has risen 13 

 cents per pound in 1955 to 22 cents per pound in 1978. For an inelastic 

 demand for beef, total revenue has increased because the percentage change in 

 demand is less than the percentage change in price. Real prices at the retail 

 level have increased in 1954-78, but by less than 1% annually. This rise in 

 prices is a result of demand growing faster than supply. Productivity has not 

 kept pace with the growth in income and population. 



Eaas 



Egg production is greater than poultry production in Southwest Florida. 

 Hillsborough and Pasco Counties are the two highest producers of eggs in the 

 State. Together they account for over 40% of the State's hens and pullets of 

 laying age. About 5,951 layers produced 1.4 billion eggs in 1979. This 

 information was furnished by the Florida Crops and Livestock Reporting Service 

 which reports only major egg producing counties. In 1978, Southwest Florida 

 reported 4.6 million layers (35.6% of the State's total), a sizable increase 

 in egg production since 1954. This increase was due primarily to the rapid 



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