902 New York State Dairymen's Association 



one and one-half million dairy cows of the farmers of Xew York, 

 scattered from St. Lawrence county to Chantauqna, and fnrnish- 

 inii' an indispensable food product for our citizens and our chil- 

 dren. As the official representative of the dairy industiy in jSTew 

 York, your association is called upon to face important questions 

 and to at least attempt the solution of grave problems relating to 

 this industry. Like many other agricultural agencies in this 

 state, you have given most attention thus far to the producing 

 end of your business. You have discussed the selection and feed- 

 ing of dairy cows, the care of their milk and its manufacture into 

 l)utter and cheese and have truly educated the farmers and dairy- 

 men of the state in methods making for larger production and, 

 let us hope, at lessened cost. 



But I fear you have held this phase of your business so close 

 to vour eves that vou have not caught the broader outlook and the 

 wider field that you must explore and occupy, if you are to bo 

 of most service not only to yourselves but to the ultimate con- 

 sumer of your products. 



You may be considered, in fact, as a great " Public Service 

 Corporation," and, while you conduct your own business and offer 

 on the markets the output of your own farms and factories, the 

 very nature of your product, its importance in the food economy 

 of the state, and its vital relation to the health of the citizens 

 of the state, renders your business amenal)le in some degree to 

 state regulation and oversight. That this regulation and over- 

 sight shall be sympathetic and intelligent, based on sound prin- 

 ciples of dairy hygiene and common sense, is one of the problems 

 in the solution of which your association can be of vast assistance. 



Your members are practical men of wide experience, men who 

 have demonstrated executive and business ability of a high order, 

 and your very best talent should be expended in securing by 

 frank cooperation with the state and city authorities such reg- 

 it In live measures as will be simple and efficient, tolerable and 

 pi'actical for the jjrodiicer and at the same time a guarantee of 

 I)urity and licalllit'uliicss to the consumer. 



You should have a strong standing committee on these matters, 

 that would be active throughout the year, keeping in touch with 



