198 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. C. L. Harrison was electedjpresident; Mr. H. T. Glezen, vice-presi- 

 dent; Mr. E. C. Beamer, treasurer; and Mr. L. E. Willett, secretary. 



Mr. Raviler is meeting with uniform success in allying the shipping 

 associations with this state association, but on account of the extremely 

 large number of associations and the wide territory included, it may re- 

 (juire considerable time to develop a membership sufficient to warrant 

 the taking on of any large economic functions. The enclosed map, marked 

 "Exhibit D," shows the location of the live stock shipping associations 

 that participate in this organization movement. The central office will be 

 located at Lansing, Michigan. 



DAIRY PRODUCTS. 



The work in this field has been devoted to the study of milk marketing 

 problems, especially with the cooperative distributing plants in the State, 

 and in addition, the Berrien County Milk Producers' Association was 

 organized in the cities of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor for the purpose 

 of distributing milk in these cities on a cooperative basis. This organiza- 

 tion is now completed and in operation, having bought out the two com- 

 petitive plants in the Twin Cities, and the developments along this line 

 are being studied with interest. 



Toward the close of the fiscal year, attention of the Field Agent was 

 drawn to the milk distributing area of Detroit by reason of certain petitions 

 being sent to the Bureau of Markets at Washington, requesting a survey in 

 the city of Detroit to ascertain the surplus milk arriving in that city. In 

 anticipation of a re-organization of the Milk Producers' Association of the 

 Detroit area, plans are being formulated for such re-organization. 



GRAINS AND VEGETABLES. 



In the other fields in the State, notably the beans and grains, and in 

 vegetables other than potatoes, including onions and cabbage, numerous 

 local organizations have been completed, but as yet, no effort has been 

 made toward combination of elevators for the purpose of centralized mar- 

 keting. 



In addition to the work in the agricultural industries above described, 

 numerous conferences have been held with groups of county agents in 

 various parts of the State on numerous marketing problems, and an effort 

 was made to acquaint the county agents with the general marketing pro- 

 gram which has been advanced; that is, the organization of agricultural 

 interests of Michigan along the line of the different products. At these 

 conferences attention was often given to the general problem of cooperative 

 marketing as it presents itself in local associations and also the combination 

 of local associations into district or state exchanges. 



Addresses have also been made to farmers at numerous gatherings 

 throughout the State, on the general problem of cooperative marketing. 



The work of Mr. G. C. Raviler, Field Agent in Organization, since his 

 appointment, has been very satisfactory, and his services will no doubt 

 be of value to the farmers of the State. Mr. Raviler's extended experience 

 in cooperative organization makes his advice of especial value to com- 

 munities that are attempting cooperative organization, especially those 

 communities that are attempting to combine into one local unit, practically 



