REPORT STATE DAIRY COMMISSIONER 445 



come, providing^ the State Brand creameries get together and 

 arrange a plan for putting their product on our home markets. 



CREAMERY BUTTER 



The year 1921 shows a remarkable increase in Iowa's but- 

 ter production. Iowa Creameries have manufactured 98,740,419 

 pounds of butter, which is 12,520,807 pounds more than was 

 manufactured in 1920 and 1,111,631 pounds more than was 

 manufactured in 1917, which was formerly our largest year of 

 production, since I have been Commissioner. 



Despite the fact that the market price has declined con- 

 siderable during the year, the total value of creamery butter 

 manufactured has increased, due, of course, to the increase in 

 production. This year's output sold for $47,896,805.29. This 

 is $32,351.87 more than the total value last year, making this 

 the Banner Year, as far as values are concerned. 



That there has been a marked improvement in the quality 

 is not denied by any one, this condition has been brought about 

 by several agencies, mainly, by market conditions, greater in- 

 terest in grading and attention to details by our operators, in- 

 creased interest in dairying on the part of all producers, which 

 naturally, means greater interest in quality and by the increas- 

 ed efforts of this Department and the Dairy Manufacturing 

 Division of the Extension Department of the Iowa State 

 College, along with the help of all our State Dairy Organiza- 

 tions. 



To back us up with our contention that this is also our 

 Banner Year, in regard to the improvement in quality we wish 

 to refer you to the Banner, which was won on butter exhibited 

 at the National Dairy Show, by our Iowa creameries. (A cut 

 of which appears elsewhere in this report, along with the men 

 who made the butter). 



A banner of this kind is offered each year by the National 

 Creamery Buttermakers' Association. The state of Minnesota 

 has won every banner, previously offered, I am very much grat- 

 ified to know that Iowa can once more proclaim herself a qual- 

 ity butter producing state. 



I noticed considerable more interest was being taken in the 

 improvement of quality early in the year, especially was this 

 true in regard to the butter scoring contests, which were held 

 each month and after the exhibit at the Iowa State Fair and the 



