REPORT STATE DAIRY COMMISSIONER 477 



creased seven per cent ; milk consumption has increased ten 

 per cent in the same period. What do these indisputable facts 

 promise for the future? The population of the United States is 

 increasing rapidly and history will show that it has been on the 

 steady increase for the past century. Immigration and the 

 natural increase through births assure further growth. Edu- 

 cation in child welfare and general health insists on milk for the 

 growing child. Therefore we may expect to see milk con- 

 sumption increase far more rapidly and markedly in the next 

 generation than in the decade just ended. What could be a 

 more promising guarantee for the future than an ever increas- 

 ing and expanding market. 



Third — Dairy products are a source of regular and re- 

 liable profit. The market for dairy products has never been 

 controlled by a few; it never will be. Through co-operative 

 creameries and cheese factories farmers can supply a staple, 

 finished product, ready to be disposed of direct to the ultimate 

 consumer if necessary. This in a sense makes possible the 

 the elimination of the middleman, and has been used by farm- 

 ers where it was found that the "split" in profits was going 

 against them. Once a month, twice a month, or even every 

 week or day in some cases, the dairyman receives payment for 

 the work his cows have done for him — and cows don't work on 

 an eight-hour day basis either. Thus the dairy farmer is en- 

 abled to pay cash for things he buys and is free to "stand from 

 under" when hard times threaten. 



Fourth — Dairying and diversified farming are one and the 

 same. Diversified farming produces a variety of crops for 

 market; a failure of any one or two does not mean bankruptcy 

 for the farmer. The dairyman does not have "all his eggs in 

 one basket." Contrast this condition with the Corn Belt where 

 wealth is measured in terms of corn, hogs, and steers. This 

 year has seen the "bottom drop out" of the market for the three 

 things he produces — -commodities he has always considered as 

 legal tender. As a consequence there is no money in circula- 

 tion, farmers are not able to meet their obligations, farm sales 

 made a year ago at high prices are falling through, and banks 

 are unable to assist farmers in making loans. In Wisconsin, 

 primarily a dairy state, conditions are much better in spite of 

 decreased prices. Banks are still able to take care of the needs 

 of farmers, and farmers seem to be able to "scare up the cash" 



