TWENTIETH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI 497 



cream and buttermilk, has been greatly stimulated by the prohibition 

 of alcoholic drinks. 



At the present time I know of no recommendation which I could make 

 which would be of greater importance, than that a separate dairy building 

 be erected upon the State Fair grounds. As stated, dairying is a 

 $140,000,000 industry in the state of Iowa. The casual visitor at the 

 State Fair would receive the impression that it did not aggregate that 

 many thousands. Where many industries of far less importance to the 

 state are given ample space, the dairy industry is represented by two 

 10 by 12 booths and an ice cream stand. The dairy industry of Iowa 

 should have a separate building which should be second to none in the 

 country. Provisions should be made for the manufacture and sale of 

 dairy products upon the grounds, in view of any one who cared to watch. 

 I feel no hesitation in saying that if these facts were brought to the 

 attention of our legislators, no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining 

 the representation which is due the industry. 



Probably the most promising dairy movement which has taken place 

 in the state for a long time has been the organization of the Iowa Dairy 

 Council. This organization is designed to further the interest of the dairy 

 industry, and while hard work was necessary to give it a proper start, 

 its success now seems assured. The Council is certain to fill a long felt 

 want and will prove of invaluable aid to the dairymen of the state. 



CREAMERY BUTTER 



Despite the fact that the number of creameries in the state has de- 

 creased from 421 to 393 active plants during the past year, the amount 

 of creamery butter manufactured totaled 90,915,938 pounds, as com- 

 pared to 83,349,309 poimds for 1918. Owing to this increase and to the 

 high prices prevailing, the net returns to the creameries reporting this 

 year was $43,969,285.47 as compared to $38,806,989 for last year— a gain 

 of more than $5,000,000. Perhaps it would be more correct to add a third 

 reason for this increase, i. e., the improvement in quality of the butter 

 going on the markets of the country from this state. Due to several 

 improvement campaigns carried on by this Department acting in co-opera- 

 tion with the Iowa State Dairy Association and the Iowa State College 

 the quality of Iowa's creamery butter is gradually improving and before 

 many years will have elapsed it is my hope that a large percentage of the 

 butter leaving this state will go on the markets grading very nearly 

 creamery extras. 



While the various Improvement campaigns waged have all had their 

 part in bringing about improvements, the campaign to bring about the 

 installation of cream cooling tanks on the dairy farm was perhaps the 

 most important. According to the creamery reports, the butter-maker, 

 manager, or some other official of 141 Iowa Creameries have been working 

 with their patrons during the past year, to have these cooling tanks 

 installed. Of the 141 reporting, but 40 reported the number of tanks 

 installed, and the reports of these 40 showed that 853 tanks had been 

 purchased and were being used by patrons. That these numbers are very 

 conservative is shown by the fact that the report of Mr. Frank L. Odell, 

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