SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 351 



of assisting the creameries in improving the quality and quantity 

 of raw product. The newspapers are lending their assistance by 

 giving the information a prominent place in their columns. 



One of the important features of the work has been the establish- 

 ment of a Dairy Cattle Congress in conjunction with the annual 

 convention. This year the show was unsurpassed by any similar 

 event. It brings dairy cattle breeders with their choice animals 

 from every part of the United States and offers the farmers of not 

 only Iowa, but the Mississippi Valley an opportunity to become 

 acquainted with the various breeds. Premiums are offered for 

 butter, cheese, and milk, which in addition to the display of dairy 

 appliances and farm implements, bring thousands of prosperous 

 farmers. The convention proper is held in a building on the 

 grounds, the subjects of interest to the buttermakers, creamery men 

 and dairymen are discussed by authorities of national reputation. 



The Iowa State Dairy Association in all of its work has been as- 

 sisted in a large measure by the other dairy interests of the State. 

 Chief among these is the Dairy and Food Department which had a 

 number of speakers on the trains throughout the tours and also 

 co-operated in all of the other M^ork. The individual dairymen have 

 also sacrificed portions of their time to educating their brother 

 farmers in better methods of and giving them the benefit of val- 

 uable experience. The Dairy Department of Iowa State College 

 and the State Veterinary Department have also given a great deal 

 of assistance from time to time. 



WORK OUTLINED FOR 1916 AND 1917. 



The state Dairy and Food Commission and the Iowa State Dairy 

 Association have planned a joint campaign to be conducted in 

 Southern Iowa during the coming winter. This section is greatly 

 in need of more dairying because of the condition of the soil and the 

 relatively low income obtained with the present methods employed. 

 The mild climate, the abundance of grass and the adaptability of 

 the soil for growing milk producing feeds make the natural con- 

 ditions ideal for the economical production of milk. There are 

 but a few creameries in this por'don of the state and therefore the 

 market for dairy products is not as Avell developed as in the northern 

 portion. 



An effort will be made to secure a number of pure bred sires of 

 the different dairy breeds and locate them in various communities. 

 Meetings will be held at the towns and breeders' clubs will be organ- 



