PART V 



State Dairy Commissioner's Report for Year 1918 



W. B. BARNEY, Commissioner 



The past year has been the most eventful year in the history 

 of the department. While our resources have frequently been 

 taxed to meet the many emergencies which arose, we believe that 

 we have met them in a creditable manner. The scope of the work 

 covered during the year is too large to permit me to go into detail, 

 and I shall, therefore, confine myself to a condensed report on the 

 year's work of the department. Full details as to our activities 

 are to be found in the records of this office. 



Conditions brought about on account of the war have materially 

 increased our work and the activities of this department. The 

 high prices of all food products have been an incentive for the un- 

 scrupulous dealer to misrepresent or substitute in many instances 

 the spurious for the pure products. The percentage of men who 

 would like to get by with 15 ounces for a pound may have in- 

 creased to some degree, but take it as a whole over the entire state 

 conditions are and have been fairly satisfactory. 



There has been a decrease in the production of dairy products, 

 particularly butter. There appears to be good reasons for the de- 

 crease. The beef value of the dairy cow as compared with the 

 milking value has increased about 50% within the last year. There 

 had been a very considerable increase before this. This undoubt- 

 edly induced many farmer dairymen to part with a number of 

 good cows that would have been kept under ordinary conditions. 



A scarcity of help on the farm and in the creamery has had a 

 great influence on the output of butter. The farmer's sons or his 

 hired man going into the service in many instances obliged him to 

 dispose of his cows so that he could give such time as he had to the 

 care of his crops. Northern Iowa where most of our creameries 

 are located has been especially favored by having an exemption 

 board that was most considerate of the needs of our people and the 

 nation. Had this not been true, many more of our creameries 

 Avould have been closed for want of help. 



Another factor that has had a bearing on the decrease in dairv 

 products is the high price at which all farm products have beeu 

 selling. The tendency has naturally been to sell rather than to 

 feed these crops. 



