FIFTY MILLION STRONG 



taken from a bulletin of the agricultural experiment station of 

 the University of Minnesota. The records were compiled 

 with great care after investigations by experts. 



In the lead of cooperative enterprises are the creameries, of 

 which, in 1914, there were 614, which represent 72 per cent 

 of all the creameries of the state. Their business amounted 

 to $21,675,252. Forty-two per cent of the farmers of the state 

 are patrons of these creameries. In no other state is the 

 butter industry controlled to such an extent by the farmers 

 themselves, The extent of the business and the cost of con- 

 ducting it are shown in the following figures: 



Total pounds of butter made in 1913 74,934,940 



Average number of pounds per creamery. 122,044 



Total paid farmers for butter fat $19,988,321 



Average paid farmers per creamery $32,554 



Total running expenses $1,628,931 



Expense per pound of butter made (cents) 2.2 



Total number of patrons. 65,191 



Average number of patrons per creamery. . 106 



Total number of cows belonging to patrons 504,975 

 Average number of cows per creamery. . . . 822 



These creameries are operated on a truly cooperative basis. 

 After deducting from their gross receipts enough to cover 

 expenses, they distribute the remaining profits according to 

 the amount of butter fat brought by each patron. In all 

 excepting 3^2 per cent of the creameries, the one-man one- 

 vote principle prevails. 



In 1913, the state had 34 cooperative cheese factories. 

 These manufactured 4,201,743 pounds of cheese at a value of 

 $637,324, and paid patrons in cash $563,845. They were oper- 

 ated at an expense of $73,379. It also had 270 farmers' ele- 

 vators, with an aggregate membership of about 34,500. 

 Following the harvesting of the 1912 crops, the total business 

 of these elevators amounted to $24,000,000. The farmers 

 own a majority of the stock of the elevators and in all save 



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