8 P.D. 123 



of premiums for the production of quality milk. A committee of the Milk Dealers' 

 Association made a definite recommendation for the adoption of such a plan this 

 fall. An example of the benefit derived from these surveys is shown on the table 

 below, which is representative of improvement in cleanliness of milk at one par- 

 ticular milk plant. 



Middlesex County Milk Improvement Campaign 

 This work was a continuation of that started in 1929. Through the co-opera- 

 tion of the Milk Inspectors of Metropolitan Boston, Coimty Extension Service of 

 Middlesex County and the New England Milk Producers' Association, a large 

 number of samples were collected at the milk plants for testing with the reductase 

 test, sediment tester and rimning for bacterial counts. Many farms were in- 

 spected and on the whole considerable improvement was made. The principal 

 difficulty encountered in this campaign was the fact that milk inspectors in Metro- 

 politan Boston are working under different regulations and do not interpret alike 

 the regulations worked out during this campaign, the previous year. The result 

 was that the plan of dividing up the farms of Middlesex County among milk in- 

 spectors for farm inspection was abandoned. The variations in interpretations 

 made the plan too difficult to carry out. The need of a change in the milk inspec- 

 tion methods in Massachusetts is very apparent. The minimum standards of 

 requirements for farms should be set up and a uniform interpretation of these 

 standards established. Until this is done a permanent improvement of farm 

 conditions will meet with only partial success. The extra cost to the farmers, 

 because of the present ineffective system is considerable, and the dissatisfaction 

 of the system very strong. The milk inspectors themselves are perhaps the strong- 

 est advocates of the change in the system. 



Survey of Milk Consumption Started 

 There has been much speculation regarding milk consumption and whether 

 consumers change their requirements materially during periods of depression, a 

 beginning has been made on this phase of the work in compiling information. The 

 work is being done in co-operation with the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture, Massachusetts Agricultural College, University of New Hampshire, Boston 

 milk dealers, the New England Milk Producers' Association and the New England 

 Dairy and Food Council. Information is being collected from the route books 

 of the dealers and also by the questionnaire method by going directly to the con- 

 sumer's home. Without question the results of this survey will give valuable 

 information on the question of milk consumption. 



Financial Standing of Dealers Now Available 

 For the second year financial reports have been required from milk dealers 

 purchasing milk from producers within the Commonwealth. A more complete 

 list of dealers was obtained from the local milk inspectors throughout the State. 

 A somewhat better response has been obtained from the milk dealers than the first 

 year the law was enforced, although some are still delinquent. 



The reports are on file in the Department and open to inspection by the public. 

 It is too early to comment on the value of the law, but only a comparatively small 

 number of farmers avail themselves of the opportunity of checking up on the 

 financial standing of the dealer to whom they sell their milk. 



Co-operation Appreciated 

 This division is especially grateful for the splendid co-operation it has received 

 from various sources in promoting improvement in the matter of its quality milk 

 program. Special appreciation is due local producers individually, as well as 



