4 P.D. 123 



fruit growers found some little financial relief during 1933, the prices that they 

 received for their apples did not provide a very ample leeway to take care of in- 

 creased costs for equipment, materials and labor in caring for the fruit crop. 



The strawberry growers have had very disastrous years during the depression 

 when they found it necessary to sell their berries at unusually low prices following 

 the influx of a tremendous volume of strawberries from the southern and south- 

 western states. Our poultrymen have found it rather impossible to make much 

 progress in the way of securing a higher price for their eggs and dressed poultry. 

 These men were in a position to carry on, by the practice of strict economj^ when 

 the prices of grain were relatively low, but the problem of maintaining a poultry 

 farm with the prices of grain steadily rising is a most difficult one. The cost of 

 labor and equipment has increased for all farm enterprises, and the prices for farm 

 products have not increased to a level that will compensate the additional costs of 

 production. 



The dairy farmer has continued under most trying conditions to produce quality 

 milk for our local markets. The Milk Regulation Board and local boards of health 

 have insisted upon strict compliance with rules, regulations and inspection require- 

 ments pertaining to the dairy farm, and in many cases, the dairy farmer has been 

 obliged to incur additional expenses for repairs and alterations that could not be 

 paid out of the milk check. In many cases, it became necessary for dairy farmers 

 to decrease the number of milking cows, and thereby decrease production in order 

 that the financial loss might be proportionately less. 



This Department has emphasized the importance of producing quality farm 

 products to meet the competition of shipped-in products from other states. We 

 have attempted to encourage in every way the use of the New England label to 

 identify a fresh quality farm product from our local farms; and through the in- 

 spection of roadside stands, we have attempted to provide proper facilities for 

 handhng these native farm products under strict requirements for cleanliness, 

 sanitation, location and display. Roadside markets that are able to comply with 

 our requirements are furnished an attractive roadside sign under a lease agreement. 

 This Department has also assisted in the organization of groups of producers into 

 cooperative organizations, in order that their overhead cost might be decreased 

 and that these producers might work together more economically in the production, 

 sale and distribution of their farm products. Every possible assistance is being 

 accorded the producer, during these trying years, to meet competition from other 

 production areas and to carry on their agricultural enterprises which constitute a 

 most unportant basic industry in this Conmaonwealth. 



Numerous conferences and meetings have been held in the past year to formulate 

 plans and obtain a definite understanding relating to the provisions of the milk 

 control bill that would bring about some reUef to dairy farmers. These conferences 

 and meetings have resulted in uniting the dairy farmers on a common program, and 

 we have gone ahead at the request of the Massachusetts State Dairymen's Associa- 

 tion to draft a milk control bill that will provide for: 



1. The appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of 

 the council, of a Milk Control Board. 



2. The vesting of power in this board to investigate all phases of the 

 milk industry and to regulate the production, sale and distribution of 

 milk. 



3. The appointment of a milk administrator and such technical assist- 

 ants and clerks as may be necessary to administer the milk control act. 



4. The licensing of all milk dealers with power in the board to exempt 

 certain stores and producer-distributors when such exemption does not 

 adversely affect market conditions. 



5. The fixing of the price to the producer for his milk. 



6. The fixing of a resale price for milk sold to the consxuner. 



7. The "lost leader" clause to prevent the sale of milk at a price less 

 than the cost of such milk, plus all handling charges- 



8. A guarantee to members of cooperative dairy associations for pay- 

 ment of milk on the basis of the price fixed by the board. 



