It stands to reason that milk produced under proper sanitary 

 conditions cannot be sold for the same price that is demanded by 

 the dealer in unsanitary milk, and no sane consumer, were he to 

 give the matter thought, would begrudge the difference in price. 

 Who is to derive the benefit from these efforts, if not the consumer? 

 Let him bear his share of the burden. 



Producers Should Seek to Reduce the Cost. 



It is not to be supposed that the bulk of dairy farmers are doing 

 all that they can to reduce cost of production, and for this reason 

 the consumer should not be expected to make up for the short- 

 comings of the former. My own study of dairy cows and dairy 

 farm practices has shown that a considerable portion of the cows 

 are not profitable as fed and cared for, and that those in charge of 

 them are often not sufficiently alert to the opportunities for cutting 

 down the cost. There is a wealth of data to establish these facts, 

 but, in spite of them, the indifferent producer is more inclined to 

 look for relief in a larger price than to try to reduce the cost. The 

 establishment of herd improvement associations for the encourage- 

 ment of systematic record keeping and breeding, as well as better 

 dairy ideals and practices, will do much to narrow the gap between 

 cost and selling price. The most careful attention to economy 

 cannot be expected, however, to counterbalance the increased price 

 of raw material. 



Producers Should Be Consulted. 



In most discussions and arguments which have led up to the 

 adoption of new regulations, the farmer has not been consulted 

 and his opinion has not been asked. Rules and regulations have 

 been enacted quite arbitrarily by those who happen to be in 

 authority, without conference or consultation, not only with the 

 producer but with many others whose opinions and judgments 

 would be of value in arriving at a decision which would be just 

 and equitable to all concerned. In some cases, progress has been 

 blocked by trying to force regulations upon an unwilling dairyman. 

 While the enforcement of regulations is necessary, the indifferent 

 ones are more successfully dealt with by encouragement and 

 instruction. The bulk of dairymen are reasonable if approached 

 in the proper way. 



Best and quickest results will follow the taking of the producer 

 into confidential relations. Give him credit for a knowledge of his 

 own requirements and necessities. Assume that he is willing to 

 regard the rights of others and expects to have the same courtesy 

 extended to him. Committees on milk improvement should 

 include leading producers who are in touch with the practical diffi- 

 culties of the business. Their actions will render the actions of 

 the committee more sane and stimulate the confidence of other 

 producers in such measures as are enacted. Give the dairyman a 

 hand in the formulation of regulations and you bind him to their 

 execution without strict inspection. 



