78 BETTER DAIRY FARMING 



and suggested that they place orders for feed without price, the 

 feed to be purchased by the corporations at the best possible 

 figure and delivered to them as needed. The members responded 

 readily and orders were placed for a very large tonnage as needed. 



As a result of this operation, the G.L.F. purchased and delivered 

 to its membership in the fall and winter of 1922-23, its leading 

 ready-mixed dairy ration, G.L.F. Milkmaker, a feed carrying 24 

 per cent protein, at a price of $41 per ton, Utica rate basis. Before 

 the feeding season was over this same feed went to $51 per ton. 



The feed pool, as it came to be known, because of the collective 

 placing of orders, has become very popular; and it is likely that 

 almost too much has come to be expected from this form of feed 

 purchasing. On the other hand, as shown in a previous chapter, 

 feeds are usually lowest in the summer months and it therefore 

 follows that one year with another the owners of co-operative 

 corporations like the G.L.F. may profitably use their organizations 

 to purchase large quantities of feed at what appear to be low 

 prices, with the idea of taking these feeds as needed throughout 

 the winter months. 



Because it was well capitalized in the beginning, because it was 

 able to secure skilled management, and because it enjoyed from 

 the outset a fairly satisfactory volume of business, the feed depart- 

 ment of the G.L.F. has been a successful venture upon the part of 

 New York State farmers. However, they can at best only use it to 

 perform the functions of a manufacturer and wholesaler. When it 

 comes to the problem of receiving and distributing feed locally 

 new agencies must play a part. 



127. Local distribution. — After studying the problem, the 

 management of the G.L.F. Exchange has adopted the policy of 

 asking its shareholders in a community to determine the type of 

 agency which they desire to use to purchase and distribute G.L.F. 

 feeds for them. In some instances farmers have developed local 

 co-operative associations ; in others they have made arrangements 

 with established dealers whereby these dealers agree to work with 

 them in purchasing feed at favorable times, and in giving price 

 recognition to cash payments, and to feed that is drawn direct 



