6 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 355 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 

 AND FARM MANAGEMENT 



A. H, Lindsey in Charge 



Adjustments in Dairy Farm Organization and Practices in Massachusetts. 



(C. R. Creek and Malcolm Butler.) This study was initiated in 1937 in coopera- 

 tion with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture. Survey records were taken of the farm business on 253 dairy 

 farms in 11 counties of Massachusetts for the period May 1936 to April 1937. 

 The wholesale dairy farms were analj'zed in five groups: Berkshire County, 

 Connecticut Valley counties, Worcester County, Northeastern counties and 

 Southeastern counties. 



Size of business was an important income-producing factor in all areas except 

 Berkshire where size of business was smaller on the more profitable farms. Here 

 feeding efficiency made up for the disparitj in herd size. High milk production 

 per cow was important in all areas except Worcester; in this central area, feeding 

 and labor efficiency balanced the lower production per cow. Diversification was 

 necessary to higher incomes in all areas except the Connecticut Valley. These 

 farms receiving higher milk prices than their neighbors also received higher 

 incomes in Berkshire and the Northeastern counties. These Northeastern dairy- 

 men also had to husband their capital more closely than those in other sections 

 to gain larger income. 



Records were obtained for 54 dairy farms where milk was sold on retail routes. 

 In general these farms were much larger in size of herd and number of men work- 

 ing than the wholesale farms. They were more specialized in the dairy enterprise 

 and received a much higher price for milk sold. Milk production per cow was 

 also higher. 



Labor income on all of these retail farms averaged $3241 with a herd of 24 

 cows compared to $246 for all wholesale farms with 19 cows each. 



Farm business analysis factors and a financial summary of the farm business 

 have been prepared by areas for distribution to the farmers who cooperated in 

 this study by giving records of their farm business. The various factors and items 

 for the individual farm have been entered on the summary so that each dairyman 

 may compare his farm to the high and low profit groups to determine the factors 

 which should be improved. This study is being prepared for publication. 



Case studies were made of the farm organization and practices on three farms 

 located in Middlesex and Worcester counties in the Nashoba fruit area 



Farm A was primarily a wholesale dairy farm which had a ten-acre orchard 

 as a minor enterprise. It was classed as a farm with an abundance of hayland. 

 Recommendations for this farm were to increase the milking herd by four cows 

 and raise more replacements as one means of utilizing an excess of hay produced. 

 A budget calculated for this change showed an increase in net cash income of 

 $342. The orchard enterprise was supplementary to dairy on this farm and will 

 be maintained at its present size by replacing old trees. A net income of $280 

 was received from cordwood and the operator received a gross income of $500 

 from outside work with a truck in 1937. 



Farm B was a dairy, poultry, and fruit farm located in the same district as 

 Farm A. This farm was classified as one with scarcity of ha\land and a run- 

 down orchard. Low labor income was caused by (1) low productivity of the 

 orchard, (2) high cost of grain and hay for cattle, and (3) inefficient utilization 

 of labor. Definite and extensive recommendations were made for improvement 

 of the orchard enterprise on this farm because it is a potential source of consid- 

 erable income. A method was outlined whereby ha\- and grain costs could be 



