March, 1936] 



Maintenance of Grade A Milk 



The need for insulated tanks to cool milk properly and more efficiently 

 was so great that the manager obtained cork by the carload and sold it to the 

 farmers at about cost. Demonstrations of the proper way to build a tank 

 "; were made throughout the territory. 



ih Premium Schedule 



"; Premiums were paid Grade A producers according to the quality of the 

 )i milk as shown principally by bacteria count. Four samples of milk were 

 f' taken at the station during the 15-day period for each producer. The aver- 

 ' age of these samples determined whether or not first, second, or third premi- 

 ums were paid. During the years 1931 and 1932. first premiums were paid 

 when the average bacteria count of these samples was under 10,000 per 

 ml., second premiums when they averaged between 10,000 and 20,000, and 

 third premiums when they averaged between 20,000 and 30,000. In 1933 

 the third premium was dropped entirely because the larger share of the 

 shippers seldom had counts which averaged over 25,000. The second pre- 

 mium was accordingly paid when the average count was between 10,000 

 and 25,000. The premium rates varied on a seasonal basis, as shown in 

 Table 1. 



Table 1 



Schedule of premiums paid Grade A producers during the years 



1931, 1922, and 1933* 



Months 



1st Prem. 



^- ^ 



Under 



10,000 



b. per ml. 



Cts. per cwt. 



2nd Prem. 



A 



10,000 to 



20,000 



b. per ml. 



, A^ . 



Cts. per cwt. 



3rd Prem. 



20,000 to 



30,000 

 b. per ml. 



Cts. per cwt. 



January 33 



February 33 



March 33 



April 33 



May 33 



June 53 



July 58 



August 58 



September 53 



October 33 



November 33 



December 33 



23 

 23 

 23 

 23 

 23 

 43 

 48 

 48 

 43 

 23 

 23 

 23 



18 

 18 

 18 

 18 

 18 

 38 

 43 

 43 

 38 

 18 

 18 

 18 



From Jan. 1, 1931, to Sept. 1, 1932, premiums were paid on 100% of Class I ratings 

 From Sept. 1, 1932. to Jan. 1, 1933, premiums were paid on 85% of Class I ratings 

 From Jan. 1, 1933, to Jan. 1, 1934, premiums were paid on 75% of Class I ratings 



The primary objective of the study was to find out what factors cause 

 high and low bacteria counts and also to determine whether or not the pre- 

 mium rates are high enough to cover the costs to the dairymen in producing 

 Grade A milk. "*!*; 



During the three-year period under discussion, numerous demand and 

 supply factors caused a decrease in the total premiums returned. Many 

 consumers could not afford to pay the extra cost of Grade A milk and 

 shifted from purchasing A to B grade or regular milk.** At the same time 



** The Consumption of Milk and Dairy Products in Metropolitan Boston in December, 1930. 

 England Research Council on Marketing and Food Supply. 

 * In 1933 the third premium was omitted entirely. 



New 



