$1.00 PER YEAR MAY 24, 1924 PUBLISHED WEEKLY 
Dairymen Unite for Action 
' AW ✓ 
Formation of Producers’ Conference Committee Marks 
Great Forward Step 
O N WEDNESDAY, May 14th, more than fifty men, representing both the organized and 
unorganized milk producers, went to Utica on the invitation of Mr. John J. Dillon, pub¬ 
lisher of Rural New Yorker, determined to do something that would lead to improve¬ 
ment in the present ruinous milk situation in this territory. They did it. At the conclu¬ 
sion of this meeting, H. E. Cook, known to our readers as the writer of the “Plowhandle Talks” 
in AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, said, “Some one ought to say that the action taken by you men here 
to-day marks a great epoch in the business of marketing milk in this territory. ” 
The End of Cut-throat Methods 
The plan which was adopted is the very one which has been urged in the editorial columns of 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST for nearly two years. We have stated time and time again that it 
was absolutely absurd for dairymen to try to cooperate if there was no cooperation among the dairy¬ 
men’s organizations. We have stated that the present ruinously low price of milk is due to a large 
extent to the unfair competition and lack of cooperation among the dairymen’s own organizations. 
We have also said time and again that as long as these cut-throat methods prevailed among 
producers just so long they would take starvation prices for their milk. Therefore, it is with the 
greatest of enthusiasm that we can announce that these representative dairymen meeting at 
Utica thoroughly realized the situation and took steps to form a conference committee, represent¬ 
ing both the organized and the unorganized producers, that may do away with unfair competition 
among the dairymen and their organizations. ' 
Something Had To Be Done 
f The meeting was called to order in the morning. There were present representatives from the 
Eastern States Milk Producers, The Sheffield Farms Qompany Producers, The Dairymen’s 
League Cooperative Association, The Non-pooling Dairymen’s Cooperative Association, and in 
addition, there were a large number of prominent independent dairymen representing smaller 
cooperatives and many representing no organization at all. From the outset a spirit of harmony 
prevailed. Every man there realized that he had come to a time when something must be done. 
On motion of E. R. Eastman, editor of AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, John J. Dillon, publisher of 
Rural New Yorker, was nominated chairman. J. Leslie Craig, a dairyman of Madison County, 
N. Y., was made secretary. 
j The morning session was devoted to the presentation and explanation of suggested plans 
which might remedy the present situation. Every man present was given an opportunity to 
suggest in writing what might be done. After this, the various plans were discussed in greatdetail. 
There was evident agreement from the start that whatever was done must be put into operation 
quickly and that in order to do this, any plan must be made as simple as possible. During the noon 
hour, each group, including those not representing any organization, met by themselves to discuss 
the plans which had been presented and to make recommendations for procedure. 
Unanimous For A. A. Conference Plan , 
At the beginning of the afternoon session, the chairman of each group reported to the general 
meeting the result of their private discussions, and strange to say, these reports practically all 
agreed, except for details. Every separate body reported that they were in favor of some kind of 
(Continued on page 496) 
Who Markets the Farmers’ Wheat ?— By I. K. Russell 
