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Show EXPERTGIVES r DAIRY DATA United States Bureau Head Tells of Problems That Confront Con-front the Milk Producers Dairymen of the United States have in recent years been producing virtually vir-tually 99 per cerit of tne amount of dairy products consumed in this country, coun-try, according to O. E. Reed, chief nf the bureau of dairy industry of the United States department of agriculture. ag-riculture. "While the dairy business at present pres-ent apparently on a sound economic basis, Mr. Reed warns the producers produc-ers and manufacturers that even a moderate increase in production might easily upset the entire industry. This is true, he says, not only because "we are producing within 1 per cent of our domestic requirements, but because be-cause prospective foreign supplies limit the level to which domestic prices can rise." There is need for both the producer pro-ducer and manufacturer to give more attention to the problem of increasing increas-ing the demand for dairy products, 1 Mr. Reed says. The demand can be ' influenced to a large extent by two main factors improvement in quality and a better understanding of the food value of milk and its products by the public. "No other food known to mankind today," says Mr. Reed, "has a more direct relation to the health of man than milk. Recent investigations have proved this beyond any doubt. Since it is rich in both calcium and phosphorous, phos-phorous, milk is a very effective food for supplementing the deficiencies of other substances such as cereals, grains, tubers and fleshy roots, which are relatively poor in these elements. S Milk also contains several of the vita-mines vita-mines substances that are essential for the proper functioning of the animal body." One the whole, according to Mr. Reed, dairymen have not taken advantage ad-vantage of their opportunity to in- crease consumption. It is well within the province of both the producer and the manufacturer, he says, to advertise the value of dairy products to the health and welfare of the public. The increase in urban population and increased per capita consumption consump-tion of dairy products in recent years are producing marked changes in the nation's dairy industry. The increase in urban population in the east, it is said, has resulted in greater requirements for fluid milk. For a part of the year there is not enough milk available in this region to snpply the needs of the large metropolitan markets for fluid milk ' and eream. The middle west is mak- ' ing up the deficit. The old-time butter dealer, also; is confronted with competition of chain stores and other large organizations organ-izations which buy direct in the coun-1 coun-1 try. Many large concerns engaged in ( marketing milk, butter, cheese, evaporated evap-orated milk and powder are now operating op-erating country plants for the as-sembling as-sembling and manufacture of a com-w com-w plete list of dairy products. 'To meet the more exacting requirements re-quirements of the cream trade," Mr. Reods said, "creameries are signifl-5f signifl-5f cantly changing their method of operation op-eration and are receiving whole milk from farmers. This requires addl-? addl-? tional equipment for manufacturing skimmed milk. In some places, espe- dally in Wisconsin, factories are be-J be-J ing equipped to condense or evaporate milk and ship cream to the east whenever , the market justifies or to J sell milk and cream in Chicago and t other nearby cities. J "As the important urban centers of population have increased their re- qulrcments for milk, condenscrles, cheese factories and creameries have J ' been gradually developed into whole milk plants. With this change in the utilization of milk, old factories have tetn discarded and have been replac-jgj replac-jgj ed by plants so equipped and located I that milk can be diverted into more profitable uses when occasion arises. "With the improvement of roads and the rapid transportation afforded afford-ed by the automobile, the small plant is finding competition more keen. The tred is decidedly toward the larger country plant in the more intensive I dairy sections. |