Erie Area Dairymen
A farm organization
representative said in Erie this
week that “dairy farmers are
subsidizing milk production’’ and
urged the Pennsylvania Milk
Marketing Board to hike the
Class I milk price by 91 cents to
farmers in Crawford and Erie
counties. This increase, if
granted, would raise the price of
milk two cents per quart to the
consumer
The Milk Marketing Board is
holding a hearing to examine the
price of milk paid to producers
by dealers and the price the
consumer must pay for milk.
Marion Alsdorf, a dairyman
representing the Crawford and
Erie County Farmers’
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Associations, said that he was
speaking for 606 farm families in
the combined membership of the
two county units. The local units
are affiliated with the Penn
sylvania Farmers’ Association.
Dairyman Alsdorf said, “This
figure may appear shocking, but
the facts and realistic assump
tions speak for themselves.”
Earlier he cited figures which
demonstrated “a very strong”
demand for dairy products. “On
a per capita basis, U.S milk
consumption is increasing this
year for the first time since
1955,” Alsdorf testified. He
pointed to increasing disposable
income, relatively stable
producer prices and retail dairy
F>LU3
Saranac. * Iroquois
Hoffman also stocks certified
seed of Saranac and Iroquois.
Hoffman’s “Big 5” alfalfas pro
vide superior yields under the
climate and soil conditions of
the Hoffman area.
PENNSYLVANIA'S NUMBER ONE FARM SEED SPECIALIST
LANDISVILLE (Lancaster County), Pa. 17538
Seek Increase of 2° per Quart
prices, and higher meat prices as
the major factors contributing to
increased consumption of milk
and dairy products.
Alsdorf explained that even
though consumption was in
creasing and supplies disap
pearing the farmer was “moving
in an opposite direction from
demand Milk production in
Pennsylvania during November
1972 was 525 million pounds This
was five percent less than in
November 1971, and five percent
less than October 1972 ” He
submitted other statistics
showing a 6,000 head decline in
the number of cows in the state
for the same period, a 35 pound
drop in production per cow and
an increase cost to replace cows
in a herd Also, feed costs have
risen as much as 100 percent for
soybean meal, and hay quality
has decreased because of the
adverse weather throughout the
country
“These factors not only have
cut production the past year, but
in all probability, will further
reduce production in 1973,”
Alsdorf predicted.
Richard E Denison, manager
of the PFA Farm Management
and Business Analysis Service
N
H Promor has achieved a sales record unparalleled by
any variety in Hoffman history. It gives Hoffman customers
early maturity, with maximum yields on good alfalfa land
with heavy fertilization, higher seeding rates and intensive
management.
Maturing later, Dominor makes an ideal haymate for
Promor, with excellent yieldability, hay quality and hardi
ness. 919 Brand has a long time record of popularity and
consistent performance.
Hoffman also has developed three scientifically
blended formulas in which alfalfa predominates; Hi-
Capacity Formula, Top-Potential Formula and All ’Round
Formula. Pre-inoculated, ready to sow.
For details see your Hoffman Seed Man or write for a
copy of our 1973 catalog.
V 4
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 20,1973 —
supported Alsdorf’s price in
crease request, reporting that
“the average farmer will have a
cost of $7 08 to produce 100
pounds of milk during the first
half of 1973 ” The Crawford
County dairyman in his
testimony had asked for a Class I
price of $7 76 per hundredweight
Denison said this request was
more than fair, because his data
revealed that actual farm cost of
producing milk in this area for
1972 would be $6 81 per hun
dredweight. compared to $6 55 in
1971 <fnd $5 86 in 1970
He further explained that cost
factors for 1971 were derived
from the records of 57 area dairy
farms which utilize the PFA
service The 1972 cost was a
preliminary projection based on
a random sample from the same
farms This sampling projected a
four percent rise in cost of
production for 1972
“These same farmers face an
even more devastating problem
the first half of 1973,” Denison
said “This is because severe
weather conditions this past
summer reduced both the quality
and quamtity of their forage
crops. So, they must buy more
forage to maintain their
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production Alfalfa hay has been
quoted at recent sales within the
Commonwealth at $BO per ton
up $4O per ton over a year ago
“The grain and protein sources
of feed for dairy cows is con
siderably more expensive A
recent issue of the Wall Street
Journal quoted corn at 87 cents a
bushel higher than the same date
last year Soybean oil meal was
$lOO higher than the same date
last year These price increases
are a direct result of adverse
weather conditions in the Mid
west." he said
Denison did not see any bright
spots for the farmer in the grain
situation during the next year,
saying grain experts don’t expect
the situation to improve
Dairyman Alsdorf said he
recognized that milk in Crawford
and Eric Counties must be
“priced competitively with
competing milk supplies ” Class
1 prices in the Eastern-Ohio -
Western Pennsylvania Federal
Milk Order have already pushed
over the $7 00 mark and can in
crease each month due to the
working of a formula Effective
Feb 1, a Class I price of $7 51 has
been announced by milk
marketing cooperatives serving
Area 8 (Erie and Crawford
counties) Since prices are
established by the Pennsylvania
Milk Marketing Board through
periodic hearings we not only
need to think of today, but
tomorrow and the next day
“If they (dairymen) are to
continue to produce the quality
and quantity of milk consumers
enjoy purchasing, they must
receive a realistic price for their
contributions,’’ Alsdorf con
cluded
' i (^KdHHl^^pH
“Intelligence is the capac
ity to wonder.”
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11