—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 4, 1977 18 Dairy farming still looks good after 60 years By DIETER KRIEG JARRETTSVILLE, Md. ■ When a dairy had surplus milk 60 years ago, there was a simple solution for bringing production back into balance with sales. The creamery merely kept the dairyman’s cans, thus leaving him without the means to ship his milk. Delaying or even entirely omitting payments was another way the dairies kept farmers on thin ice. “They’d really beat you,” says 84- year old Ross Smith, who began dairying near this Harford County community in 1913. Happenings such as these eventually led to the formation of the Maryland State Dairymen’s Association, a forerunner of Maryland Cooperative Milk Producers, Inc. Farmers were tired of being at the dairy’s mercy. All across the country, milk producers were banding together to form marketing cooperatives. Quality standards have changed just as dramatically, the veteran dairy fanner recalled. He remembers, for example, once seeing a cat trapped in a 200-gallon vat of cream. Sanitation was almost unheard of at both the dairy as well as the farm. Some farmers systematically added a gallon of water to every can of milk. Smith says. With respect to today’s standards, the octogenarian exclaims: “I don’t see how they could have any Zcx -. i NEE.. F F....M ULK MILK C LE..S S ra Ross Smith improvement on it.” His youngest son, Ross Jr., who took over the home farm 11 years ago, milks by pipeline. Beginning next week, they’ll be milking their 100 Holsteins in a brand new parlor. “It pays to be particular for quality,” emphasized the elder Smith, whose agility and alertness defy his true age. Having lived through situations which saw the dairy industry at its depths, he has high praise for modem dairying techniques which stress sanitation and 'quality. The role of the milk inspector is not overlooked. In fact, Smith is glad for them, admitting that without them many farmers would be less responsive to high standards. Smith considers high standards to be very important if a viable milk market is to be kept. Back in the days when 15 gallons of milk represented a day’s production from an average shipper, rather than from one exceptional cow, the farmer took care of his 3 B F>’ own milk deliveries. In Smith’s case, milk was hauled Vrt miles by horse and buggy to a creamery at Shawsville. The cream was separated and churned into butter. Skim milk went back to the farmer to slop his hogs with. There wasn’t much need for fluid whole milk. Smith says, since most every family bad at least one cow. “Bossie” provided them with milk and butter in the frdsbest sense of the word. The Smiths milked around 20 cows back in 1913 when automation hadn’t yet reached the farm. Their daily production of 15 gallons compared well with other operations of that era, just as their present output of more than 500 gallons per day from 100 cows is significant by today’s standards. Milk was sold for about $1.50 per hundredweight, Smith recollected. With no feed to buy and a diversified farming operation including vegetables - providing their livelihood, they made out alright. Now the 180-acre farm is mainly in com and hay. Although the elder Smith was the state’s top tomato grower 30 years ago, that phase of the operation has been abandoned since all but two of Smith’s eight children chose to specialize in the dairy business. (See related story elsewhere in this issue). As innovations marched on, the old 5-gallon cans were replaced .by 10-gallon cans, and instead of the farmer taking his own milk to town, trucks came around to pick them up. When weather didn’t permit the trucks to come through, farmers again resorted to hauling their own goods. In Smith’s case that usually meant hitching the team to a sleigh and transporting the milk to the nearest railroad depot which was seven miles away. Train service in those days was hourly, the old gentleman reminisced, adding that it wasn’t entirely (3 | An Equal Opportunity Lender . Member FD I C . Each Account Insured to 540.000 _ a done away with until Hurricane Agnes ruined the trackbed in June of 1972. Dairying, like everything else, is in a much different stage now than what it was The successful big businessman has always considered alt areas of financing. One of these areas of financing is leasing ; LANCASTER FORD TRACTOR HAS An ! j APPROVED LEASING PROGRAM! I • •*•••• NOW at the home of the Friendly Folks you as a big businessman can choose one of the many tailor made plans available CALL FOR DETAILS! ■ 717-569-7063 WHY? B«can ! Ti dctors , Equipment a time to say ( "Thank you" To the dairy farmers of this area, whom we know as friends, neigh bors and customers, we say "Thank You” ... for supplying all of us with the health-giving nutrition and delicious flavor of dairy products ... for building farm income, improving business and boosting our local economy. Thank you, too, for the opportunity of serving you. We’re ready ... with complete banking services for all your financial needs. SEE US FOR • Farm Loans • Checking Accounts • Personal Loans • Savings Accounts • Improvement Loans THE FARMERS NATIONAL BANK OF QUARRYVILLE SMALL LARGE ENOUGH TO SERVE YOU TWO CONVENIENT SOUTHERN LANCASTER COUNTY LOCATIONS quarryville PHONE (717) 786-7337 pennhili FARMING IS BIG BUSINESS Lancaster Ford wants to be your tractor company ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU when Smith was a young man. He has since turned the farm over to his son, and a third generation stands waiting in the wings. They’ve all encountered LANCASTER FORD TRACTOR, INC. Take Flory Mill Exit off 283 and go Va mile toward East Petersburg. THE NEW HOME OF THE FRIENDLY PEOPLE 1655 Rohrerstown Road Ph: 717-569-7063 different experiences. Their common link in this much changed world of dairying u that all are interested in milking cows, and they look forward to a bright future 0p
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