THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE
31
Dairying Sure Cash-Paying Crop Business
"Butter is a Condensed Commodity Which Brings the Highest Pound Price of Any Farm Product
N
IEBRASKA is favored by na
ture for the economic pro
duction of stock and dairy
products. The plains fo.
centuries past have furnished a
splendid pasture and home for
countless numbers of buffaloes.
They have found a favorable
environment through the nutri
tious grass and well watered range.
From the buffalo period down to the
present time rapid changes have
taken place. The plains have been
divided into farms and cattle have
taken the place of wild animals.
We now have a country especially
noted for the great crops of corn and
alfalfa, which furnish not only tlie
best, but also a balanced ration for
all kinds of live stock. Good water
and abundant stock food are every
where available, and the development
of the stock industry now only re
quires the thoughtful and persistent
work of man.
Cost of Production
The secret of successful competi
tion lies largely in reducing the cost
of production. The cost of produc
ing an article is the first cost, and
with the dairyman it is the principal
one. The expense of feeding a cow
for one year varies from $34 to $4 5,
depending upon the cost of forage
and grain, while the cost of caring
for a cow one year varies from $20 to
$30, depending how well she is card
for and the number of animals in the
herd. It will, therefore, be seen
that the greatest expense connectel
with the dairy Industry as far as the
producer is concerned is the cost of
feed. This being the principal item
of expense, it is of first importance
to consider when engaging in the
business.
Nebraska being an interior state,
practically in the center of the
United States, far from any sea
board market, it is fitting we engage
in an industry which will turn out a
condensed commodity. Butter is
such, as it commands the highest
price per pound of any farm product.
In other words, we cannot market our
cornstalks, alfalfa hay, buffalo grass
and straw in New York or London,
but we can market butter, and, in
fact, we do.
The adoption of the silo will not
only lower the cost of butter produc
tion from 8 to 10 cents per pound,
but will also increase the volume,
and this with a crop which is now
II I ment of the Nebraska Agricultural College, Now Man- JJ
ager of the Nebraska Silo Company. No Man jKf
Has Done More to Advance the Dairy JKa
largely wasted. By the proper use
of corn, all saved and preserved by
the silo, and alfalfa hay, which
should be gro.vn on every farm, we
can feed our animals well at the
lowest possible cost.
The cost of butter production Ib
also influenced by the kind of cow
and the care accorded her. There is
much opportunity for improvement
along this line in all parts of the
country and an effort put forth in
the way of improvement in this di
rection is well repaid. There is a
splendid opportunity for Nebraska
dairymen to make this the foremost
dairy state of the union.
Dairying has grown rapidly in Ne
braska during the last few years.
Fifteen years ago there were nearly
as many cows in the state as there
are at present, but market conditions
did not warrant the milking of the
cows throughout the year. Most of
the animals were allowed to run on
the range and raise calves for feed
ing purposes. The natural condi
tions of the Industry favored hand
separator dairying and the central
ized system of creameries, at least
In most localities. The hand sepa
rator system grew rapidly in Ne
braska and, In fact, this state was
one of the first to take up and put
in force this method of dairying. In
the last twelve years Nebraska has
purchased at least 40,000 hand sep
arators and there are at the present
time some 4 5,001) separators on the
farms that are producing cream for
market.
The production of butter-fat
through the sale of cream has in
creased from about $5,000,000 ten
years ago to at least $15,000,000 at
the present date, and the price of
butter-fat has also increased, prices
ranging high in all sections of the
state. This money comes to the
fanner from two to four times per
month and serves a most important
place in providing the running ex
penses for the farm and household.
Splendid calves can be grown on
hand separator skim milk, and the
dairy industry in no way has dimin
ished or interfered with the meat-
i producing cattle. The history of this
dairy growth in the state bears evi
dence of the natural advantages ot'
the state to this department of
farming.
The Itenofits of Dairying
Dairying is an industry which
should be fostered and encouraged,
as it is a benefit to all the people of
a country. Dairying furnishes
steady employment throughout the
year and is work which can be done
by both young and old. It is a cash
paying, sure crop business and uses
for its raw material farm roughage
which is difficult to market save by
the cow. It builds up and increases
the fertility of soil; it fixes a perma
nency of agriculture, requires good
farm buildings and creates a demand
for manufactured articles; it re
quires a clean, wholesome condition
ot living and insists upon sanitary
surroundings; it furnishes freight to
the railroads and tends to build up
and improve the highways; it is in
keeping with intensive farming anl
is at home on the open prairie or a
small tract of irrigated land; its
product butter is a finished arti
cle that is required by the civllizeJ
world, and that can be marketed in
all countries of the world. Those
who engage in dairying and conduct
it in a wise manner are sure of a
good reward. The richest sections
of the state are generally found to he
those carrying on the most dairying.
With this in mind, it is fitting that
we as a people devote much of our
attention along this line, and to
those who wish to engage in the
business Nebraska offers a splendid
field. A. L. HAECKER.
Foster the Cow and Business Flourishes, the Fertility of the Soil is Conserved, and, with the Aid of the Silo, the Hand Separator and
the Cream Can, She Becomes the Custodian of the National Prosperity