GENERAL MANAGER'S ANNUAL REPORT IN SEVENTH YEAR
OF THE COLONY AGAIN SHOWS A NET PROFIT. EACH
SUCCEEDING YEAR SHOWS INCREASE OF SALES
At the membership meeting called last Saturday to
hear reports of officers of the Matanuska Valley Farmers
Cooperating Association there was a distinct atmosphere
of harmony - also a pervading sense of gratification.
The meeting opened with a luncheon and ended several
hours later with a unanimous vote of thanks from the mem'
bers to its General Manager and Board of Directors.
General Manager L. C. Stock's report for the last six
--—months, over the period from December 1, 1941 thru May
30, 1942 showed an increase in net profit and an increas*
in volume of sales. With 127 producer members, purcha
ses of farm products amounted to $56,218.76, an increase
of $10,555,76 over the corresponding period last year.
The largest amount paid t
one producer was $2,982.04.
The chief accountant's fin
ancial statement showed a
total of $310,669.38 in
sales, an increase of $29,
828.89 over the correspond
ing period of last year* a
net profit of $2,601,3.8, an
increase of $2,185.757 All
this in the face of" mounting
costs of coal, labor, sup
plies, together with the
problem of inexperienced and
-due to war fright-transi
tory help. Valuable exper
ienced man-power has gone to
the army.
Dairy products again led
~wTth purchases of 33,161 lbs
of butterfat., Mr. Stock
said,"It isTnt ere sting to
note that we now have 26
Grade A dairies and five
Grade B with a balance com
posed of sweet or sour cream
shippers. We must bear in
mind that these figures cov
er the winter and spring
months during the period in
which there is very little
activity in vegetables or
products of that nature. In1
dications are that tho bal
ance of the year will show a
considerable increase in the
vegetables business as well
as larger supplies of pork,
beef, and lamb,
"Unless all our informa
tion concerning the war is
wrong, we are in for a long,
hard struggle, which will
definitely lower the standard
of living for everyone re
gardless of income for the
simple reason that the com
(Continued Col.2,page 2)
o
DAIRYMENS UEsAw £7>
The Dairymens Aesocife -
tion net in the Extension
office last Tuesday evening
when there was considerable
discussion concerning bac
terial count and butterfat
tests. Some members have
a sudden rise and decrease
in bacterial count. Temp
erature , utensils, handling
of the milk, tends to affec
the bacterial count, Carl
Wilson, butteraaker, stated
that the bacterial count in
general, thruout the Assoc
iation, had been very good
during the summer, a number
of the counts being below
1,000 and some around 500
bacteria per cubic -entime
ter.
Mr. Stock stated that a
recent order for milk pails
had been canceled - not
filled - and what tho futurJ
is to be for dairy equipmen
of this type, ie indefinite
Harold W. Rice, Extensioi
agent, discussed butterfat
testing and why the compos
ite test is not the average
of individual . tests.
With the probability of
delayed shipping of feed
grains and hay during the
coming months, more members
realize the importance of
knowing what their cows are
producing. Considerable
interest was shown in having
individual rocords kept on
their, cows. If there is
any question, all members
(Continued page 2)
FIELD DAY AT MATANUSKA
EXPERIMENT STATION
By Harold ff. Rice
A fine group of farmers
and their families turned
out for the annual Field
Day at the Matanuska Experi
ment Station, August 6, to
view the work being done by
Don L. Irwin, superintendent
of the Station.
The Experiment Station was
able to obtain one of the
alfalfa experimental plots
which is being conducted at
a number of Experiment Sta
tions Outside.
Due to the dry weather,
a number of the grass seeds
at the Station were slow in
coming up, but since the
rains have started, a number
of grasses have come up. One
of the main purposes of the
grass experiments is to find
out what grasses are adapted
to this area in Ala ska,which
are high yielders, free from
disease, and which may be
used in mixtures as hay or
pasture crops. One of the
outstanding features in the
grass plot was the yellow
blossom alfalfa, which is
rapidly proving its value in
pasture combinations at the
Station. One field of yel
low blossom alfalfa, accord
ing to Mr. Irwin, was plant
ed in 1921 and has received
heavy pasturing until 1936,
at which time work was again
begun. One of the chief
advantages of yellow blossom
alfalfa over purple blossom
alfalfa is that it has a fi
brous root system in place
of a continuous taproot,
Mr. Irwin has also planted
a number of varieties ofoats,
wheat,and barley. Some look
very promising, others appear
not to be suitable for Alaska
conditions. However, exper
imental work must continue a
number of seasons before con
clusions can be reached,
Mr, Irwin reported on the
livestock experiments that
they are conducting with feed
ing of varietiee of hay, en
(Continued page 6),