B752: Reserve Milk Supplies of Milk Processors in Maine and Massachusetts

In making payments to producers, fluid milk dealers pay for milk on a utilization basis. That used as fluid whole milk, low fat, or skim milk is paid for at a Class I price and all other milk, regardless of how used, is paid for at a lower Class II price. The milk classified as Class II is often distinguished as that processed and that not processed at the fluid milk receiving plant. The latter is shipped to a surplus milk disposal facility and in Maine, the dealer pays producers a lower, Class lib price for it. This milk ultimately is processed into cream for ice cream, cheeses, skim milk powder, butter and other storage products. The objective of this study was to determine the minimum reserve requirements of fluid milk processing plants and to analyze some of the factors influencing the level of reserves.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1095/thumbnail.jp

B756: Factors Affecting the Unit Costs of Milk Distribution

Large variation in unit costs among firms performing essentially the same functions is characteristic of the milk distribution industry. This is so despite their operating under economic conditions which provide generally similar prices for goods and services needed for processing and delivery operations. Presumably the special character of the firms in terms of size, management, age of facilities, and equipment may account for cost differences. What the factors may be is import ant to understanding the ability of firms to operate profitably under a pricing system in which prices received for products sold are largely determined by the lowest cost at which milk can be distributed to consumers . It was the objectives of the analysis reported herein to 1) examine the variation In financial and physical factors thought to affect unit distribution costs and 2) determine the combination of factors which largely explain the differences in unit costs.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1093/thumbnail.jp

TB79: The Economic Impact of Expanding the Federal Milk Order into Northern New England

This study was undertaken to (1) gather data on current marketing situations including milk volume and utilization, prices paid to producers, and rates charged for hauling milk in the federal order and state order areas, and (2) to determine the economic and related impacts of expanding the Boston regional order into Northern New England. Emphasis was placed upon the expected impact on producers but implications for milk dealers and consumers also were considered. The main focus was on Maine and Vermont situations but some data were also collected on the non-federal order markets of New Hampshire and Massachusetts.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1108/thumbnail.jp

B637: Reducing the Frequency of Home Delivery of Milk

Home delivery of milk is faced with rising costs and price competition from stores. To remain in business the retail route operator must sell more product per customer or provide a minimum amount of service for customers. This report is concerned with the feasibility of providing a minimum amount of service through reducing the frequency of delivery on home delivery routes. Information on experience with and attitudes toward reduced delivery was obtained by personal and mail interviews from distributors in the northeast and from households in Kentucky, Maine and West Virginia during the period 1960 to 1963.This study is a contribution to the northeast regional dairy marketing research project NEM-25, Adapting Milk Distribution Systems and Practices to Changing Conditions, involving agricultural experiment stations in the northeast region and supported in part by regional funds.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1061/thumbnail.jp

B639: Alternative Systems for Feeding Maine Dairy Cows

This study was undertaken as part of a northeast regional effort to ascertain the methods used in feeding forages and concentrates to daily animals and to determine the relative amount of labor used under various systems. Special emphasis was given to methods of handling silages on Maine farms. Information obtained from one-day-a-month timings of feeding chores by 39 dairymen over a period of 13 months permitted comparisons of labor used for various systems of feeding dairy animals.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1075/thumbnail.jp

B738: Costs and Returns in Lowbush Blueberry Production in Maine, 1974 Crop

Blueberry production is primarily a part time enterprise with a wide variation in acreages per grower and a modest investment per acre. Blueberry growers recovered cash costs and most of the variable costs of producing and harvesting the 1974 crop. For a competitive return on investment and a modest wage, the average grower would have had to receive 35 cents rather than 20 cents per pound, considering the yields obtained in 1974. To be reasonably assured of adequate returns, a grower should achieve yields of over 1,000 pounds per acre.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1086/thumbnail.jp

TB87: Delivery Costs per Package on Wholesale Milk Routes: A Comparison of Two Methods of Cost Allocation

This study of milk delivery operations was undertaken to develop labor relatives for different packages and to compare unit costs of delivery computed by using these relatives. A principal issue was whether variable direct labor was a better measure than total direct labor for allocating costs to various packages. Delivery operations on milk routes were timed to determine the amount of labor used in performing various functions in serving wholesale customers. This route information and the financial information on dealer delivery operations comprised the data base for the analyses.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1116/thumbnail.jp

B742: Improving the Incomes of Small Farm Families in Coastal Maine

Two basic objectives were formulated for this study: 1) To determine the physical, human and financial resources, as well as the source of income from farm and non-farm outlets available to small farm families living in coastal Maine; and, 2) To develop optimal organizations of existing small farm and family labor resources in order to maximize the incomes of these farm families.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1097/thumbnail.jp

B780: A Cost Analysis of Pruning Procedures in Lowbush Blueberry Production

Burning fields with fuel oil is currently the most practical method of pruning blueberries but is costly and destructive to the organic material on the surface of the soil. Fuel oil is a nonrenewable resource that is rapidly increasing in cost and, in the future, may become less readily available for this use. The need to develop alternative means of pruning lowbush bleuberries is evident. This bulletin compares the economics of six pruning procedures on operations of three sizes. The budgets are based on certain assumptions and costs which will change over time. The results will allow blueberry growers to compare procedures to determine which one is most economically feasible for their particular operation and its resources.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1066/thumbnail.jp

TB93: The Impact of Price Deregulation and Changes in Assembly and Processing Costs on the Marketing of Milk in Maine

Simulation of marketing situations is a means of better understanding the impact of various changes which may or may not come about in an industry. This report reflects the impact of several assumptions about market situations in the dairy industry, many of which depart from existing conditions. A major assumption was that of complete price deregulation. The results are not considered final, but are offered as indicators of the impact of changes which may take place in the marketing of mil k in Maine.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1100/thumbnail.jp