The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a Relannian newspaper.” Industry analysts report that the number of dairy farms in Relanna has increased by 25 percent over the last decade. Also, recent innovations in milking technology make it possible for farmers to significantly increase the efficiency of the milking process, allowing them to collect more milk in less time with minimal human intervention. In fact, data from the Relannian Department of Agriculture indicate that labor costs at the majority of Relannian dairy farms are actually lower now than they were ten years ago. Despite increased efficiency and lower labor costs, a carton of cream — a dairy product made from milk — at the local food market costs twice as much as it did two years ago. The only explanation for this dramatic price increase is that farmers are inflating the price of cream to increase their profits.”

The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a Relannian newspaper.

“Industry analysts report that the number of dairy farms in Relanna has increased by 25 percent over the last decade. Also, recent innovations in milking technology make it possible for farmers to significantly increase the efficiency of the milking process, allowing them to collect more milk in less time with minimal human intervention. In fact, data from the Relannian Department of Agriculture indicate that labor costs at the majority of Relannian dairy farms are actually lower now than they were ten years ago. Despite increased efficiency and lower labor costs, a carton of cream — a dairy product made from milk — at the local food market costs twice as much as it did two years ago. The only explanation for this dramatic price increase is that farmers are inflating the price of cream to increase their profits.”

Write a response in which you discuss one or more alternative explanations that could rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation(s) can plausibly account for the facts presented in the argument.

The writer is suggesting that the increased number of dairy farms in Relanna is increasing the price of cream. However, there are likely alternative explanations for the rise in cream prices. The cited data refer to milk production, which means that he is likely referring to the number of cows being milked and not the number of farms milking those cows. This factor could have a significant effect on the price of cream, as the number of cows milked is directly proportional to the amount of cream produced. With more cows being milked, the farmer increases his profit on each cow. Therefore, the increase in the number of farmers in Relanna could be enough to account for the rise in cream prices, as the more milk produced, the greater the profit.

The increase in the number of dairy farmers could be attributed, in part, to the advent of more efficient milking machines. These machines allow farmers to milk more cows in less time, reducing labor costs. However, it is unlikely that these machines have any effect on the price a farmer charges for his cream. If a farmer charges more for the cream than he does for the milk, then he does not bother to buy the machine in the first place. The farmer is better off milking as many cows as he can and collecting whatever he can from each cow.

The writer’s conclusion is based on the assumption that the farmers have profited from their increased efficiency. However, his assumption that the farms have improved their efficiency is debatable. The milk they produce may be of lower quality now than it was a decade ago. If the farmers are using rough techniques, such as milking cows by hand, then the price is not affected by improvements in milking technology. If the quality of the milk is adversely affected by poor milking techniques, then the farmer loses money. In this circumstance, an increase in efficiency would not have any effect on the price the farmer charges for the cream.

A third explanation for the rise in cream prices is that the farmers are selling directly to the consumer. This explanation is plausible because, in most cases, the consumer purchases the cream directly from the farmer. However, if the farmer has to pay extra for a middleman, then he may have to pay more for the cream, which would account for the 25 percent increase in prices. Furthermore, the farmers may also be selling their milk to middlemen, which would drive up the price of the cream as well. Therefore, the data do not prove that the farmers are charging more for their cream.