White Diamond Flour Company manufactures flour by a series of three processes, beginning with wheat grain being introduced in the Milling Department. From the Milling Department, the materials pass through the Sifting and Packaging departments, emerging as packaged refined flour.

The balance in the account Work in Process$-$Sifting Department was as follows on July $1$:

Work in Process$-$Sifting Department

$(700$ units, $3/5$ completed$)$:

Direct materials $(700\backslash$times $$2\mathrm{.}05)$ $$1,435$

Conversion $(700\backslash$times $3/5\backslash$times $$0\mathrm{.}50)210$

$$1,645$

The following costs were charged to Work in Process$-$Sifting Department during July:

Direct materials transferred from Milling Department:

$17,800$ units at $$2\mathrm{.}15$ a unit $$38,270$

Direct labor $4,440$

Factory overhead $5,339$

During July, $17,000$ units of flour were completed. Work in Process$-$Sifting Department on July $31$ was $1,500$ units, $4/5$ completed.

Required:

$1.$ Prepare a cost of production report for the Sifting Department for July.

$2.$ Journalize the entries for costs transferred from Milling to Sifting and the costs transferred from Sifting to Packaging.

$3.$ Determine the increase or decrease in the cost per equivalent unit from June to July for direct materials and conversion costs.

$4.$ Discuss the uses of the cost of production report and the results of part $(3).$