Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-26

A few strong exceptions relieved the
general show of weakness in prices
Of farm products the third week of
May according to the United States
Bureau of Agricultural Economics
Cash wheat prices were quite well sus-
tanned. Eggs continued to- advance
poultry gained in some markets. Cheese
sold higher in producing sections and
held firm in consuming markets. But
ter continues unsettled, without any
clear trend of prices for month past.
but production is heavy. Corn, oats
and rye sold fairly steady. Mill feeds
reached new low prices, tending to re-
lieve the position Of feeders confronted
by declining markets on live stock and
meats. Potatoes sold slowly and lower,
bringing the months losses to about
Is cents per 100 pounds Marrow
beans advanced in New York. Most
early produce declined.
Potato Yield Larger.
Larger yields in the early potato
region are expected to produce is per
cent more potatoes than last Spring.
Virginia alone looks for more than
100000 bushels. compared with H.
$4,000 last season. Sacked Green
Mountains, late in May, were lower in
Northern Maine at rs to IS cents per
100 pounds. Consuming centers re-
Apple shipping points quoted slightly
stronger fob. markets.
Berries Selling Higher.
Berry growers on the Eastern Shore
of Virginia were receiving favorable
prices of $3.50 to IS per 32-quart crate.
City prices were firm to higher on
nearly all arrivals from all producing
States. Weather was not entirely IA
vorable for cantaloupe sales in East
ern cities. Tomatoes were decidedly
lower everywhere, but some improve
ment was noted in prices of Western
Iceberg type lettuce. Cabbage prices
were generally firm to higher in North
ern city markets.
Butter Trade Fairly Active.
A fair amount of trade was reported
in the butter markets in late May and
in most instances receivers effected a
rather close clearance of arrivals es-
specially of the medium aid top scores.
They experienced some difficulty in find-
ing outlets for low-scoring lots Prices
have followed an irregular course since
the middle of May without any mate
rial trend either way. The general level
Is about l cent below the months high
est point. More activity in purchases
for storage was reported at some mar
kets. Manufacturers organizations all
report stable increases in the make of
butter this year over last.
In cheese producing sections more In
quir1eS came to hand for larger lots and
car lots than for some time, rejecting
the confidence Of buyers in the current
market situation, and with retailers
pushing sales at relatively low prices.
consumption Is said to have been
stimulated considerably. Rejecting the
higher asking prices at country points,
most city markets ruled fractionally
higher.
Egg Markets Firm.
The egg markets were showing in
creasing f1rmness in late May under
lghter fresh receipts. The price trend
turned definitely upward, advancing 11a
TO cents within week. Buying was
reported fairly active, resulting in a
close clearance of top grades, which
were not in too plentiful supply A
fairly good demand was reported for
the cheaper grades, but the supply of
these was more liberal and the net
price advance was not so marked as on
the better quality. Dealers generally
concluded that the peak in receipts had
been reached and that from now on a
smaller supply may be expected.
Strictly fancy broilers are in good
demand despite the generally weak
broiler market and were closely cleared
at top quotations, occasionally bringing
a premium. Fowls in general were in
lighter supply, and under an active de-
mand ruled firm and higher on the
smaller and medium sizes.
Cattle at Low Point.
Declines that reduced fat cattle prices
to lower leyels than had been recorded
at this season Of the year previously
within a 20-year period, and put the
hog market on new low basis for the
current season, were general in the live
stock trade during the third week of
May. The price breaks, severe on most
classes, reflected a generally weak de-
mand for dressed meats and provisions
The extreme top at Chicago on heavy
steers was SO, and on yearlings $685..
with only choice cattle of any weight
selection cashing above So.
Choice hogs weighing from 100 to 200
pounds were nominally quoted at $6.75
to $3.50 at Chicago. Buyers in the
Chicago lamb market appeared to be
in complete control of the price making
situation when the bulk of the desir-
able shorn lambs sold at Chicago at
SITS to 1925 and when best Spring
lambs cashed at $1,000.
Demand for all lines of wool on the
oOotOAA MAI hCb Wdo 1ASAAVCI Oc"nlo VIZ
end of the month. Prices, although
not quotably lower, tended in buyers
favor Dealers referred to the lull as
seasonal and also to the fact that
recently purchased sum-
cient wool to practically cover their
current orders for finished goods.
Grain Markets Unsettled.
Domestic grain markets were unset |
tied during the third week OF May, but
demand remained dull and offerings |
were easily sufficient for current market |
needs. Beneficial rains in Spring wheat
areas, heavy marketings and a con- |
tinued dull export demand for the large |
supplies of old crop grain were weaken |
ing influences in the wheat market, |
which were only partially Offset by |
threatened frost damage to Winter |
wheat and the continued insuff1ciency |
of subSoil moisture for Spring crops In |
Canada and the American Northwest. |
Feed grains weakened under con-
tinued slow demand in spite of only |
moderate offerings and light remaining |
stocks. Rye and fax were fairly steady, |
influenced by unfavorable weather con-
dttions for the new crops.
Mill Feeds Still Lower.
Feedstuff markets were quiet and !
weak during the last half of May, but |
prices as group are near the lowest |
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