Evening star., 1931-12-23
PRODUCE MARKETS
IN BETTER TREND
Price Recoveries Noted AfteE
Middle of Month-Turkey
Supplies Light.

Price gains and recoveries in farm
products soon after the middle Of De-
cember were more prominent than the
declines, owing to Importance Of even
slightly higher prices for such leading
staples as grain and cotton, says the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture, Bureau of Agricultural Economics
market news service. Butter and
eggs sold higher in some markets.
Turkey markets were lightly sup
Piled during the early part of the
holiday trading, considering the large
production reported. and prices held
much more firmly than in the rest of
the poultry market. Live stock prices
continued depressed under heavy sup
plies and poor demand Trade in mill
teeds continues slow. Mild weather in
Fall and early Winter limited the de-
mand for feed and for many of the
food products. Vegetables sold at fairly
steady prices except for the usual
downward trend of Southern produce.
Some fruit in common storage sold
lower because of poor condition for
keeping.
Potato Markets Unsettled.
City markets were steady on Maine
Green Mountain potatoes and slightly
stronger on New York Round Whites.
The Chicago car-lot market was lower
on most arrivals. but held firm on
Nebraska Triumphs. Nearly all pota-
toes were on lower price level on the
Chicago futures market. Sweet pota-
toes declined nearly everywhere Cab
bage was down, bulk Danish type re-
turning $40 to s12 per ton at Western
New York points. Further price ad-
vances on onions were negligible, but
this product held its position firmly,
with the tendency to advance rather
than to decline. The Western New
York celery market was dull.
City values of most Eastern apples
the middle of December were a little
lower, but Baldwins were stronger in
Western New York.
Butter Market Lower.
The general tone Of the butter mar
ket was barely steady after the middle
Of the month, with the undertone
nervous and unsettled Buyers found
1t comparatively easy to buy every grade
except the top scores. and sellers ex-
perienced considerable difficulty in
keeping floors clear of fresh arrivals
Receivers viewed with concern the
slightest accumulations and put forth
considerable effort to effect sales Buy
ers lacked courage and confined pur-
duction reports show increases over
recent weeks and over the correspond
ing week year ago. Offerings OF
storage butter are quite liberal
Fresh cheese markets are mostly easy.
with the undertOne unsettled. Cured
and held cheese is in somewhat better
position. but also shows effects of re-
cent unfavorable market developments.
Trading is generally slow, as is usual
at this season.
Egg Market Revovers
Following the sharp declines of to
7 cents in fresh egg prices during the
first part of December. the markets
steadied around the middle of the
month. and then under more active
trading small advance in quotations
was registered. At the lower prices,
buyers showed greater confidence in
values and bought rather heavily. The
market on refrigerator eggs continues
weak and unsettled AS a rule buyers
are turning to fresh eggs as rapidly
as the incoming supplies will permit
Supplies of fresh-killed chickens con-
tinue liberal although much Of the
stock is running coarse and somewhat
shaggy This condition is making it
difficult for receivers to keep all arrivals
closely cleared, except at a liberal dis
count on the low quality stuff. Re-
ceipts of turkeys are not measuring
up to earlier expectations. The strong
er demand from retail units is develop
ing more confident tone. and prices
were rising in some markets toward
the holidays.
Too Much Livestock.
Forewarned by general declines in
values earlier in the month, but yet
lacking apparently sufficient faith in
the market to bring about sharp de-
creaSes in the marketward movement.
producers and finishers sent another
excessive supply of livestock to the
shambles, only to encounter further
drastic downward price trends after
the middle of the month. Most classes
and grades of cattle. sheep and lambs
reached lower levels. The movement
of cattle was nearly on a par with the
same time last year, and that Of hogs
and sheep las larger All classes of fresh
meats sold at sharply lower prices and
the market on sGme classes bordered on
generalization. In New York, beef,
pork and lamb declined most.
The Boston wool market was very
slow in mid-December although values
showed steady trend.
Feed Supply Limited.
Production of by-prOduCt feeds has
been relatively light in recent months
despite the plentiful supply of the raw
materials. The present depression has
limited the outturn of the man prod
uCts and has reduced the supply Of
available feed. Cottonseed meal prices
continued the downward trend. and
have lost about half of the October
advance
Timothy hay market held about
steady in late December. with continued
light offerings III fair demand Prices
of all classes of hay at the leading mar
ketS average so cents to ST per ton
higher than at the middle of November,
but S4 to So per ton under correspond
ing quotations one year ago.
Grain Market Stronger.
Grain markets turned stronger after
the middle of the month. Light Offer
ings were the principal strengthening
influence. Reports of reduced acreage
and the relatively poor condition of the
domestic Winter wheat crop lent ad-
ditional support in the wheat market.
Feed grains were firmer.