Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-06
CROP PRICES GAIN
AT TURN OF YEAR
Butter, Egg and Live Stock
Values Continue Low,
However.

IIOVSOVVIH
Price movement early in the month
was more favorable to holders of
such staples as grain and cotton than
to producers of live stock, butter and
eggs, says the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, Bureau Of Agri-
cultural Economics, Market News Serv-
ice. Price gains applied more to the
crops than to animal products. But
feeders are helped by cost of millfeeds,
lowest in many years. Butter and
cheese markets continued weak, but
poultry prices were well sustained. Po-
tatoes held the gains made during the
second half of December. Cabbage
continued to advance.
Produce Shipments Increase.
Shipments of nearly all fruits and
vegetables increased sharply after the
| first Of the year, potatoes and citrus
| fruits showing the largest gain. Quite
| a few products advanced to a stronger
| market position. Western New York
was steady on sacked potatoes at LBS
to SLIGO per 100 pounds, with Green
Mountains slightly weaker in Northern
| land yellow sweet potatoes sold higher
in terminal markets at $1.40 to $2.15
per bushel hamper, with New Jersey
stock at So to So.
Holdings of celery in storage In
Western New York were down to about
| 81, 900 crates. Prices advanced in that
district to a range of 50 to $3.50 and
city jobbing sales ranged from 81 to
$425 a crate. Cabbage sold higher at
Il. NfN,Ne nfninTl nTinnG hPl0
nearly steady, although shipments in
creased sharply.
The demand for field beans was
quiet at New York City in early Janu-
ary, particularly for marrows and
| white kidneys. The New Orleans mar
ket remained dull and the Chicago
situation showed little change, with a
seasonally light demand.
Butter Markets Unsettled.
The general uncertainty regarding
conditions during the early part OF the
year is having considerable influence
| on the tone of the butter market and
price trend continued downward, with
| the level about cents below that OF
early December, and IL cents below the
price of year ago. Few dealers were
willing to purchase much in excess OF
| immediate needs for fear of being
caught on a falling market with sur
plus on hand. Reports from receivers
| indicate that butter from their regular
| shippers is increasing slightly from
week to week.
Cheese distributing markets con-
tinued about steady on fresh goods ano
steady on cured and held, although
| prices dropped more than cent IN
Wisconsin producing sections.
Egg Receipts Gaining.
Supplies of large white eggs from
both the Pacific Coast and nearby areas
were more plentiful, but even at thai
! they were lust about sufficient to sat
| isfy the demand Immediately follow
ing the New Year, however, receipts
| from all sections increased supStan-
TALLY. Buyers were showing only a
passing interest, confined exclusively &c
| immediate requirements, and prices or
| the New York market soon dropped
again. with top grades Of fresh eggs
registering losses Of to cents pei
dozen and the lower grades about
cent. Refrigerator eggs, however, olc
not share in the general decline, que
| perhaps to the fact that they did no'
advance correspondingly with the fresh
eggs in the pre-holiday trade.
Following the New Year, buyers ex-
pressed only minor interest III tur'
keys, as a consequence OF which prices
| for both young hens and medlums
moved slightly lower. Many dealers are
| of the opinion that the farm sale OF
chickens for this season is fairly vel
completed and look forward to lighter
receipts. The early January market Is
showing the effects of this anticipation
in that it ranged slightly higher or
closely graded, soft-meated stock.
Live Stock Slightly Lower.
Live stock marketings expanded mod
erately after the holiday season. The
enlarged supply in early January was
followed by declining prices in the cattle
and hog trade, dressed market conditions
being such as to warrant little or nc
expansion in supply volume. The 1al
lamb market showed some evidence OF
underlying strength, slight price gains
being recorded, although receipts ex-
banded moderately.
In the Eastern wool market prices
on the active lines were slightly easier
while on inactive lines, including the
SIS and lower grades of domestic woods
asking prices generally show some
what greater downward readjustment
Some dealers refused to accept offers
within the range of quoted prices.
Grain Market Has Firmer Tone.
Some improvement in the wheat mar
ket situation in Canada had strength
ening influence on the position of do
mestic wheat. Reduced marketings OF
corn, together with continued good de-
mand, helped the market for that grain
and prices tended strongly upward. Rye,
oats and barley were higher toward the
close of the week, influenced princi-
palIy by the strength Of corn. The
flax market steadied with the grains,
but reflected also a good demand from
crushers.
Mill Feeds at Low Prices.
Recent price levels of feed grains and
feedstuffs are materially below those at
this time last year and also below the
five-year average prices. Corn quota
lions at the close of 1880 were about
rs per cent of those Of year ago and
80 per cent of the average prices for
that period. Oats were around 10 per
cent of last year and average and wheat
close to SIS per cent. Wheat bran, at
the principal distributing markets, was
selling at SIS per cent of last year and
So per cent of average. Cottonseed and
linseed meal were quoted at about 10
per cent of last year and average. Hay
prices have been declining in recent
weeks, although they still reflect the
short supply.
NEW YORK COTTON
1Tr7xry