Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-07
PRODUCE MARKETS
STILL IN DECLINE
Dairy Products and Eggs
Move Against Trend.
Live Stock Higher.

IN the generally weak markets pre- |
vailing around the first of the month, |
says the United States Department of |
Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural |
Economics, Market News Service. Live !
stock also sold to better advantage than !
in late September, because of improved |
demand and moderate supply. Grain |
and feed prices tended downward. |
Slight declines were the rule On the |
vegetable list, but onions and lettuce |
advanced
Potatoes Sell Lower.
Maine Green Mountain potatoes were
down to 40 cents per 100 pounds at
shipping points IN early October.
First f. o. b. reports from Western New
York indicated a level of 10 cents on
Round Whites, compared with Cobblers
and Mountains on Long Island ct rs
cents. Sweet potatoes were lower, re-
turning only Sl25 to Sl35 per barrel
at Eastern Shore shipping points, with
bdshel hampers at so to SIS cents
Onion prices advanced in Eastern
producing sections to a range of 81 to
1925 per sack or 80 pounds City
prices were mostly higher. Celery held
about steady at Western New York
points around $l.85 to 81 per tWo-thirds
crate, but city j6bbing prices declined
slightly. Both Western and Eastern
lettuce brought higher prices in Eastern
consuming centerS. Domestlc-type
cabbage declined further in Western
New York TO 81 to So per ton bulk or
50 sacked.
Peach prices advanced further as
supplies became short Last report Of
the season from Western New York
showed a range of 80 cents to Sl1O
per bushel on best Elbertas. Grapes in
t2-quart containers were holding firmly
lin city markets. but smaller sizes de-
clined Barreled apples held steady to
firm in the Potomac Valley area, most
f. o. b. sales being at S2,25 to 50. Pear
markets were unsettled. Seckels we're
higher in Western New York, at $3.50
per bushel.
Butter Prices Gain.
Eastern butter markets advanced
near the first Of October, with sup
plies moderate and demand good.
PHILADELPHIA reported rather heavy re-
ceipts of Southern undcrgrade butter.
The storage movement during Septcm-
Der was the heaviest since records have
been made by the Bureau of AgrlCul-
tural Economics. Estimated holdings
on October ] were the lightest on rec
ord. large number OF dealers have
practically cleared out their stocks Of
fancy storage butter at a season when
=
Based on trade output figures IN teprc-
sentative markets, butter consumption
during September exceeded last year
By wide margin. Number of milk
cows on farms September l was fully
So per cent above the number last
year.
Tone Of the cheese markets at most
distributing CCnters was about steady
at the beginning of the month. With
of MI
prices oased of fr2ct.Cnally, quotations
remained generally unchanged. III line
with country replacement costs. Deal
erS proved mostly free sellers. but as
buyers held purchases closely to immc
diate needs the volume Of goods moved
was not large.
Advancing Egg Markets.
Despite heavier receipts than during
the same time a year ago at New York
and Philadelphia. egg prices patt-cu-
larry on the better grades, were adj
Vanced sharply. The current production
situation, which apparently IS indicative
of a lighter lay than during the same
time last year seems to be the con-
trolling feature in the firm market sit
uat:on.
A fair consuming demand for chick
ems kept quotations on these mostly I'M
changed, but fowl declined l cent as
result of the ample supply, with
mostly indifferent demand.
Active Live Stcck Market.
Braced by much more active and
higher markets for dressed meats, trade
in live stock during early october. IVES
more satisfactory to the selling side. al
though supply as reflected by receipts
at IL important market centers, showed
increases over the week previous of APP
pr-ximately 10000 cattle and 10000
hogs. Most classes and grades OF cattle
worked to higher levels and hog values
moved slightly higher than week
earlier when prices were at bottom
levels of the season. MarketingS OF
sheep and lambs were slightly decreased,
and this branch of the trade also gave
a good account of itself
Trading in domestic woods was de-
cidedly mere active, although sales were
inclined to be very moderate in volume
and slightly l-Wer ranges OF prices were
established on most grades. Members
Of the wool trade were influenced to
some extent by the quiet goods market
and also b. labor difficulties arising
over wage adjustments in some = New
England wcol manufacturing centers.
Mill Feeds Decline.
Prices of wheat feeds declined from
Of October. Spring wheat, bran and
middlings, declined TO the seasons low
point CcttCnceed meal prices continued
to decline Prices of this feed have been
on the downward course steadily ana
rather sharply since mid-Aprll and 1t is
now selling at the lowest level in recent
years CottcnseCd meal is selling lower
than good hay in many markets. LIN
seed meal prices continued out-oI-Ane
l., 1fY-ot q foods
rejecting the small meal supplies ana
the unusually short domestic fax cr1p.
Gluten feed and meal prices were I'M
changed.
Timothy and clover hay markets gen.
orally held about steady in early Oc-
tobar, with continued light offerings IN
fir demand Trading remained Oh
small volume at Boston. Arrivals were
light at New York also, and sales were
very slow at slightly higher prices.
Wheat Market Unsettled.
Domestic wheat markets remained
weak and unsettled in early Oct0ber as
a result of continued uncertainty IN
the securities market and in foreign
financial conditions. Futures prices at
Chicago declined to the lowest point III
the history of that market but cash
wheat sales were at prices not maIerl-
ally changed. Corn declined rather
sharply under the influence of a SLOW
demand increased supplies and the APP
preaching movement of the new crop.
The first new corn of the season ar
rived at Chicago and st. Louis. oats
and barley were weak with corn. but
price declines were less. Rye showed
some independent strength as re-
suit of light offerings. but flax de-
clined sharply, influenced by the dull
demand for oil and lower prices on
Argentine seed, supplies of which are
plentiful.
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