Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-13
GRAIN AND COTTON
PRICES IMPROVED
Cattle and Lambs Also
Higher in First Ten
Days of Month.

Some of the price changes in staple
farm products during the FIRST 10 days
OF January were favorable to holders,
says the United States Department Of
Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural
Economics. Market News Service Grain.
cotton, cattle and lambs advanced. on
the other hand. the position of feeders
was weakened by higher wholesale costs
OF millfeeds and the continued weak
ness in the hog and dairy markets. Egg
prices shifted back and forth with sup
plies and the weather. Potato markets
showed underlying firmness. but cab
bage and onion prices fell away slight
! ly under heavier receipts. Business
activity showed some tendency TO in
crease as usual at the time Of year
and general market tone seemed more
confident.
Produce Supplies Increase.
Eastern potato markets held nearly
steady. Shipments have increased and
were heavier than for the same time
year ago. Cabbage was a little lower
at shipping points in Western New
York at $l4 per ton bulk or $l6 sacked.
The new York celery season closed with
record of about 5,400 cars shipped, or
1900 more than last season. The
country market was rather dull at
S2.35 to So 40 per two-thirds crate. Let.
tuce markets were weak and prices
lower everywhere. Western New York
shippers received only IS cents per 100
pound sack for yellow onions, or Is
cents per 50-pound bag. Sweet po-
tatoes declined generally, with bushel
hampers from Delaware and Maryland
| jobbing at SIPS to SITS and New Jer-
sey stock at $1.90 to S2.75.
Field beans we're still in light de-
\ I,.N
rent of flrmnesS developed toward the
middle of the month. A slightly
stronger undertone also was reported
| at Jacksonville, New Orleans and San
Antonio. Some Improvement in inquiry
was reported at Chicago, but offerings
were light due to holding tendency on
the part of many dealers.
Butter Market Irregular.
Eastern butter markets recorded fur
ther declines, but Chicago appeared
more steady. The greatest strength was
exhibited on the grades from 81 to 90
scores. This class of goods on prac-
tically all markets was in limited supply
the first 10 days of January and was
| closely held. The increase of freSss ar
rivals apparently curtailed the demand
for storage butter.
Cheese production continues to fall
SllOlt VI u year dkO dllls III opltE Va Ia
vorable weather and feed conditions,
has not shown more than the 1880 in
crease since the week of low receipts
the last part of November. Some diver
sion of milk from condensories, cream
cries and fluid milk and market cream
to cheese has taken place because Of the
relatively higher cheese prices, but the
actual quantity of milk thus diverted
from the regular channels is regarded
L.
ally considered easier to divert milk
from cheese to other products than
from other products to cheese.
Egg markets have experienced the
usual Midwinter variations in the vol.
ume of the daily receipts. Prices reacted
accordingly. Apparently the country
has been pretty well cleared of market.
able chickens, for most of the stock now
| arriving is coarse and STACEY and has
to be sold for whatever it will bring.
Indications are that the peak of stor-
| age holdings. which ordinarily is.
reached on February /, will be mate
rally lighter this year than a year ago
and considerably lighter than the Ave-
| year average. Producers of poultry
should experience much stronger mar
ket for the first half Of 1881 than they
had in 1880.
Active Live Stock Markets.
Considering supply volume which
| showed rather marked increase over
| marketings IF the previous week, live
stock trade performed creditably during
the first full week of the calendar year,
cattle, sheep and lamb values working
higher, and the hog market experiencing
only moderate downward price trend. A
comparatively broad and well sustained
demand for ell species on shipping ac-
count was a potent factor of strength
in the trade.
A feature of interest in fleece woods
was much wider inquiry for Sos and
ABS, Sos grades. Territory woods were
also more active, with sales closed on
strictly combing Gas and finer graded
woods at 68 to II cents, secured basis.
French combing woods of this grade
sold at So to 81 cents secured basis, for
graded woods, while original bag lines,
the Eulk of which was of this class and
grade, sold at 81 to 81 cents with choice
offerings held at higher figures.
Grain and Feeds Higher.
Grain markets held generally firm
during the flrSt part of January. Corn
prices remained firm or were slightly
advanced at the principal markets as q
result of the continued good demand
for the moderate arrivals. Oats and
barley were firm with corn. There were
AAO ACW dCNCAORIIISIlGS LII LIE rye mdEk6b
and prices were practically unchanged.
Flax turned firmer and domestic mar
kets advanced.
Reduced offerings and a material i'm
provement in demand, together with
stronger grain markets, forced wheat
millfeeds sharply upward in Eastern
and Central Western markets during
the first part of January. Advances in
cottonseed meal prices, averaging be-
tween so cents and 81 per ton, were
registered at most markets early in the
month. Some improvement in demand
has developed in the new year. Gluten
feed in Eastern markets was firm, with
a fair scattered demand for the liberal
prompt and January offerings, but
prices were unchanged. The hominy-
feed situation was strong in this area,
with good inquiry for the rather light
offerings.
Demand for high-grade hay Of all
classes has remained fairly active, and
the light offerings of that quality have
moved readily into consuming chan
nels. Supplies of timothy and clover
hay remaining for market are rela-
lively smaller than other classes and in