Evening star., 1931-07-29
PR|cESFOR FARM
PRODUCTS F|RMER
Steadier Tone Noted in Mar
kets as Month Closes.
Potatoes Higher.

Although some sharp up and down
price changes were reported, q steaoleT
tone seemed to prevail in the general
farm markets of late July, says the
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture, Bureau Of Agricultural Economics,
Market News Service. Some recovery
took place in The potato markets. Prices
of cheese and eggs advanced: Butter
and poultry weakened. Gra1n-fed cattle
were In good demand at higher prices.
Corn and oats sold lower, but wheat
ing In hay and feedstufts continued
dull.
Potato Markets Firm.
Practically all lines Of potatoes showed
a stronger tendency toward the close
OF July. Eastern Shore cobblers ad-
vanced slightly to range OF $i.oo
to $1.65 per barrel at shipping poimSs n6
and Kansas stock brought 81 per 10O-
pound sack In the Kaw Valley district.
City market prices Of Western Iceberg
and of New York Big Boston lettuce
were slightly weaker. Early receipts
of yellow onions from Orange County,
N. Y, brought $1.25 to SITS per 100
pound sack in New York City. Iowa
onions held firm at 30 cents TO $l.oV
per 5O-pound bag. Heavy arrivals OF
lower prices. Georgia Eibertas drop
ped to a range of 81 to $l.75 per
bushel basket in city markets. Arkan-
sas stock brought 81 so to 50 per bushel
in the Middle West. City values OF
watermelons and cantaloupes were gen.
orally lower.
Butter Markets Weaker.
Eastern butter markets weakened
toward the close of July. Trading was
unsatisfactory and as a result accumu,
lations were reported In practically all
markets. Confidence in butter sufficient
to develop into any appreciable amount
of buying appeared to be lacking IN
spite of favorable news from many
sources. The percentage OF nne DutG3
was small, but ample to meet the light
demand.
In line with higher country replace.
rnent costs, distributing markets ruled
firm and quotations on all styles OF
cheese were fractionally higher sup
plies of fine quality cheese were rather
short, and some dealers experienced
diffculty meeting their full require
ments Less desirable stocks were
plentiful, and were quite generally Of
fered at discounts of IL to cents per
pound. Held cheese ruled flrm, with
volume Of trading nominal
Receipts of eggs at the four principal
markets for the first three weeks OF
july fell behind the receipts OF the
corresponding period last year by ap-
proximately IA per cent. Both current
and prospective production indicate rela-
lively light supplies Of eggs for the re-
mainder of the year. The market mas
shown more confidence than has been
in evidence for some time. and prices
taA;~
Good quality heavyweight fowls have
been In moderate supply and have
moved we'll to a fairly good demand.
An advance of cent in quotations was
made the early part Of July, but 1t was
not sustained on fowl weighing four
pounds and under.
Light Cattle in Demand.
All interests competed for light cattle,
and a price discrimination against those
fed largely on grass was effected toward
the close of the month. Price spreads
widened between grain fed and grassy
kinds The bulk OF grain-fed weighty
steers sold for 81 to So, while yearlings
of comparable finish brought $3.50 to
$3.50.
Packing sows supplied a liberal pro-
portion of the Chicago hog receipts but
pigs and light lights were scarce. Fresh
pork prices at Chicago and Atlantic
Seaboard markets declined around 81,
and acted as a depressing factor in the
live hog trade.
Prices of fat lambs continued 20 slant
downward since the years top Of $685.
was reached early in July. Toward the
close of the month most good and
choice native eve and wether lambs
sold at $3.50 to SITS and range lambs
at S765 to $775. Desirable slaughter
ewes brought 50 to $3.50. with weighty
kinds downward to $2.75. The sheep
and wool outlook report indicates the
likelihood Of a considerable reduction
in numbers of sheep and lambs during
the next two or three years. This
years crop of lambs was estimated at
3l,648 900 head, an increase Of ap-
proximately 8 per cent as compared
with the 1880 lamb crop.
Quantities of wool sold on the Bos-
ton market were somewhat smaller due
to the inability of concerns to make i'm
mediate deliveries, also to the tendency
Of some concerns to hold for higher
prices. In general. prices were steady
to slightly stronger.
Corn and Oats Lower.
Domestic wheat markets remained
about unchanged during the week end
ing July "a, although a sharp reduction
in receipts of Winter wheat had a
Steadying influence in Central western
markets. Corn pricesS declined under
the influence of beneficial rains in i'm
portant areas of the corn belt, increased
offerings Of cid crop grain and low
wheat prices. Oats were lower with
corn. Barley and rye held steady under
a good demand for the high quality
grain.
Production of straight foodstuffs in
the past few months has been the
lightest in recent years. The volume
of spot and future trade is generally
light with fair pasturage limiting i'm
mediate requirements. The depressed
market situation CT grains and dairy
ing curtailed interest in covering the
Winters feed supply. Prices of wheat
feeds we're generally steady to slightly
higher. A slow demand and prospects
for liberal carry-over Of cottonseed,
cake and meal into the new crop sea-
son further weakened cottonSeed meal
prices. Other important feeds were
largely unchanged.
The movement of Timothy hay re-
manned considerably below normal fo-
the season at most of the principal
consuming markets. Growers we're
generally reluctant to sell at present
prices and buyers are interested only In
small lots for immediate needs. AL
falfa markets remained very dull and
quiet with light offerings and generally
slow demand.