Evening star., 1932-01-27
PRODUCE MARKETS
REMAIN UNSETTLED
Less Confident Trend Noted
as Month Draws
to Close.

Tone Of the market on farm products
was less confident in late January, says
the United States Department Of Agri-
culture, Bureau Of Agricultural Eco
nOmics Market News Service There
were few net price gains after the mid
die of the month. Grain, feeds, hay,
cotton and wool held fairly we'll. Hogs
reached extreme low levels, and general
tone of the live stock market continued
weak, excepting veal calves and feeder
lambs. Dairy and poultry markets were
unsettled, with no great changes in the
price level. Fruits and vegetables
showed more losses than gains under
prevailing dull market conditions.
Onion Holdings Light.
Storage holdings of late or main-crop
onions in January were only half as
heavy as those Of year ago. Total
stocks Of 2,939,000 bushels are mostly
in New York, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana
and California. Prices in late January
did not show any great change. West
ern New York yelloWs were somewhat
stronger at $3.50 per 5O-pound sack, or
at S4.05 per bag Of 100 pounds Track
holdings of onions are light. The West
ern New York cabbage market is slightly
lower at $40 to $12 per ton bulk. East
ern iObbing markets reported slightly
weaker tone for most potatoes. A steady
price level was reported for most lines
Of sweet potatoes, except for stronger
situation on New Jersey busheI ham
pers City markets for apples held
nearly steady. Prices of celery de-
clined.
Butter Markets Irregular.
Among four of the large butter mar
Iy0tr - H. d. kzrk
condition the second half Of January,
and prices advanced. Prices at New
York and Philadelphia advanced
slightly, but at these two markets
strength was lacking and receipts, while
not excessive, were ample for the light
demand. Considerable weakness deyel-
Oped at Chicago under pressure Of
heavy arrivals and the market was
barely steady. At all markets the best
demand for butter was for the lower
grades, which were in comparatively
light supply. Reports of production
show increases over previous weeks and
corresponding weeks year ago
Fresh cheese ruled about steady in
the principal consuming centers Sen
timent concerning cured and held styles
gained some additional strength and
was firm.
FOuitFy supply mOUcTdc
Receipts of dressed poultry at the
principal markets are still running ma
teriaIly below those of a year ago but
as most Of the stock is coarse and poor,
prices are irregular. Lots of good quail
lty are in fairly strong demand and are
moving freely at top quotations,
Adjustments downward in retail prices
in line with lower wholesale costs stim-
ulated the consuming demand for eggs
in mid-January. and the trade output
showed some Improvement. Receipts Of
fresh eggs are exceptionally liberal for
this time of year, and with stocks Of
storage eggs still large, the markets are
amply supplied.
Live Stock Market Weak.
Lighter marketings of all classes Of
live stock did not prevent general price
declines for practically everything sell
ing for slaughter. The market for most
of the cattle represented in current sup
plies dipped to lowest levels in recent
years. The hog market fell to a lower
basis than had been hit previously dur
ing the present century, and fat lambs
suffered irregular declines which car
ried prices dangerously close to the
1881 low.
Quite a large volume Of business was
transacted in Eastern wool markets at
well sustained prices. The feature Of
the trade was t1e movement of the
finer quality Western woods that are
particularly suitable for use in manu-
facture Of Spring goods.
Mill Feeds in Slow Demand.
Light offerings of wheat mill feeds
were in continued slow demand in late
January. Prices were unchanged to as
much as ST per ton lower after the
middle Of the month. Linseed meal
prices were steady to lower. Cottonseed
meal prices were unchanged to slightly
higher at most markets.
Northeastern timothy and clover hay
markets averaged somewhat weaker in
late January with a comparatively ir-
regular demand Inquiry for hay in
Southeastern and Southern sections re-
mained negligible. Offerings at Chi
cagO fell off rather materially as re-
suit Of the previous price declines, but
supplies we're apparently ample to sat
iSfy trade requirements which remained
far below normal as result of unusual
ly mild weather in the trade territory.
Grain Mostly Steady.
Domestic cash wheat markets were
fairly steady after the middle Of Janu-
airy. The moderate offerings were meet
ing a good demand from mills and
prices averaged higher compared with
early in the month. Feed grains were
steady with the unusually light offer
lngS about equal to current trade needs,
Rye was firmer with wheat while fax
strengthened slightly under continued
light offerings and a steady but limited
cruSher demand.