Evening star., 1932-12-27
FARM PRICE TREND
CONTINUES Lower
Decline in Business During
Holiday Season Affects
Quotations.

The usual let-up In wholesale trade
curing the holiday season was consid-
cred partly responsible for the weak
markets on farm products just before
Christmas, says the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, Bureau Of Ag-
ricultural Economics, Market News
Service Some lines declined in SYM
pathy with the general market situa-
ton. Grain, mill feeds. live stock and
meats have persistently sold near the
seasons lowest levels. Spot cotton again
sagged below the Scent line.
Butter markets felt the effect OF poor
demand, but cheese prices held fairly
well. Eggs declined sharply with milder
weather and the approach Of the usual
season for increase Of fresh supplies.
The light to moderate holding OF dairy
and poultry products tends to check any
great market weakness. Potato ship
ments are increasing again and prices
have Sagged of little from the recent
higher level. Onion and cabbage mar
kets also declined slightly. There was
TO general change in the irregular trend
OF apple prices.
Butter Lower.
With pressure on The selling side and
the buyers cautious, prices Of butter
have continued to decline. Trading IS
restricted largely to the light jobbing
requirements. Receipts of 80 score and
below are limited Southern shipments
arc light and irregular in quality and
quantity. Dealers expect moderate in
oreases in receipts Of lower grades from
ali sections in the near future. Senti-
ment is still unsettled and down.
,A dc s~ n<~sl lxys>
dealers until well into next month.
Cheese trade was generally quiet at
steady prices. Cured stock maintains a
good position, but there Is q freer SELL
ing policy evident on fresh cheese. Make
of cheese in Northern New York is
fairly liberal.
Egg Prices Break.
Prices Of eggs broke sharply just be-
fore Christmas and all leading grades
were selling to 5 cents lower. The
market on refrigerator stock was like
wise weaker, declining about 1 cents a
dozen. Reports of increasing produc-
tion in the Middle West. together with
prospective larger supplies from East
ern and Far Western commercial pro-
ducing sections, were the principal un-
settling conditions Lack OF active buy
ing also was causing supplies to back up
or receivers floors.
The Christmas poultry market was
dun and listless. Supplies of chickens
Of all kinds we're liberal but only a
fair amount Of trading was noted. Re-
ceipts of turkeys were likewise gen.
erous, but, even though prices were
2 to 4 cents lower than at Thanks
giving. the trade movement was none
Nf INV a.
New York ranged around % to Is
cents a pound, while in other Eastern
cities they were as low as 81 cents in
leading chain stores and even lower in
some cut-rate independents.
Potato Markets Weaken
Slight weakness has developed at
many potato shipping points. The
market in Northern Maine sagged to
56a58 cents per 100 pounds for sacked
Green Mountains, but round whites
held at about steady at Western New
York at 68a73 cents. Midwestern mar
kets made the same small declines
noted in the East. Eastern and MID
western onions were slightly lower at
shipping points and in many city mar
kets. Cabbage is unsettled in price.
There is a fairly steady tone for old
cabbage in shipping districts. but new
stock is lower in Southern Texas. Bulk
Danish cabbage brings 81 per ton in
Western New York. and 81 to S7.25
in Wisconsin producing sections. East
ern sweet potatoes were weaker IN
consuming centers. Spinach was down
to so cents per bushel at Southern
Texas shipping points. Considerable
quantities of celery affected by freezing
injury are arriving in city markets ana
prices tended downward. Lettuce also
was arriving in variable condition, mucn
stock showing frost damage. apples
showed little change In prices Rhode
Island Greetings held at 30 cents pei
bushel at Western New York shlpping
noints. Some varieties show a slight
weakness in city markets.
Feed Market Weak.
Demand for the light supplies OF
wheat feeds was very dull in late De-
cember, and prices declined, especially
on the heavier kinds. Eastern Spring
wheat feed markets were weak, with
fairly heavy offerings, some selling
pressure, and slow demand. Cotton
seed meal was relatively weaker than
other high grade feeds. Generally
speaking, the colder weather did not
seem to increase the demand for cotton
seed meal, as had been expected. LIN
seed and soy bean meals were un,
changed to lower. Gluten meal ana
tankage sold at nearly steady prices.
Demand at most markets was poor, ous
tankaee and also meat scraps solo
readily. Gluten feed prices held un-
changed. Gluten meal was not In such
active demand as gluten feed, since
the meal meets strong competition from
the lower priced cottonseed product.
Hominy feed averaged slightly lower,
rejecting the weakness in corn ana
some decrease in demand. Homlny
feed was weak and lower at chicago
and the moderate offerings were in slow
demand, Alfalfa meal held about
steady in price.
Grain markets continued dull during
December, and prices continue 70 noio
near lowest levels. Increased offerings
of new wheat from Australia and Ar
pentina were a weakening influence N
the wheat market. Lower prices IN
foreign markets have been ref1ecteo IN
a weaker domestic position ana nave
largely offset the Strengthening 1nnu-
ence of unfavorable prospects for the
new Winter crop. Feed grains remain
weak, showing the continued light IN
ouiry for this seasons relatively large
wheat. while flax markets steadieo
toward the close of the month as 2
result of very light offerings from tnN
seasons crop.
Cattle Prices Down.
Recent severe declines In cattle val
ues and the near approach Of the holi'
day season, with its increase in poultr,
consumption, tended to reduce catti'
marketings to unusually small volum'
the third week of December. Combined
receipts of cattle at IL OF the more I'M
portant market centers the first foul
days of the week were $4,000 head, OF
SO 600 less than the moderate suppl!
of the corresponding period the weel
before. The market at Chicago shovel
good response during the first half o
the week, with q sharp reduction IN re-
ceipts, but turned weaker the followinI
days, with declines of IS to so cents
The ton was about S7.25 on steers. Tit