Evening star., 1933-12-19
TRENDS IRREGULAR
| ON FARM MARKETS
Some Fruits and Vegetables
Move Higher--Butter
Says Sharply.

Several leading farm products were
selling lower in late December than in
the early part of the month, according
Agriculture report.
Fruits and vegetables included a
number of products selling higher the
middle of December. Cabbage, onions,
cranberrieS, and some varieties of apples
advanced further and potatoes held
previous gains.
Grain and feeds tended to slightly
lower levels, sharing the current price
setback in the general list Dairy
products and eggs declined sharply owing
Ito more liberal supplies offered. Live
stock and meats were mostly lower.
Poultry appeared to be in moderate
supply. Demand increased and there
were some price gains of l cent to 2
cents pound in consuming markets
Poultry Sells Higher.
Poultry markets were much firmer
around the middle of the month. Sup
plies of chickens and turkeys have been
light, many producers refusing to sell
at prevailing prices. Markets advanced
cent to 8 cents pound in an
effort to obtain adequate supplies for
the year-end holiday trade Appar-
emily some stock was being held for
the demand of later months.
Ihe egg markets experienced very
sharp price declines under more liberal
fresh supplies during the first three
weeks of December. Weather for the
past month has been generally IA
Vorable for increasing production and
reports from the principal poultry Sec
tions OF the Middle West indicate that
the egg output has been a sharp turn
upward. Declines ranged from cents
10 10 cents a dozen in leading markets.
Inc butter markets developed extreme
weakness near the middle of December.
Declines of cents to 4 cents at the
larger markets we're recorded and tone
continued unsettled. Prices generally
were the lowest for many years in early
winter. Consuming demand continued
unsatisfactory. The cheese markets are
barely steady.
Live Stock Shipments Heavy.
Although hogs and fat heavy cattle
sank at one time to new low prices of
the season, the general condition of the
live stock market during the first three
weeks Of December was not without
features encouraging to the selling side.
Prices were considered to have held as
well as could be expected under the
heavy receipts and the competition of
low-priced poultry.
Heavy cattle continued in oyersupply.
The premium being earned by yearlings
over more mature cattle is suggested by
the recent bulk price of S525 to S6.25
for most yearlings and a $3.50 to SIS
market for the bulk of the well condi-
toned and relatively long-fed medium
and heavyweight steers.
Hog prices at Chicago we're slightly
lower, ranging $3.50 to S340. The low
point of $3.50 was also a new low for
the season. Average the second week of
December was $3.19. Heavy receipts
were commonly explained by the tend
ency to ship hogs and hold corn.
Fairly good demand absorbed the
larger run Of sheep and lambs at steady
to somewhat higher prices. Bulk of
sales near the middle of the month was
around ST to S7.35 at Chicago. Feeding
lambs were scarce and not particularly
desirable in quality. They still sold
from $3.50 to S5.75. Trading in wool
reached fairly large volume in Eastern
markets at well sustained prices. Ter
ritory wool, secured basis. sold around
80 cents and Texas woods 81 cents to
SO cents for average 12-month lines.