Evening star., 1933-03-28
|UPTREND IN FARM
PRICES CONTINUES
Market Displays Irregular
and Unsettled Tone, How
ever-Cash Wheat Off.

The prevailing price trend was up
/ ward on farm products in late March,
although the market list, as usual
showed irregular, unsettled features says
the United States Department of Agri-
culture. Bureau Of Agriculture Econom-
les, Market News Service. Corn. oats and
barley advanced, while cash wheat and
naxseed declined. Hay was steady in
price. Millfeeds paused in the advance
which has lasted more than a month.
Prices Of live cattle and hogs were
irregular and some classes lower, but
sheep and lamb markets strengthened
little. Butter and cheese show small
net price gains since the middle of the
| month. Eggs sell near the lowest Of
| March. Poultry markets have retained
| part Of the recent advance. Potatoes
| recovered to near the months top
| prices at Chicago and at some country
| shipping points. Cabbage markets
showed upward trend. Onions sell a
little lower at some points. Apple
markets hold recent improvement.
Butter Market Unsettled.
0NdlC1o OHuAOI1S IC6oA OA4le s11o IL
ture trend of the butter markets varied
considerably at the end Of March. There
were some who felt that prices at pres
ent levels could be held with no ma
terial curtailment Of consumption,
being of the opinion that lower prices
would not increase demand to any ex-
tent. The fact that supplies of fresh
butter on dealers floors are moderate
and just about equal to trade require
ments tends to bear out their conten-
| ton that present prices are warranted.
Other dealers. less confident in their
views, feel that lower prices might
absorb increased arrivals which can
naturally be expected within the next
few weeks, because reports from
| creameries indicate increased produc-
ton. These reports. however, show de-
creaSes as compared with the corre-
spending period year ago.
Cheese markets ruled firmer after the
! middle of the month and fair volume
Of trading was reported in most quar-
| tiers. Western fresh cheese was in par
| ticularly good demand in small sized
lots, but buyers as a rule were not in
clined to anticipate their future needs
to any great extent.
Egg Storage May Increase.
The wholesale price Of eggs in March
| fluctuated within a comparatively mar
row range in spite of the banking sit
| uation which caused a considerable
| interruption to normal trading and a
| temporary advance Of / to cents a
dozen. Since the clearing up Of the
banking situation and return Of prices
| to about the early March level, the
attention Of the market has once more
been centered in the forthcoming into
storage movement. There IS conflict
of opinion regarding the possible size
Of the Spring egg crop, and the quantity
of eggs that should be stored this sea-
son. Some sections no doubt will show
smaller production than last Spring,
such as the Pacific Coast and the Noun
! tain States. but on the other hand,
production in the East and the Middle
West may fully equal that OF last year.
In general, it would not be surprising
to see a production this Spring about
as large as a year ago. and an into
storage movement somewhat larger.
The March rise In the poultry market
was promptly lost when the financial
situation was cleared up and receipts
showed a more normal volume. There
was a marked decline in consumption
requirements during the period of the
bank holiday. trade output at four lead
ing markets being of about IS per
cent from a year ago, and even though
| there was some improvement follow
| ing the lifting of all banking restric-
tions, trade output for March will be
| less than for March of last year. Prices
on live poultry made greater advance
in early March than did prices on
dressed poultry, and part Of the gain
was held to near the end Of the month.
| Poultry in cold storage on March
amounted to 1861 900 pounds, COM
pared with 96422.000 pounds on March
| / last year, and 1O3 ,474000 pounds for
the March / five-year average.
Live Stock Supply Increasing.
Supplies OF live stock at II important
primary markets increased In late
March. Although most classes and
grades Of slaughter cattle and hogs sold
| somewhat lower, the trade was not
without its features encouraging to the
selling side. Considering supply volume,
the market gave a good account OF
itself, declines being held to small pro-
portions and liberal quota OF The
punishment. Veal calves closed about
steady, losing an early advance. Lower
grades of most killing classes Of cattle
| found a relatively active market and
sold comparatively close to good and
choice grades tl.at showed extended
dry-lot feeding. Hog values sagged a
little. Improved quality and a broad
ened demand on Eastern shipping ac-
count were trade features. A few loads
of shorn lambs of good to choice grade
sold in the Chicago market at $5.25 to
s5.65, choice SO to 94-pound shorn
lambs bringing $5.40 to $3.50 Yearling
wethers in fleece cashed mostly at $4.25
to s4.75, and fat ewes largely from $2.25
to $2.85.
The Boston wool market for the last
full week of March was much more
quiet than the week previous. Early in
| the period a fair amount of business
was transacted at nearly unchanged
prices. Some dealers who previously
had not participated in the recent buy
ing came into the market for moderate
quantities Of few grades.
Some Feeds Higher.
Wheat feed prices were decidedly ir-
regular after the middle of March with
no definite trend apparent. Production
of wheat feeds increased sharply.
Present flour mill activity exceeds that