Evening star., 1934-01-09
TRENDS IRREGULAR
IN FARM PRICES
Live Stock, Potatoes, Onions
Make Sharpest Gains
as Year Opens.

Prices of farm products continued to
follow a mixed trend but advances
were more numerous than declines the
first part of January. according to the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture.
Live stock, potatoes and onions made
the snarpest gains. Cotton and most
of the grains and feeds showed slightly
upward trends. Butter and egg mar
kets declined again under liberal re-
ceipts and the progress of the season
with heavier production, but became
more steady at the lower price level
reached.
Poultry sold at fairly well maintained
prices. Hides and wool held recent
price levels Apples advanced further.
Cabbage markets we're still at high
level, despite increasing supplies from
the South.
Potatoes Go Higher.
Potato prices advanced quite sharply
during the cold weather and main
tanned a higher level surprisingly we'll.
despite the renewal of liberal shipments
from some sections. Maine sacked
Green Mountains were 1890 cents
higher per 100 pounds and nearly
double the prices of year ago. Presque
Isle. Me, reported some sales as high
as 81 48. Long Island Green Mountains
gained 1920 cents and Wisconsin stock
gained Sis cents in Chicago.
New York onions advanced 1920
cents per so pounds, ranging Sl.l5-
$3.50 in Eastern cities and around 81 .25
in producing sections. These prices
were about four times the prevailing
range year ago and about the same
linz in t1a
West New York Danish type cabbage
was $3.50 higher the first week Of
January, ranging S55-S60 per ton in
bulk in Eastern cities, compared with
S9-Sl3 a year ago. Texas cabbage was
slightly lower.
Sweet potatoes followed irregular
price trends ranging IS cents to SIPS
per bushel for Eastern Shore. Md, and
Delaware sweets sold in Eastern mar
kets. Some stock from New Jersey sold
up to Sl40 Western lettuce tended
lower. but good Florida stock still sold
above 81 per hamper. Celery was
quoted at firm prices. ranging S1.50-
S165 per two-thirds crate at Western
New York shipping points.
Some Apples Advance.
Apples sold higher on some varieties.
Eastern Staymans and Mcintosh
brought $1.25-S165 per bushel in lead
ing markets Connecticut, MasSachu-
setts and Vermont Mcintosh sold at
S135-S175 and BaldWinS IS cents to
S1.12. Some stock Of this variety was
quoted above S1.20 in Western New
York producing sections. Strawberries
from Florida sold mostly below 20 cents
per pint in Northern markets. New
York carrots were higher at 81 40-S1 so
;,, Nd
to 81 in New York producing sections.
After the sharp declines early in
January the butter market developed
more steady tone and small price recov-
cries were recorded in Eastern markets.
Several favorable conditions aided in a
more hopeful attitude toward the mar
ket, including a falling off in production
owing partly to extreme weather cOndl-
tions. lower butterfat prices, rela
lively heavy movement out of cold
storage and the evidence of satisfactory
consuming demand. In comparison
with top grades the undergrades held
relatively steady Fresh receipts were
light and most buyers were using
storage stock, which dealers were re-
luctant to offer at prevailing prices,
which are close to the low levels of mid
December. Production seems to be
1alllQS 1artner below laSC year S level
and receipts at the large markets are
also below those of year ago.
Egg Market Irregular.
Egg markets were weak and irregular
during the first week of January, prices
showing net reductions of about 3 cents
a dozen at New York and to cents
at Chicago. Receipts tend to increase
at this season, but are subject to sharp
interruptions. according to weather con-
ditions. Holdings in cold storage are
still well above those of a year ago.
Poultry markets are steady to firm
at practically unchanged prices. There
was some irregularity in market trends
in the various classes of receipts, but on
the whole markets are in fairly good
condition. Receipts of dressed poultry
tend to decrease at this season. but i
holdings in cold storage are sufficient
for market requirements