Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-08-11
FARM PRICES ARE
ON AN INCREASE
LIVESTOCK CONTINUES WEAK
FEATURE BECAUSE OF FORCED
SELLING FROM DRY REGIONS

From Bureau Of Economies U. 8.
Department Of Agriculture
Prices Of farm products made 3
fairly strong showing 81 the end q
July with rising trend for grakns cot
tom dairy PRECINCTS and eggs Live
stock continued the weak feature be-
cause Of fofeed selling from drUuthy
sections. Prices Of fruits ana vege-
tables showed she usual mneven
trends. Fruit supplies are increasing
and price changes mostly downward
Prices Of citrus traits were about
steady. The potato market position
improved with lighter shipments.
It is in the livestock situation thaa
the country win feel the more lengthy
effects Of this summers crop failures
Not only are many pastures burned
brown, but farmers now face the GER
tainty Of high-priced grain and scarce
feed next winter. To the reduction al
ready accomplished In hogs Is being
added an enforced selling Of cattle and
sheep
The total acreage of field crops har-
vested probably win be the smallest
IN Is years. owing to acreage reduction
programs plus the effect Of drouth. The
crops OF corn wheat oats, barley, rye
and flax are expected 10 be the small
est harvested ia this country in 80
years
With fewer cattle placed In feed lets,
and with government purchases remov-
ing large numbers Of the lower grades
that might be carried over and market
ed next year, the total supply Of cattle
for slaughter 10 1885 is expected 10 be
considerably smaller than that OF 1884.
The supply OF weIl-finished steers un-
doubtedly win be much smaller than
the unusually large supplies which came
on the market In late 1888 and the first
half Of 1894.
Missouri river cattle markets began
the month on q higher basis. FaE
lambs advanced few days ago Is
cents to 80 cents Hogs sold moderately
higher with the top at Kansas City "a
70 and at st. Louis $3.50. Comparative
" few fed steers sold above $3.50 and
most straight grass cattle downward
from around $3.50. Replacement de-
nnaand improved and advances o. as
cents and more were general on se0rker
and feeder steers Slaughter grades Of
COWS and heiferg shared fully In tbs
steer advance.
The situation ia the cattle market
next year win be very much like that
following the very short corn CROPS ia
1924 and 1925. Cattle feeding was re-
1uced because OF feed scarcity, and sup
plies Of well-finished cattle for mar
ret were greatly decreased. with the re-
Il1lt that prices Of such cattle rose 70
very high levels. Prices Of the lower
grades however, made very little adj
rance, and this resulted in an unusual
VIDE price spread between prices Of
ne better grades and the inferior
rinds.
The sheep and lamb situation Is very
much like that Of cattle. The drouth
making It necessary for sheenxnen to
educe flock numbers and win cause q
arge proportion Of this years lamb
Top 70 be marketed In thin condition.
amp feeding next winter NAV be
.reatly curtailed because Of feed scare
W although the favorable returns from
asst winters feeding operations are on
Incentive TO feed increased numbers.
domestic wheat prices advanced
asner steadily during July, With No. 2
laho winter wheat quoted July "A at Ell
2 more 9 puSheI at the principal mar
cts. Spring wheat advanced more thar
winter wheat, with Ordinary protein
AK northern spring bringing up to
l,lO q btlsheI at Minneapolis late in
Inc production Of wheat per capita
4 population this year is the lowest
= record. The winter wheat crou il
lightly larger than last year. but sprinr
neat apparently viii be only half 4
allion bushels. Canadian estimates in
lcaSe 3 wheat crop there not much
Dove last seasons short crop.
Iwraw- -