Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-12-29
FOOD PRODUCT
PRICES ARE UP
HIGHER LEVELS EXPECTED FOR
GRAINS, FEEDS, LIVESTOCK;
SPECULATION SPURKED

From Bureau Of Agricultural
Economies. Department. a. Agriculture
Trend Of the food crops and pred
ucts has been mostly upward this
month, In line with rising commodity
markets, business recovery ard re-
duced productions and storage. Trade
expectation Of sim higher Aevels fer
grain, feeds, livestock and dairy prod
ucts has led 20 some speculative buy-
ing. Standard vegetables ard citrus
fruits are selling comparatively low
under liberal supplies
Corn, instead Of wheat. has led the
grain markets IN the effort TO discount
the great shortage Of feed grains. The
situation has an effect on wheat BE-
cause some Of it viii be used for feed
where it sells no higher than corn
Cost Of feed has brought TO market q
rush Of poorly finished livestock, since
It is often more profitable 70 sell the
grain than to feed it. This condition
may change when the feed rise and the
hRsty marketing have run their course
Livestock Marketing Moderate
Marketings Of livestock have contin-
ued in about the same volume as dur
ing the early part Of the month. Chi
cago prices on good and choice FED
steers and yearlings worked slightly
higher during the middle Of the month.
while medium and lower grades Of
stocker. and feeder cattle, demand for
which was extremely narrow, sold IS
cents lower. Fat lamb values reacted
from the early December advance, with
Chicago prices down Is cents to 40
cents. Feeding lambs shaded the decline |
under a narrow demand, but moderate
supplies Of matured sheep held steady.
Although an extreme top on lambs Of
SITS was recorded at Chicago the sec
ond week Of December, packers took
the bulk of the better grade lambs at |
800 and $725.
Gains in Feed Prices
Feed markets made further sharp
gains the second week Of December, de-
mand being broadened materially by
colder weather and heavy SHOWS. Wheat
feeds were sharply higher at practically
all distributing markets. Bran advanced
$50 to $500 per ton at most mid
western markets and as much as $2.75
at Kansas City. Feed markets at Dem
YER and Ogden were firmer, owing to
cutting off Of range feed. Millrun prices
At Ogden were the highest in many
months. Cottonseed continued in SC
tive demand, gaining so cents to rs
cents per ton at leading markets Lin
seed meal advanced 81 to $50 and soy
bean meal was irregularly higher. Corn
feeds were firm and higher despite
declines in corn prices, gluten feed adj
vancing so cents per ton and white
nominy feed 81 to 81.
The retail turkey trade has recovered
and stocks quite generally have been
reduced. Dealers in the market for
i've birds find the supply somewhat
limited and have to pay top quotations
n order to get delivery. Supplies OF
western stock in storage are still quite
leavy but are gradually decreasing.
Produce Supplies Light
Recent cold weather has sharply re-
iuced supplies Of home grown vege-
ables ON the Denver market. Spinach
vas scarce and sold by growers as high
Is 81 per bushel. Texas grapefruit has
,een selling below cost in many in
tances. Carlot potato shipments from
colorado have been very light since the
orepart Of November, averaging only
me car per week from the Greeley
ection.
Carlot shipments of leading fruits
md vegetables decreased more than
ne-fifth from 1923 to 1888, with lighter
PRODUCTION, slow demand, lower prices
nd the increasing activities of motor
rucks. Shipment figures for the first
0 months Of this year show moderate
ecovery Of to 6 percent.