The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-01-04
FOOD PRODUCT
PRICES ARE UP
HIGHER LEVELS EXPECTED FOR
GRAINS, FEEDS. LIVESTOCK;
SPECULATION SPURRED

From Bureau of Agricultural
Economics, Department Of Agriculture
Trend of the food crops and prod
ucts has been mostly upward this
month, in line with rising commodity
markets, business recovery and re-
duced production and storage. Trade
expectation of still higher levels for
grain, feeds, livestock and dairy prod
ucts has led to some speculative buy
ing. Standard vegetables and 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 will be used for feed
where it sells no higher than corn.
Cost of feed has brought to market a
rush of poorly finished livestock, since
it is often more profitable to sell the
grain than to feed it. This condition
may change when the feed rise and the
hasty marketing have run their course.
Livestock Marketing Moderate
Marketings of livestock have contin-
ned 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 rs
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
$500 and SIPS.
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
S1.5O to $500 per ton at most MD
western markets and as much as $27J
at Kansas City. Feed markets at Den
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 &C.
tive demand gaining so cents to Is
cents per ton at leading markets Lin
seed meal advanced 81 to $1.5O and soy
bean meal was irregularly higher. Corn
feeds we're firm and higher despite
declines in corn prices, gluten feed ad-
vancing so cents per ton and white
hominy feed 81 to 50.
The retail turkey trade has recovered
and stocks quite generally have been
reduced. Dealers in the market for
live birds find the supply somewhat
limited and have to pay top quotations
in order to get delivery. Supplies OF
western stock in storage are still quite
heavy but are gradually decreasingt
Produce Supplies Light
Recent cold weather has sharply re-
duced supplies of home grown vege-
tables on the Denver market. Spinach
was scarce and sold by growers as high
as 81 per bushel. Texas grapefruit has
been selling below cost in many in
stances. Carlot potato shipments from
Colorado have been very light since the
forepart Of November, averaging only
one car per week from the Greeley
section.
Carlot shipments of leading fruits
and vegetables decreased more than
one-fifth from 1928 to 1888, with lighter
production, slow demand, lower prices
and the increasing activities of motor
trucks. Shipment figures for the first
10 months of this year show moderate
recovery of to percent.