The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-03-31
j Prizes
'Illoy!! uplurIl
oslsht Picture
4 Reflected
~ FRANKLIN MULLNi

~ FRANKLIN MULLN
nCHICAGO, March 3l-R-
The farm commodities price pic.
ture 10 showing it, brightest
tinIe since the fall Of France.
Many important agricultural
products, revived by hopes that
Europs,s demand for food even
tually will be met In some way
now are selling Ut around the
highest levels since the collapse
last May when the German
armies swept into western Eur.
ope.
Hopes that the American
agricultural machine, reversed
BY elimination Of much Of the
European market for foodstu4&s.
might again be thrown into high
gear, @ 4 was quarter cen
fury ago, lay In growing lend
lease assistance to Britain and
in the Increasing scope Of the
war itself.
Government entrance into the
market for such important farm
commodities ~ eggs, dairy
products, lard and large scale
defense requirements for hides
wool and foods has increased
demand. OF paramount import
ance also has been . growing
demand from civilian consumers
as national industry fattens pay
rolls and strengthens ability to
buy.
Progress Of farm legislation In
Congress, with talk Of higher
commodity loans, also has been
a factor.
Elevation Of farm prices has
occurred despite the excellent
outlook for 1041 crops due to the
greatly improved moisture sit.
uation. Butter and egg produc-
ton has been heavy. Record
breaking carryovers Of wheat
and corn are on hand and large
surplus stocks are piled up I'M
der loans and government con-
troll. Decreased planting Of many
crops this spring is in prospect
and the spring pig crop may be
smaller, but the weather and
performance Of prices still can
have tremendous influence on
total 1941 production.
Commodities market experts
see much similarity between
trends Of the past IL months
and those of the 1014-18 period
when the European call for food
became so great that American
agriculture stimulated by high
prices for land and its products,
expanded beyond proportions
which later proved necessary
for normal requirements.
The 1941 picture is different,
however, because Of the char
acter of the war and the many
controls and safeguards now ex-
ercised by governmental author
ity. Furthermore, at present
there are large SURPRISES of
some commodities which did not
exist then. However, there are
no SURPRISES Of many of the
foods most urgently. needed
abroad, like meats, dairy prod
ucts and certain fats and oils.
many of the foods most urgently
needed abroad, like meats, dairy
products and certain fats and
oils.
Chicago wheat Is near 95
cents q bushel for spot delivery,
somewhat lower than q year ago
but Is cents above the level to
which II fell last summer. Corn
Is around 20 cents, about q dime
. bushel higher than q year ago
and the top price for this time
of season since 1897. Butter il
near 80 cents q pound whole
sale, the highest since late last
year and 5 cents more than q
year ago.
Eggs, priced around II cents
a dozen for best grades, also are
the highest Of the year and about
5 cents above prices year ago.
Hogs. at better than ~ cents
q pound, show an increase OF
more than ~ cents over q year
ago and near the best levels
since 1898. Best cattle are more
than 2 cents higher than a year
ago, while lambs are the high
est In 81 years. Wool, hides
and lard prices have risen Is
to SO per cent since. the war
began, most of the upturn COM
ing in the past year. Best hide
grades are quoted around 13
cents q pound against IL q year
ago. Lard, at near Z cents, Is
more than 2 cents higher. Bright
wool, at 81 to 81 cents or better,
Is z to 8 cents higher.
battle, which the British de-