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the week, doubtless as a result ^f the continued high production of 

 dairy products, both per cow and total production. Milk production 

 promises to continue heavy this fall, and through the winter feeding 

 period. With present prices of dairy products and feedstuffs, it is 

 profitable to feed liberally in most areas, and especially in the central 

 states. The number of cows is still on the upward trend. 



Egg prices have shown a tendency toward weakness relative to 

 the usual seasonal trend during the past three weeks in spite of the 

 improvement in domestic demand and purchases by governmental agencies. 

 This weakness is doubtless caused by the unusually heavy production of 

 eggs this fall. It is expected that egg production will be maintained 

 at a very high level both this winter and through 19^2. It is likely 

 that the tentative goals set up for the production of both eggs and 

 chicken meat in 19^ will be attained. It is also expected that cash 

 farm income for poultry products in 19-^2 will be materially larger than 

 in 19^1 and possibly the largest on record. Farmers* costs will also 

 be higher than in 19^1, but they may not increase as fast as incomes. 

 Even though the margin of egg prices over a year earlier has been de- 

 creasing, the price of fresh firsts at Chicago in the third week of 

 September was about 50 per cent higher than in the corresponding period 

 of 19^0. It is expected that the spread over the previous year will 

 continue to decline in view of the heavier marketings in prospect. 

 Prices of most classes of young chickens are 2 to ^ cents higher than 

 a year ago, although the seasonal downward trend has begun. 



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