-2- 



Graln In storage * Although grain in storage at terminal 

 markets does not take into consideration farm stocks and is, there- 

 fore, not truly representative of the national situation, the rapid 

 disappearance of wheat and corn are represented in the figures quoted 

 in "U. S, Grain in Store and Afloat for Domestic Marketing." The 

 report, dated May k-, indicates holdings of 19^ million hushels of 

 wheat compared with 229 million bushels a year ago; less than 3^ mil- 

 lion bushels of corn compared with 63 million bushels a year ago; 

 slightly larger holdings of oats and barley; and considerably larger 

 holdings of rye. Canada stocks of wheat were ^09 million bushels 

 compared to ^21 a year ago, but stocks of oats were quite high— this 

 year, they were 33 million bushels compared to 5 million bushels a 

 year ago. Barley stocks were also high-— 33 million bushels compared 

 to 9 million bushels a year ago. 



gold storage holdings . On April 1, 19^3, cold storage 

 holdings of principal commodities were different from April 1 a year 

 ago by the following percentages: apples, +1^ per cent; frozen fruit, 

 +5 peJ^ cent; frozen vegetables, +9 ..per cent; creamery butter, -63 per 

 cent; cheese, -60 per cent; eggs, +25 per cent; frozen poultry, -5^ 

 per cent; beef, -3^ pe^ cent; pork, no change; total meats, -10 per 

 cent; lard, -30 per cent. 



The poultry situation . The U. S. Department of Agriculture 

 anticipates that the egg-feed price relationship will continue to be 

 favorable for farmers throughout the coming summer. As a result, 

 farmers will probably cull their flocks lightly and feed well. Egg 

 production is expected to continue above the year earlier. During 

 March, laying flocks averaged I6 per cent larger than a year ago, and 

 the rate of production per bird was 1 per cent higher. We are now 

 entering the into-storage period for eggs, but it is not expected 

 that many storage eggs will be available to consumers next winter. 

 The government has ordered that all shell eggs in cold storage on 

 May 31 be set aside for government use or distribution and after 

 May 31 1^0 shell eggs may be stored except for government uses. It is 

 expected, however, that there will be a* good supply of fresh eggs 

 available throughout 19^3* Demand is so strong that ceiling prices 

 will likely be maintained. Ceiling prices are adjusted seasonally 

 from June through November. At the present time, substantial quanti- 

 ties of eggs are used for egg drying purposes. It is reported that 

 egg drying plants, are operating at considerably less than capacity 

 because egg prices have been high relative to the prices of the dried 

 eggs. The number of young chickens on farms April 1 was 23 per cent 

 larger than a year earlier* During the latter half of 19^3* it is 

 expected that supplies of poultry will be much larmier than during the 

 corresponding period in 19^. Recently, farmers have sold very few 

 hens, and city consumers have not been able to buy all they wished. 



In 19^2 Illinois gross income from chickens was ^27>^51>000. 

 Illinois ranked second; Iowa led with sales of $^1,^50,000. On the 

 other hand, sales of eggs by Illinois farmers brought only $35*307f 000 

 compared with $^3>307>000 in Iowa. The Illinois amount was also ex- 

 ceeded by New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, and 

 Texas. 



