i ^. 



Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics ^ 

 University cf Illinois College of Agriculture, Urtana, Illinois^, 

 and U. S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating 



WEEECLY REVIEW AND FAB^^-OtTTLOCK LETTER 



By G, L. Jordan ^<:- ■ . ■ .j . ^' 



Professor, Agricultural Economics 

 University of Illinois 

 College of Agriculture 



. (Prepared November l8) 



Hog marketings continue heavy, "but there is less congestion in terminal 

 markets than last week. A two-day emhsii'so was placed on all livestock at South 

 St. Paul. Good and choice barrows and gilts "bring the government's support price of 

 $13.75 for the 200 to 270 pound weights. The desirable procedure would seem to be 

 to sell your hogs as they reach a desirable finish and weigh in excess of 200 pounds, 

 providing- tho terminal markets can handle them. There is ajje^^or discount on hogs 

 weighing under 180 ^ipounds than there is on hogs of the same grade weighing above 3OC 

 pounds. There often is no reliable outlet for pigs under I50 pounds. Marvin Jones 

 has requested lower point values for pork euid^nforcement of the $15.75 floor at 

 all major markets. 



For the 9 -months— -TJSiiuary to September 19^5 farmers .produced 1 percent lees 

 milk than during the same period in 19^2. Other production figures were as follows: 

 eggs, up 13 percent; lamb and mutton, up 8 percent; lard, up I8 percent; but beef, 

 down 12 percent. The November crop report indicates an estimated yield o|l 5^086 

 million bushels of corn, an increase of 1 percent from October 1, an^^-<rtily 90 -million 

 bushels below the bumjjer crop of \^h2 and over 700- million bush^ia^arger than the 

 1932-iH average. The preliminary estimate for com yields fofMCllinois was pl.O .,.,_^ 

 bushels per acre, compared to a yield of 59 bushels f^i^ Iowa. Illinois led all states 

 in soybean production and yields. ^ 



Congress is still battling over the subject of food subsidies, with the 

 House of Representatives setting anti-subsidy legislation for floor consideration 

 Thursday. The measure will probably come to a vote on November 22. The granting of 

 the wage increase to coal miners on the pretext that they would take only 15 minutes 

 for lunch and the approval of the wa^e increase of between 4 and 10 cents _n hour for 

 certain railroad workers would seem to be an entering wedge that might result in 

 further inflation. All other labor groups will think that they are entitled to in- 

 creased wages. Farmers argue that industrial workers are making such high wages that 

 they don't i^ed any government subsidy, and any increase in wages makes the farmers' \ 

 case that mubh stronger. However, the general consensus of opinion is that there 

 will be no/ rimaway inflation during the war, and that attempts will be made to pre- 

 vent it in the early postwar period. Prcbably the tactics used will be to fight 

 heavy demands of pressure groups for Increased wages or prices as long as possible, 

 make the smallest concession that is politically feasible, and hope the.t the war is 

 over before the dike breaks and the inflation flood overwhelms us. 



.. The government reports that during October the lamb feeding situation con- 

 (1^ tinued to indicate a rather sharp reduction from a year earlier in the number of lambe 

 and sheep to be fed duaring the present feeding season. The greatest reduction has, 

 been in the western corn belt, where the wheat pasture prospects were unfavorable. ' • '• 

 Some increases in lamb feeding are indicated for Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. 



^ GLJ;rw ' " ■ • 



II-I8-U5 • ' 



-0- • . ■ ■ ■ ■' 



