-2- 



^f» The War Food Admlniatratlon announced egg support prices at Chicago for 



three periods as follows: 



Grade and size 

 U. S. commercial grades Jan, l6 to 29 Jan. 30 to Feb, 12 Feb. 15 to March k 



A, large 59. 9# 58. ^ 59.6^ 



A, medium 52.9 52.^ 52.^ 



B, large 56.9 55.^ 5^.^ 

 B. medium 29.9 29. U 29. ^ 



Comparahle prices were announced for other wholesale grades. Poultrymen will be in- 

 terested in the wide spread between the prices of the highest and lowest grades. 



Egg production and use . The great variation that existed between the pre- 

 war 1955-59 average and 19^4^5 figures in production and use of eggs is portrayed in 

 the following table: 



Egg Production and Uses for Iftiited States, Five -Year Average and 19^5 

 Item 19^3 (tentative) 1953-59 



Total production (cases) 165,000,000 111,000,000 

 Civilian supplies (cases) 125,000,000 108,000,000 

 Government dried (cases) 24,000,000 

 Government shell (cases) 10,000,000 

 Hatching and net export (cases) 7,000,000 5,500,000 

 Civilian per capita consumption 3k6 300 



Wheat. The strength of wheat prices during the past week was attributed 

 partly to increased purchases of flour by the Army for overseas use. It is reported 

 that there has been extensive destruction of flour mills and milling machinery in 

 southern Europe. This would lead to increased demands for flour instead of wheat in 

 the areas which we are able to liberate. Another factor may have been the considera- 

 tion of a renewal of the subsidy on flour to Cuba. Cuba is a good customer for sev- 

 eral United States agricultural products, including flour. One of the factors in- 

 volved in our sugar purchase agreement with Cuba was the stabilization of flour prices 

 in Cuba. It seems that it is necessary for us to subsidize the exports of flour in 

 order to keep them down to the former level in Cuba in order to be able to buy sugar 

 at present favorable prices. Another item, of course, is the matter of competition 

 with other wheat -exporting countries. 



The railroads continue to comply with the government's request that 200 cars 

 a day be made available for the shipment of wheat from Canada to the United States for 

 feed purposes. The milling Industry recommended a reduction or an elimination of the 

 government's feed wheat sales as a means of making transportation facilities available 

 for the shipment of dcmestic wheat and flour. Because of the tight feed situation in 

 this country, we shall probably continue to sell wheat for feed as long as we can im- 

 port it from Canada at present prices. No duty is paid on this feed wheat at present. 



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