"T ^' ' Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics 

 -X^^d2u^- University of Illinois College of Agriculture, UrT^ana, Illinois, 

 ^1^. •^2 and U. S. Department of Agriculture cooperating 



WEEKLY REVIEW AND FARM OUTLOOK LETTER 



By G. L. Jordan 

 Professor, Agricultural Economics 

 j University of Illinois 



College of Agriculture ]Hl library of THE 



(Prepared February 1?) JijN Z'.' '^44 



L'N!V:RSiTV CT ILliNC'.S 



The peach prospects in southern Illinois remain good, despite the snov and 

 subzero weather that followed an unseasonally warm spell, according to Prof. M. J. 

 Dorsey, Head of the Department of Horticulture. In most areas, not more than 20 to 

 50 percent of the peach buds have been Icilled. Doctor Dorsey explained that it takes 

 only about 20 percent of the buds to make a crop, so there are plenty of live buds 

 available. Considerable variation was reported for different varieties. 



As a result of the reduction in receipts caused by the severe snow storm, 

 top prices of hogs rose above the support level for the first time for many weeks. 

 A top of ^Ik was obtained at Chicago Tuesday. This is an indication of what will 

 happen as soon as hog marketings slacken. 



If the price of hogs rises to $1^.75> the present ceiling, the hog-corn 

 ratio will be quite favorable, and it will be more profitable to feed hogs than to 

 sell corn at present ceiling prices. We shall not have any substeintial carry-over of 

 corn, and we don't know what the weather will be during the summer months. Under 

 these circumstances, farmers may follow their usual conservative practice of retaining 

 enough corn on the farm to provide enoUgh feed for livestock on hand. 



There is a particularly serious need for legume seeds in the northeast dairy 

 production area of the country. However, in some seed- producing areas of the country, 

 reports indicate that farmers are holding seed back for 19^5 plantings. The War Food 

 Administration indicates that all of the available red clover seed supply must be used 

 this year if vital war goals are to be met. 



Although the total meat output of 19^^+ may reach 25 billion pounds dressed 

 weight, or an increase of 8 percent over 19^3 > civilians will probably receive about 

 the same amount of meat per capita as they received in 19^5. The increase will be 

 absorbed by military services and exports. 



Cash income from farm marketings for 1914-5 is estimated by the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture at 19*009 million dollars compared with 15,356 million dollars in 

 I9U2. Most of the increase ceune from sales of livestock and livestock products. Hog 

 sales made sheirp advances, but there were also increases in poultry and eggs. Income 

 from oil-bearing crops was up 70 percent. Wheat income was 15 percent higher in north- 

 central regions. 



The Office of Price Administration is considering ceilings on alfalfa hay 

 but apparently has abandoned earlier intentions, to place all hay under ceiling price 

 W control anyway soon. The ceiling price on alfalfa hay is expected to reflect full 

 parity computed on a national weighted average basis. 



Prices received by farmers averaged II6 percent of parity in January, the 

 s€Lm*» as in December. 



