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Extension Service in Agricultuie and Home Economics RtCEIVED 

 University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Urbana 



y fyJAR 1 6 ID45 



WEEKLY EEVIEW AND FABM OUTLOOK LETTEE ^ 



]y^ ANIMAI. HU5^P*Mr>ov 

 By G. L. Jordan j-^^r : igq-r-y ^^ ff^f 



Profesfeor, Agricultural Economics 

 (Prepared March 15) '1^^^ 



APR 1 i24B 



The livestock markets were characterized by small receipts of hogs and in- 

 creasing supplies of cattle. Hogs bring ceiling prices and^ buyers" 'are litiiibl^ to get 

 anyways near as many as they wish. Cattle prices have remained steady considering 

 quality of receipts. Short-feds dominate the receipts and substantial premiums are 

 paid willingly for high-quality steers. The demands for all meats are so strong that 

 slaughterers take practically everything that has enough flesh to kill. This has a 

 tendency to run up the price of feeder stock and discourages replacement in the feed- 

 lots. This will eventually reduce the total tonnage of beef. 



The wheat market has been exceptionally strong and this strength has been 

 reflected in other grains. In spite of the favorable war outlook, the wheat market 

 is dominated at the moment by the inability to obtain boxcars for shipment of prlvateHy 

 owned grain. Another factor that affected the wheat market during the past week was 

 the vote to continue the Commodity Credit Corporation and greatly expand its borrowing 

 powers. That means that it will have funds to support the market for farm products. 



Canada has announced their grain program for 19^5-^ • It includes the con- 

 tinuation of the guaranteed price of $1.25 a bushel, basis No. 1 Northern, in store at 

 Fort Williams, Fort Arthur or Vancouver. Growers will again receive participation 

 certificates entitling them to share in any profit that might be realized by the gov- 

 ernment in the sale of the wheat. The guaranteed price of $1.25 a bushel will not be 

 paid for more than an individual grower's quota of l4 bushels per authorized acre. 



The War Food Administration announced March 9 that recently enacted legisla- 

 tion protects the allotments of wheat producers in cases where weu: crop production has 

 upset the farmer's normal production of wheat. 



With normal weather the USDA expects the supply of hay on hand to be adequate 

 to meet current livestock requirements and to leave a carry-over only slightly leas 

 than the 10.3 million tons carried over last year. 



The War Food Administration is urging poultry producers to increase chicken 

 meat production to meet increased military requirements and to supplement meat sup- 

 plies in the summer and eeirly fall during the seasonally low period in livestock mar- 

 keting. 



The early spring lamb crop in the principal producing states is about 6 per- 

 cent smaller than a year ago. This is the fourth year in succession that the crop has 

 been lower than the previous year. Thls'yeeir's crop will be the smallest in the pres- 

 ent decade, according to the War Food Administration, The reduction this year le the 

 result of a decrease in the number of breeding ewes. 



Exorbitant charges for repair of household appliances, automobiles and farm 

 equipment are to receive the immediate attention of the Office of Price Administration. 

 Ceiling prices for such repairs generally are frozen at March 19^2 levels. 



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Cooperatlve Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics: University of Illinois 



College of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating, 



H. P. Rusk, Director. Acts approved by Congress Meiy 8 and J\»e 50, 191**^. 



