^^^^^ ^ Extension Service in Agriculture and Hcane Econcxnics 



1 University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Urbana 



WEEKLY REVIEW AND FARM CfUTLOQK LSTTER 



By 0, L, Whalin 

 Associate Professor, Agricultural Extension 

 (Prepared September 12) ]^^ :^ 



Grain prices remained strong in spite of the September "bumper crop report. 

 With small receipts, hog prices continued at ceilings. Cattle prices continued weak, 

 only a few loads "bringing ceiling prices. All grades were under pressure and "buyers* 

 discrimination extended even to strictly choice steers. Better cattle showed renewed 

 strength Wednesday with removal of the federal slaughter restrictions. 



Western grass cattle have "begun their flow in earnest to Chicago. Quality 

 is showing considera"ble improvement, and prices are about in line with those of a 

 year ago. 



Wheat prices at the end of the war (August 15) averaged $1.^5 a bushel and 

 com $1.13 a bushel at the farm compared with $2.05 for wheat and $1.58 for com at 

 the end of World War I. For two years after World War I farm prices for wheat and 

 corn averaged considerably above parity, but during World War II wheat averaged 

 slightly below parity and com about parity. Farm prices of wheat August 15 averaged 

 95 per cent of parity, whereas com averaged 102 per cent. 



Another bumper crop is in prospect, according to the September federal crop 

 report. Outstanding was the estimate for another com crop in excess of 3 billion 

 bushels --225, 000 bushels more than was reported a month ago. The four major crops, 

 of which both wheat and oats are the highest of record, together with sorghum grains 

 and soybeans, promise a cctabined production of 6,593 million bushels compared with 

 6,132 million bushels harvested in 19^*-^^. Continued favorable weather in September ' 

 and later than normal frosts will be necessary, the report stated, if these prospects 

 are to be borne out. 



Subsidies on cattle may be removed by April 1, 19^, according to a state- 

 ment by Clinton P. Anderson, Secretary of Agriculture. The date, he said, would be 

 announced far enough ahead to permit feeders to govern their purchases. 



The Department of Agriculture and the OPA agree that meat rationing should 

 end as soon as supplies are sufficiently adequate and distribution is sufficiently 

 equitable to permit such action, according to a statement made by J. B. Hutson, Acting 

 Secretary of Agriculture. The present supply situation, however, does not make pos- 

 sible predictions as to the exact time meat will be off rationing. 



The break in shell egg prices was influenced by rumors of the end of meat 

 rationing on October 1. Demand had already weakened, since meat, poultry, cheese and 

 potatoes had become more plentiful. 



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^ Cooperative 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 May 8 and June 50, 191^. 



