XL---* fc ^ 3. W Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics 



a^J^ Q University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Urbana p^£QElVED 



||r WEEKLY REVIEW AM) FAEM OUTLOOK LETTER j^^;, 9l 1945 



y. By G. L. Jordan AHlMAL HUSBANDRY 



Professor, Agricultural Economics JHE UG^'-i't \a i-iC 

 (Prepared November 21 ) 



Receipts of hogs at Chicago during the past two weeks^^e thh"' largest since 

 last January. Although the average weight was only 26? pounds, the ^lightest since 

 May 19, it was above that of any corresponding week on recor(i'.'»'*5^'^a§ar-'>ieli^t of 

 hogs received set a new November record. Expansion of receipts has been greatest in 

 the western com belt. There have also been increased cattle marketings at Missouri 

 River centers. More short-fed and less long-fed steers are coming to market. Strictly 

 finished cattle are scarce, but the ceiling is paid for cattle with moderate finish. 

 Because of the relatively large amount of soft corn in the western corn belt, Illinois 

 feeders are forced to compete actively for replacement stock. Present stocker and 

 feeder cattle prices are the highest on record for the season. 



The grain markets have been strong, with rye futiires recovering all the 10 

 or 11 cents dip of last week and going to a new 25-year high. Oats prices were a lit- 

 tle weak in the spot market as a result of larger receipts axid the falling off In shipping 

 demand. The Office of Price Administration indicated that it would issue regulations 

 November 50 setting ceilings on the 19k6 rye crop at all levels. This will be the first 

 ceiling placed ^>»nrye, and it is expected that it will be $1.^4-2 a bushel at Chicago 

 for Ifo. 2 rye and will become effective June 1, 19^6. Monday, November 19, the 

 December rye future closed 50 cents above this ceiling for the new crop. 



According to the government's November 1 reponrt, about as many lambs will 

 be finished in feedlots during the 19^5-^4-6 lamb feeding season as in the 19ifif-45 sea- 

 son, but there will be a rather sharp reduction in the number finished on wheat pas- 

 tures. Because of the higher subsidy payments on heavy weight lambs, the movement out 

 of the feedlots may be delayed. Shipments of feeder lambs to the lot feeding areas of 

 the com belt in October were the second largest on record for the month. 



An increase in the number of cattle fed during the coming winter feeding sea- 

 son over a year earlier is anticipated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture as a 

 result of developments during October. The unusually keen demand for feeder cattle 

 evidenced in October is expected to continue through November and December; and if cat- 

 tle are available, the movement into feeding areas will continue large. 



As a result of good weather which permitted farmers to speed up fall harvest 

 operations, about 60,000 more persons were working on farms on November 1 than a year 

 earlier. This is the first month since September 19i4-3 that a significant increase 

 over a year earlier has occurred in farm employment. It is probably a good indication 

 of the easing of the farm labor situation associated with the return of the boys from 

 the armed services. 



The U. 3. Department of Agriculture reports that rates paid by farmers for 

 combining and harvesting of wheat, oats and soybeans have shown a sharp increase in 

 recent years. Combining rates for the 19^5 crop averaged $3.65 per acre for wheat and 

 $3.60 per acre for oats compared with $1.90 for wheat and $2.50 for oats for the 1958 

 crop. Rates for coinbining the 19^5 crop of soybeans have averaged $5.80 per acre so 

 far this season, with considerable veiriation between states. 



-0-. 



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, 191^4- . 



