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A_G_RI~C_U_L~TU~RA~L__
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__
WS~O_F__
T_HE__~_VE_E_K__~~~--~~~-----~-----W_e_dn_e_s_d~ay,~
21, 1950
Number 2
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
FARM INCOME
Cash receipts from farm marketings in Texas during the first 4 months of
1950 totaled ~92 million, vs. $391 million in the same period last year, according
to the BAE. The increase resulted from larger receipts from sale of crops, as income from livestock and livestock products was lower.
On the national level, cash receipts from farm marketings during the first
4 months of 1950 amounted to f7 billion, vs. $7.7 for the same period last year. Income for the first 6 months is forecast by the USDA at $10.6 billion, or 9 percent
below the first half of 1949.
WHEAT
Wheat prices on the Fort Worth Grain and Cotton Exchange have strengthened
fractionally during the past week, although they are much below levels of April and
May. On Tuesday of this week, No. 1 hard wheat sold for a top price of $2.35 per
bushel, vs. $2.33 a week earlier. Prices are about 20 to 25 cents above a year ago.
Cash wheat prices in the Southwest are slightly under the indicated loan
level for the 1950 wheat crop, and as a result farmers with storage facilities-are
reportedly holding their new-crop wheat.
The visible supply of wheat in the U. S. on June 17 was estimated by the
Chicago Board of Trade at 153 million bushels, vs. 94 million a year ago.
The 1950 Kansas wheat crop is being referred to in the Wichita area as
"the millers delight," because of its excellent quality. Test weight of wheat harvested in that area is shovdng 61 to 6h pounds per bushel and moisture is running
about 13 percent. Mills and elevators in that area are paying $1.)1 per bushel for
new wheat, vs. $1.70 a year ago.
The PMA last week purchased 11 million pounds of hard wheat blended plain
flour (the equivalent of 238,700 bushels of wheat) for shipment to Greece. Since
July 1, 1949 the PMA has purchased almost 60 million pounds of flour---rt'he equivalent
of over 7.4 million bushels of wheat).
July 1949-May 19)0 exports of wheat and wheat products totaled 281 million
bushels of grain equivalent, orlE~million bushels less than in the previous similar
period.
C 0 R N
Prices of corn in Fort Worth have risen sharply during the past week and
are at the highest level since September 1948. On Tuesday cf this week, the top
price for No. 2 white corn was $2.21 per bushel, compared with ~2.06-1/2 a week
earlier and ~2.0l-3/h a month ago. The top price for No. 2 yellow corn was $1.74-1/2.
compared with $1. 71-3/4 a week earlier.
--•
Approval of a contract to exchange U. s. corn for a foreign-produced
strategic and critical material
transfer to the--ria°tional stockpile was announced
last ~reek by the USDA. The contract involves 160,000 bushels of corn.
ECA has granted $8.4 million to Ireland to buy U. S. corn.
for
OTHER GRAINS
The prices of oats have shov.nSOffie weakenin>? during the past week. On the
Fort Worth market, oats grading No. 2 red sold on Tuesday of this week for 89 cents
per bushel, compared with 91 cents a week earlier.
Domestic grain traders are said to be watching closely Argentina's offering~
of oats in vorld markets. Prices accepted by Argentina for recent sales are
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We_~nesday, June 21, 1950
Page 2
AGRICULTURAL NEWS OF THE WEEK
Number
25
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considerably below current prices of oats of comparable quality in the u. s.
The general weakening in the market for grain sorghums continues. On
Tuesd~y of this week, No. 2 yellow milo sold in Fort Worth for-a top price of $2.13
per cwt. - 4 cents under a week earlier and 20 cents below a month ago.
Barley prices have declined sharply since the first week in June, with
Tuesday's top price of $1.27 per bushel reflecting a decline of about 18 cents during the period.
Rice markets strengthened slightly during the week ended June 12, according to the USDA. A somewhat better demand, together with diminishing supplies of
high grade rice in millers' hands, was the principal strengthening influenceo
C 0 T T 0 N
Cotton prices have declinect-rrom the high levels of last week. On Tuesday,
June 20, the average price of spot cotton, basis 15/16 inch Middling, at the 10 leading markets was 33.59 cents per pound, compared with 34.0l a week earlier. However,
the price was still more than 1/2 cent per pound above a year ago.
Farmers continue to redeem large quantities of 1949-crop cotton from the
loan program. Through June 8, redemptions covered almost 1.7 million bales, or 53
percent, of the 3.2 million bales-of 1949-crop cotton placed under loan.
The cotton crop in Texas made excellent progress last ~~ek. Late plantings
and re-plantings were rushed to completion, while chopping and cultivation of gro1vi.ng
crops was widespread.
LIVESTOCK
The livestock markets cO!'i'tfnue very strong, although prices weakened slightly early this week. On Tuesday, June 20, hogs sold in Fort Worth for a top price of
$20.00 per cwt., after having risen to $20~on Monday, the highest price paid on
this market since last September.
Slaughter steers and heifers, at $30.50 and $29.50 per cwt., respectively,
were off SO cents from Monday.
Slaughter cows brought a top price of ~~23. 00 on Tuesday, the level at which
they have held for-about two vveeks. Slaughter calves brought a top price of ~30.00,
which was $1.00 below a week earlier.
Feeder and stocker cattle brought a top price of $29.00 per cwt. on Tuesday,
off $1.00 from the level of a--we8i{°earlier.
Spring lamb prices have been declining seasonally since the first of the
month. Tuesday's top price of $26.50 per cwt. compares filth $29.50 a month ago.
Commercial meat production in Texas during April totaled 58.6 million
pounds, according-"tO last week's DAE report:- This was 12 percent above April 1949.
The USDA has estimated the 1950 pig crop at 99 million head, up 4 percent
from 1949. The spring crop of 60 million head-YS-up 3 percent and the fall crop of
39 million is larger by 5 percent, as compared "With last year.
MI S C E 1 L A N E 0 U S
The PMA has announced that CCC loans to farmers to finance the purchase of
mechanical grain-drying equipment will be available through June 30, 1951.
~ employment in the u. S. during the last week of May was 3 percent
below that of a year earlier, according to the BAE.
The Texas early summer watermelon crop this year ~rill be substantially
below that of 1949. The current production estimate is 10.9 million melons, compared with 12.5 million harvested last year.
W. M. Pritchett
Agricultural Economist
@FedFRASER