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AGRICULTURAL NEWS OF THE WEEK FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS ~ umber 479 Wednesday, March 4, 1959 CAL F 1 9 5 8 C R 0 P The Q. ~· calf crop declined during 1958 for the fourth consecutive year, reports the Agricultural Marketing Service. At an estimated 40.5 million head, the 1958 crop was 1% below the 1957 level but was 7% above the 10-year (1947-56) average. All regions except the South Central and West registered declines from a year earlier, resulting from a decrease in the number of cows and heifers 2 years old and over. In the states of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District (Arizona, Louisiana, ~ew Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), the 1958 calf crop is placed at 7.1 million head, reflecting a 2% gain over both the 1957 figure and the 1947-56 average. ME T H 0 D S F 0 R H U MA N E S L A UG HT E R 0 F L I VE S T 0 C K In accordance with the provisions of the Humane Slaughter ~ of 1958, the U. s. Department of Agriculture has designated as humane the following three methods of handling and slaughtering livestock: 1. 2. 3. Chemical - the use of carbon dioxide gas for sheep and swine. Mechanical - the use of captive bolt stunners or gunshot on cattle, calves, sheep, goats, swine, horses, and mules. Electrical - the use of electric current for stunning cattle, calves, sheep, and swine. Packers offering meat products for sale to Federal agencies after July 1960, must use one of the above methods. l, E XT R A - L 0 NG S T AP L E C 0 T T 0 N P R I C E S UP P 0 RT On February 24 the USDA announced that the minimum national price support level for the .!212, crop of extra-long staple cotton will average 52.91¢ per lb., net weight, reflecting 65% of the February parity price. The support price for the 1958 crop averaged 53.95¢ per lb., or 65% of parity. MA N - MA D E F I B E R P R 0 D U C T I 0 N D E C L I N E S Q. ~. output of man-made fibers in~ totaled 1.6 billion lbs., reflecting a 9% decline from the year-earlier level, according to the Textile Economics Bureau, Inc. The outturn of acetate yarn~ staple was greater than in 1957, while production of rayon yarn and staple, noncellulosic yarn and staple, and textile glass fiber was below a year earlier. However, recovery in all products was notable during the fourth quarter of 1958. P 0 L I C I E S ANN0 UNCE D WILDLIFE The Secretary of Agriculture has announced policies governing Federal assis tance in installing fish and wildlife measures in small watershed projects, des igned for the conservation, development, use, and disposal of water. Federal cost-sharing assistance in installing eligible fish and wildlife measures having 2ublic benefits can amount to as much as 50% of the installation costs, Fish and wildlife measures eligible for cost-sharing include those for improving the habitat or environment for the breeding, growth, and development of fish and wildlife. Meas ures for the harvesting or enjoyment of fish and wildlife res ources, artifici al propagation of fish and wildlife, and recreation are n ot eligible for cost-shari.1g . P 0 UL T R Y During the tradiag week ended Friday, February !:]_, the Texas commercial broiler markets opened with generally steady prices and held unchanged until abou t midtrading, when the markets became weaker following price declines in other state s, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Closing prices in east Texas we r 1¢ per lb. lower than a week earlier, and those in south Texas were unchauged, wit h the following prices quoted: South Texas, 17¢, and east Texas, 16¢. (In the latt er area, 62% of the sales were at undetermined prices.) During the corresponding per io in 1958, closing prices were 22¢ to 23¢ in south Texas and 21¢ in east Texas. On Monday, March 1, broiler markets were about steady in south Texas an d unsettled in east Texas. Trading was moderate to normal in both areas. Prices we r South Texas, 16¢ to 17¢, mostly 17¢, and east Texas, 15¢ to 16¢ (70% of the sales in east Texas were at undetermined prices). Area BROILER CHICK PLACEMENTS Week ended February 21, 1959 Percentage change from Previous Comparabl e week, 1953 week Texas,., ••• Louisiana •• 2,242,000 511,000 1 24 -10 22 states •• 33,258,000 2 10 1 L I VE S T 0 C K Cattle receipts at Fort Worth on Monday, March 1, were the largest in l weeks, points out the AMS. The supply totaled an estimated 2,300, compared with 1,400 on the preceding Monday and 2,100 on the corresponding date in 1958. Trading on all classes of cattle was very slow, and prices ranged from steady to $1 per cwt. lower than in the latter part of the previous week. Good 800- to 1,150-lb. slaught er steers brought $24,50 to $26,50; Canner and Cutter cows, $13 to $18; and Medium and Good stocker and feeder yearling steers, $24 to $28. The calf ~ is placed at 300, reflecting declines of 40% from a week a go and 25% from a year earlier. Prices of slaughter calves weighing under 500 lbs. were about steady, while others were weak to 50¢ lower. Most Good slaughter calve s sold at $26,50 to $28.50, and Medium and Good stocker and feeder steer calves were quoted at $26 to $32. Monday's hog supply was slightly under 900, or 200 more than a week earli and 400 above the level of a year ago. Prices of most barrows and gilts were stead to 25¢ higher than in the latter part of the past week; prices of sows held steady . Mixed U. s. No. 1 through No. 3 Grades of 190- to 235-lb. barrows and gilts cleared at $16.25 to $16.75. Sheep and lamb marketings totaled approximately 2,600, or about double t h week-earlier figure and 73% greater than on the comparable date last year. Prices of slaughter spring lambs (which made up the major part of the receipts) were SO~ higher than in the latter part of the preceding week. Good and Choice 75- to 80-l b. slaughter spring lambs brought $19 to mostly $19.50. J. Z. Rowe Agricultural Economist
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