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AGRICULTURAL NEWS OF THE WEEK
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS

Number 5Ul

Wednesday, February 15, 1961

P L A NT I N G
C 0 NT I NUE S
A T
H I G H L E VE L
T R E E
Tree planting in the United States exceeded 1 million acres during 1960
for the second successive year, reports the U. S. Department of Agriculture. A
total of 2,137,460 acres was planted to trees in 1960, compared with 2,151,743 acres
in 1959. Cropland placed in the Conservation Reserve under 10-year contracts accounted for more than one-fourth of the land planted to trees in 1960. Georgia led
in new acreage planted to trees, followed (in order of descending rank) by Florida,
Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi.
In the states of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District (Arizona, Louisiana,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), tree planting in 1960 totaled 264,993 acres, or 6%
below a year earlier.

US DA

0 P E N S

0 F F I CE

I N

NE W

DE L H I

The USDA has opened an office in ew Delhi, India, to administer agricultural research grants in the Far East. This office will administer USDA grants for
research to be conducted by institutions in India, Japan, Pakistan, Ceylon, Indonesia,
Burma, and the Philippine Islands.
The USDA foreign research program is financed with foreign currencies accruing to the account of this country from the sale of surplus agricultural commodities abroad under Public Law 480. The grants are administered by the foreign research and technical programs division of the Agricultural Research Service. Approximately $3.5 million is available for research in the Far East in fiscal 1961 •
DIBLE
r E E D Y
ABROAD
0 I L S
BE D 0 N A T E D T 0
T 0
Secretary of Agriculture Freeman has announced that up to 100 million lbs.
of refined vegetable oils, including peanut oil, will be made available during 1961
to Q. ~· nonprofit voluntary welfare agencies for the assistance of needy persons
overseas. The USDA will purchase vegetable oil products in the open market under
competitive bids. The first purchases of these products are expected to be available during March for transfer to the welfare agencies abroad.
.ti.;

up
MEAT
P R 0 D U C T I 0 N
The 1960 output of red meat in the United States totaled 26,969 million
lbs., which is 4% above the 1959 volume, reports the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Production of beef was up 8%; veal, 10%; and lamb and mutton, 4%. On the other
hand, pork production was down 2% from the 1959 level.
Of the total red meat production in the ation in 1960, beef accounted
for 53%; pork, 40%; veal, 4%; and lamb and mutton, J%.
WA T E R

US E

Q UA D R UP L E S

Conservation specialists at Nichiga State University report that Arneri~ now~ at least four times as much water per day as they did in 1900.
Moreover, the specialists estimate that water needs may double by 1975.

L I VE S T 0 CK
Fort Worth marketings of all classes of livestock except hogs were sharpl~
curtailed by inclement weather and poor road conditions during the week ended Thursday, February 2· According to the AMS, the cattle !J:!l totaled an estimated 4,000
head, compared with 5,300 in the preceding week and 5,700 a year ago. Trading on
slaughter steers and heifers was moderately active the first 2 days of the week but
became slow at midweek. Slaughter steers sold at prices which were steady to 50¢
per cwt. higher than at the previous Thursday's close. Mixed Standard and Good
1,050- to 1,260-lb. slaughter steers brought $24 to $24.50, and Utility and Commercial cows were quoted at $16 to $18. Prices of stockers and feeders were steady to
50¢ lower than a week ago, with Good and Choice 505- to 715-lb. stocker steer yearlings quoted at $24 to $26.80.
The calf supply of about 700 represented declines of 53% from the preceding week and 61% from the year-earlier figure. Trading on slaughter calves was
fairly active, and prices were steady to 50¢ higher than in the previous week. The
majority of the Good and Choice killing calves sold at $24.50 to $26.50, and Good
300- to 500-lb. stocker steer calves cleared at $24.50 to $27.10.
Hog offerings are placed at 2,000, or 100 above a week ago but 400 below
the level in the corresponding period of 1960. Prices of barrows and gilts advanced
the first 3 days of the trading period but lost part of the upturn on Thursday.
Barrows and gilts sold at prices which were mainly 25¢ higher than in the latter
part of the preceding week. Mixed u. s. No. 1 through No. 3 grades of 185- to 255lb. butchers brought $18 to $18.75.
A total of 3,600 sheep and lambs was received at Fort Worth during the
week ended February 9, reflecting decreases of 39% from the preceding week and 53%
from a year ago. Demand for slaughter lambs was broad, and prices were mostly 50¢
higher than in the latter part of the previous week. Most of the Good and Choice
83- to 100-lb. wooled and shorn slaughter lambs with No. 1 pelts sold at $16.50 to $1.

P 0 UL T R Y
The major Texas commercial broiler markets opened stronger during the ~
ended Friday, February 10, and prices remained generally unchanged through the close,
according to the State Department of Agriculture. Movement in east Texas was down
about 7% from the comparable week in 1960, and that in south Texas was 20% lower.
Friday quotations were 17¢ per lb. in south Texas and 15.7¢ to 17.5¢ in east Texas,
with 35% of the sales in the latter area at undetermined levels. During the corresponding week last year, closing prices were 18¢ in south Texas and 17.4¢ in east
Texas.
The Southwest Poultry Exchange offered 166,400 broilers on Friday; 124,700
sold at 17.4¢ to 17.8¢ (farm producers absorbed all rejected birds), and 29,700
brought 14.6¢ to 16.8¢ (buyers absorbed all rejects).
The Texas commercial broiler markets were fully steady on Monday, February 13. Prices were: South Texas, 17¢ to 17.5¢, mostly 17¢; and east Texas, 14.6¢
~17:'"8¢ (28% of the sales were at undetermined quotes).

BROILER CHICK
PLACEMENTS

Percent increase over
Previous
Comparable
week
week, 1960

Area

Week ended
February 4, 1961

Texas ••••••
Louisiana ••

2,499,000
507,000

9
2

7
26

22 states ••

36,658,000

6

7