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AGRICULTURAL NEWS OF THE WEEK FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS Wednesday, June 21, 1961 Number 599 E RAD I CAT I 0 N P R 0 G R A M BR UCE L L 0 S I S The number of counties participating in the nationwide brucellosis eradicatiou program recently passed the 80% mark, reports the U. s. Department of Agriculture. The level was reached when Williamsburg County, South Carolina, joined the cooperative state-Federal program to eradicate this livestock disease. The brucellosis eradication program has succeeded in reducing the nationwide infection in cattle by 61% since 1954. The number of reported cases of human brucellosis, or undulant fever, has declined correspondingly. G R A I N SORGHUM S A L E S P 0 L I CY ANN0 UNCE D The USDA has announced that it will continue to offer Commodity Credit Corporation-owned grain sorghums after July l a t about the current sales prices, which reflect $1.87 ~cwt. on a national average, by selling grain sorghums represented by certificates issued under the emergency feed grain program. The USDA's present intention is to continue this policy until 1961-crop grain sorghums become available in volume, in order to stabilize grain sorghum markets around present levels during the summer period. S I Z E REQUIREMENTS 0 N T 0 M A T 0 I MP 0 R T S On June 9 the USDA lowered the minimum-size requirements for tomatoes imported into this country. All imports of tomatoes must be a minimum of l 7/3 " in diameter. The current grade reguirements, U. S. No. 2 or better, will remain in effect. Requirements on the import regulations are the same as those in effect for Texas tomatoes which are regulated by a marketing order. The Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act requires that imports be regulated whenever marketing order regulations are in effect for domestic shipments. The import requirements will remain in effect through July 15, 1961. F E WE R F R E S H - M A R K E T V E G E T A B L E S The 1961 output of spring vegetables and melons in the United States is expected to be 8% less than a year ago and 6% below the 10-year (1950-59) average, points out the Statistical Reporting Service, Estimated production, excluding melons, is 6% under the 1960 outturn ; melon output is down 14%. Major vegetable crops with substantially less production than last year are lettuce, onions, asparagus, sweet corn, snap beans, and green peppers. These declines in output are partially offset by larger quantities of cabbage, tomatoes, and spinach. c 0 - 0 p s E L I G I B L E L 0 AN S 0 N S 0 YBE ANS F 0 R The USDA announced on June 14 that price support on 1961-crop soybeans through warehouse-storage loans and purchase agreemen ts will be extended to gualif ied producer-owned and producer-controlled coope r ative soybean marketing associat ions. The method of extending price support on soybeans to cooperatives will be similar to that followed for several years for cooperatives under the price-support programs for dry beans and rice. Price-support loans or purchase agreements will be made directly to soybean cooperatives on eligible soybeans produced by the members of the cooperatives and marketed through the associations. L I VE S T 0 C K Cattle supplies at Fort Worth during the week ended Thursday, June 15, were an estimated 10,900 head, representing declines of 3% from a week ago, and 18% from the corresponding period of 1960, according to the SRS. Slaughter steers weighing under 1,100 lbs. sold at prices which were steady to 25¢ per cwt. lower than at the preceding week's close; heavier weights were 25¢ to 50¢ lower. Good and Choice 945- to 1,120-lb. slaughter steers brought $21.75 to $23, and Utility and Commercial cows sold at $14.50 to $16.75. Prices for stocker a nd feeder steers were 50¢ to $1 lower than on the previous Thursday 1 s market, with Good and Choice 500- to 750-lb. stocker steers quoted at $21 to $26. The calf ~ totaled approximately 1,000, or about the same as a week earlier but 900 fewer than a year ago. Quotations for killing calves were steady to weak. Good and Choice grades of slaughter calves cleared at $22.50 to $25, and 250to 500-lb. stocker steer calves were $23 to $30. Hog receipts are placed at 1,700, compared with 2,200 in the preceding week and 2,900 a year earlier. Prices of barrows and gilts were generally steady with the previous week's close. Most of the U. S. No. 1 through No. 3 Grades of 190- to 250-lb. butchers sold at $16 to $16.50. A total of 19,500 sheep and lambs was received at Fort Worth during the week ended Thursday, June 15, which was 30% below a week ago and 4% less than in the corresponding period last year. About steady to lower dressed lamb prices were a factor in offsetting the normally bullish influence of reduced supplies of live lambs during the trading period. Prices of slaughter lambs declined 50¢ to $1; the majority of the slaughter animals weighing 85 lbs. and under brought $15 to $16. P 0 UL T R Y The principal Texas commercial broiler markets opened stronger during the week ended Friday, June.!.§., reports the State Department of Agriculture. On Tuesday, prices in south Texas were steady, and those in east Texas were slightly strongeX By Thursday, quotations in south Texas had advanced 0.5¢ per lb.; the east Texas market remained steady. At the market's close, prices in south Texas were 1¢ per lb. higher than a week earlier, and those in east Texas were almost 1¢ stronger. Compared with the preceding week, trading volumes were about 25% greater in east Texas and were up 43% in south Texas. Closing prices in south Texas were 13.5¢, and the weighted average in east Texas was 13.4¢. During the corresponding period in 1960, closing quotes were 19¢ in south Texas; the weighted average in east Texas was 18.1¢. On Monday, June 19, commercial broiler markets were steady in south Texas but were weaker in east Texas. Prices were: South Texas, 13.5¢; and east Texas, 12.6¢ to 13.5¢, although 22% of the sales were at undetermined levels. The Southwest Poultry Exchange at Center, Texas, offered 229,800 broilers on June 19. Of this total, 80,000 brought 12.7¢ to 12. 8¢ (farm producers absorbed all rejected birds), and 9,900 sold at 12.6¢ to 12.7¢ (buyers absorbed all rejects). BROILER CHICK PLACEMENTS Percent change from Previous Comparabl-; week 2 196Q_ week Area Week ended June 10 2 1961 Texas •••••• Louisiana •• 2,977,000 648,000 1 u 11 35 22 states •• 41 662 000 0 6 0
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