The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
AGRICULTURAL NEWS OF HE WEEK FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS Number 702 Wednesday) June 12J 1963 U.S. SIGNS MILK PACT WITH JAPAN Secretary of Agriculture Freeman recently signed a contract vith Japanese Ambassador Ryuji Takeuchi for the sale of 187.4 million lbs. of U. S. nonfat dry milk. According to the Foreign Agricultural Service) -this volume is believed to be the largest single sale ever made of a U. S. dairy product. Since 1950, nearly 550 million lbs. of U. S. nonfat dry milk have been sold to the Japanese Government for its school lunch program. The 187.4 million lbs. involved in the new contract will be used during the April 1963-i'iarch 1964 period. NATIONAL FOREST C A M P G R 0 U N D S READIED In anticipation of the heavier use of its recreation areas during the 1963 summer vacation season than ever before, the Forest Service has built 9,700 camp and picnic family units during the past year and has rehabilitated 10,000 old ones, announces the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Of an expected 125 million visits to National forests this yearJ approximately 37 million will be mnde to camp and picnic grounds, with most of the visits between Memorial Day and Labor Day. FED I N ME X I C 0 MORE BEING CATTLE Encouragement by the Mexican Government has resulted in increased interest in cattle feeding and a larger number of feedlots in that country, reports the FAS. There are now nine feedlots operating in the Mexican states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, each with a capacity of 4,000 to 5,000 cattle. The FAS says that plans are under ':.-ray for setting up four or five more of these feedlots. F AL L 0 UT P R 0 T E C T I 0 N F 0 R F A R ME R S Nearly 60% of the f~rm operator families in 24 central and southern states have facilities that can provide some protection against fallout, according to a USDA study. The most common farm facility available for fallout protection is a basement or cellar under the house, which was reported by 45% of the families. Storm cellars in other locations provide the second most important source of protection and are available to 14% of the families. The 24 states included in the survey account for 2.9 million farm operator households, or 78% of the U. S. total. According to the USDA, availability of farm fuel supplies would be the most critical factor affecting fa.rm production after a nuclear attack. In the 24 states included in the study, 70% of the farms had storage facilities for gasoline; 39%, for diesel fuel, fuel oil, or kerosene; and 47%, for LP-gas. If filled to capacity, the available farm fuel storage facilities would hold one-sixth of a year's supply of gasoline and one-third of a year's supply of the other fuels. FREEZER PATRONS U S E M 0 RE 11 E A T A recent study by the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station shows that meat consumption is significantly higher among locker plant patrons and home freezer owners than it is among persons who do not use these facilities. Meat consumption is also greater among rural households than among urban households. Moreover) urban people and rural persons vrho do not patronize locker plants eat more beef than any other type of meat, although rural locker plant patrons consume slightly more poult ry than beef, according to the Oklahoma report. L I VE S T 0 CK The Fort Worth cattle run during the week ended Thursday, June 6, was an estimated 4,oo'Oliead, reflecting decreases of 15%""from.-a-week ago and"2b1;-from the corresponding period in 1962. According to the Agricultural Marketing Service, trading generally was moderately active. Slaughter steers weighing under 1,100 lb s. sold at prices which were mainly 25¢ to 50¢ per cwt. higher than the previous week' s close, while quotations on heavier weights were mostly steady. Mixed Good and Choi ce 1,105- to 1,180-lb. slaughter steers brought $22.25 to $22.65 per cwt., and Utility and Commercial cows cleared at $13.50 to $16.50. Prices for feeder steers were 50¢ to $1.50 per cwt. higher than the preceding week's close, with Good 500- to 680-lb. animals quoted at $21 to $25.50 per cwt. The calf supply is placed at 1,000, or one-fourth larger than a week earlier but about the same as a year ago. Quotations for slaughter calves were strong to 50¢ per cwt. higher than in the previous week. Good grades of killing calves sold at $23 to $25 per cwt., and prices for 250- to 500-lb. feeder steer calves ranged from $22.50 to $27.50. A total of 1,500 hogs was received at Fort Worth during the week ended June 6, which is 300 more than a week earlier but 400 below the corresponding peri cd last year. Trading was active each day, and Thursday quotations were mainly 25¢ per cwt. lower than a week ago. The majority of the U. S. No. 1 through No. 3 Grades of 195- to 255-lb. barrows ~nd gilts brought $16.75 to $17.25 per cwt. Sheep and lamb receipts of an estimated 10,100 were slightly below a week ago and were less-t°han one-half the year-earlier figure. Trading was active in most sessions, and prices for practically all classes were generally steady. Most of the Good and Choice 63- to 96-lb. slaughter spring lambs brought $20 to $23 per cwt. POULTRY During the week ended Friday, June 7, the major ~ commercial broiler markets opened weaker:-:reports the State Department of Agriculture. Prices held steady, although the east Texas quotation on the low side of the price range had declined slightly at Friday's close, and the undertone was very unsettled in both south and east Texas. Trading ranged from normal to brisk. The closing quote in south Texas was 15¢ per lb., and prices in east Texas ranged from 13.8¢ to 14.3¢. During the comparable week in 1962, the closing quotation in south Texas was 14¢ , and prices in east Texas were 13.5¢ to 14¢. Texas commercial broiler markets were about steady on Monday, June 10. Pri.ces per lb. were: South Texas, 14.5¢ to 15¢; and east Texas, 13.6¢ t014.Iij". Area BROILER CHICK PLACEMENTS Week ended June 1, 1963 Percent change from Comparable Previous ·week, 1962 week Texas •.•.•• Louisiana •• 3,160,000 638,000 0 3 10 25 22 states •. 44,583,000 -1 7
@FedFRASER