The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
AGRICULTURAL NEWS OF THE WEEK FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS Number 747 Wednesday, April 22, 1964 W I N T E R WH E A T The 1964 national winter wheat crop, as of April 1, is indicated at nearly 1 , 011 million bu. , or 12% above the---r§b3 output but 1% below the 5-year (1958-62) average, according to the Statistical Reporting Se rvice. The estimated yield per seeded acre of 23.5 bu. compares with 25.5 bu. in 1963 and the 5-year average of 23.0 bu. The rec ently passed wheat legislation could have an impo r tant impact upon the f inal harvested acreage and production of this crop. The table below shows the indicated production of winter wheat in 1964 for t he stat es of the El eventh Federal Reserve District, t ogether with comparisons with 1963 and the 1958-62 average. WINTER WHEAT PRODUCTION Five Southwestern States (In thousands of bushels) 196L~ Area Indicated April 1 1963 Average 1958-62 Arizona ................ Louisiana .............. New Mexico ............. Oklahoma ............... Texas ...............•.. 1,326 1,320 3,809 91,865 61,185 1,188 1,484 3,800 75,411 40,618 2,154 782 4,892 101,844 66,334 Five states .•....•..• 159,505 122,501 176,006 SOURCE: U. S. Department of Agriculture. H 0 G C H 0 1 E R A E R A D I C A T I 0 N S H 0 WS GA I NS At the end of last year, 80% of the total number of hogs on the Nation's farms were under a hog cholera eradication program, reports the U. S. Department of Agri culture. The number now under the program, an estimated 47 million head, compares with 1 million at the end of 1962. Hog cholera outbreaks reported to the USDA dec l ined from 2,912 in 1962 to 1,550 in 1963; the 1959-63 average was 3,793 outbreaks. The eradi cation pr ogram contains four phases: (1) preparation for eradication, (2) reduction of inc i denc e , (3) elimination of outbreaks, and (4) protection against reinfection. Acc or ding to the USDA, prompt reporting of outbreaks is essential for the succes s f ul eradication of hog cholera. ME A T I M P 0 R T S T 0 DE C1 I NE I N 1 9 6 4 Secretary of Agriculture Freeman recently announced that the USDA has been advised by the Australian Government that 1964 shipments of beef, veal, mutton, and lamb f r om that country t o the United States-8:re expected to be down 29% (or about 170 million lbs.) from last year. Moreover, the situation is much the same for Zealand's meat exports to the U. S. market. Indications are that New Zealand 1 s ments of beef and veal to the United States in 196L!- are likely to be 22°/o (or 50 lion lbs.) below 1963. For these two countries combined, 1964 exports of beef, lamb, and mutton to the United States probably will show a 27% decline. New shif milveal L I VE S T 0 CK Fort Worth cattle and calf receipts increased during the week ended Thursday, April 16, reports the Agricultural Marketing Service. The cat~supply of approximately 3,400 was 100 more than in the previous week but was 500 fewer than in the corresponding 1963 period. Slaughter steers and cows sold at prices which were steady to 50¢ per cwt. lower than the preceding Thursday's close. Good and Choice 965- to 1,170-lb. slaughter steers brought $21 to $22 per cwt., and Utility and Commercial cows sold at $13.75 to $16. Trading on feeder cattle was generally slow, and prices were uneven. Good. and Choice 500- to 690-lb. feeder steers cleare at $17.60 to $22 per cwt. Calf marketings of an estimated 1,000 reflected gains of 21°/o over the previous week and 60% over a year ago. Prices for slaughter calves were steady to 50¢ per cwt. lower than the preceding Thursday 1 s close. Good grades of killing calves weighing up to 600 lbs. brought $20. 50 to $22 per cwt., and prices for 260- to 450lb. stocker steer calves . ranged from $19 to $23 per cwt. Hog supplies are placed at l,OOO, or about the same as a week earlier but 425 fewer than in the preceding week. Trading was active in most sessions, and price fluctuations remained very narrow. Most of the U. S. No. 1 through No. 3 Grades of 195- to 275-lb. butchers cleared at $13.50 to $14.50 per cwt. Sheep and. lamb offerings, at approximately 5,200, compared with 4,700 a week ago and 10,200 during the corresponding period. last year. Demand continued fairly broad, and trading was active each day. Prices were fully steady for all classes, with Good and Choice 68- to 97-lb. slaughter spring lambs quoted at $23 to $23,50 per cwt. POULTRY For the week ended Friday, April 17, the princi~al Texas commercial broil ~markets opened steady, reports the State-nepartment of Agriculture. Prices in south Texas remained fully steady throughout the trading period, while those in eas Texas strengthened but were slightly weaker at the close. The undertone in both areas was unsettled. The closing price in south Texas was 14¢ per lb., and quotations in east Texas ranged from 13.3¢ to 14.6¢. During the corresponding period last year, closing quotes in south Texas were 15.1¢ to 16.4¢, and those in east Texas were 15¢ to 15.5¢. BROILER CHICK PLACEMENTS chan~e Area Week ended April 11, 1964 Percent Previous week Texas ....•. Louisiana .. 3,151, 000 621,000 0 -2 -6 22 states .. 44,175,000 1 -2 fl:'oro,... Comparabl week, l96: 1
@FedFRASER