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AGRICULTURAL NEWS OF THE WEEK FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS Number 821 Wednesday, September 22, 1965 REPORT ON LIVE OAK DECLINE Most live oak habitats in Texas have been invaded by a disease known as live oak decline, which has been spreading over the state for the past 30 years. Because of the increasing incidence of this disease, research has been instituted to find out more about the disease and to formulate possible control measures. A new :project, "Etiology and Control of Live Oak Decline," has recently been initiated. The project is financed by the Mcintire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program of the Federal Government. According to Dr. Robert S. Halliwell of Texas A&M University's Department of Plant Sciences, environment and tree condition have little effect on the tree's susceptibility to the disease. Leaves of infected live oak trees may first turn yellow. If this discoloration occurs on the entire tree, the leaves generally do not fall, and the tree dies within 1 to 2 weeks. More often, however, the decline takes a year or longer and first becomes evident in the progressive dying of leaves. C A L 0 R I E S F 0 R BEEF EATERS? FEWER Beef eaters may be consuming fewer calories now that the U. S. Department of Agriculture has revised its grade standards for beef. Under the new regulations, beef of all grades - Prime, Choice, Good, or Standard - contains slightly ~ ~ bling (an intermixture of fat and lean) than in the past. COWS IN DHIA PROGRAM EARN $216 EXTRA Dairymen who belong to the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA), sponsored by the USDA, produced milk valued at an average of $216 more per cow during the 1964-65 fiscal year than producers who did not participate in the DHIA. Milk yields of cows in the DHIA herds exceeded those of cows in non-DHIA herds by an average of 4,708 lbs. per cow in fiscal 1964-65, representing a 65% advantage. Since milk prices paid to members averaged *4.95 per cwt., the additional milk was valued at $216 per cow. The rate of increase in production efficiency of DHIA herds has been about double that of herds not in the DHIA, according to the USDA. In the three fiscal years since 1962, milk yields of DHIA cows increased an average of 348 lbs. annually, compared with a gain of 176 lbs. for cows not in the DHIA. MORE POTATOES IN PROSPECT Based on September 1 conditions, the 1965 fall potato crop in the Nation is expected to total 209 million cwt., or 22% larger than a year ago and 10% above the 1959-63 average. According to the statistical Reporting Service, the fall crop will boost total U. S. potato production for 1965 to 287 million cwt., compared with the 1964 output of 239 million cwt. DESTROY C 0 T T 0 N STALKS! Extension entomologists at Texas A&M University say that a thorough stalk destruction program, carried out immediately a~er completion of the cotton harvest, is one of the most effective practices for controlling certain cotton insects next year. Stalks should be shredded and plowed under in order to cut off the food supply of insects. LIVESTOCK Fort Worth receipts of all classes of livestock except sheep and lambs advanced during the week ended Thursday; September 16, points out the Consumer and Marketing Service. The cattle supply totaled an estimated 6,200 head, compared with 4,ooo in the preceding week and 6,400 a year ago. Closing prices for slaughter steers were mostly 50¢ to 75¢ per cwt. lower than a week earlier. Good 875- to 1,075-lb. slaughter steers cleared at $24.25 to $25 per cwt., and quotations for Utility and Commercial cows ranged from $13. 40 to ~~16. 40. The outlet was fairly broad for all classes of feeder cattle, and steers weighing over 500 lbs. sold at prices which were steady to 50¢ per cwt. higher than a week ago. Mixed Good and Choice 500- to 700-lb. feeder steers brought ~!;23. 40 to $25 per cwt. The calf run is placed at about 2,575, a figure that is 81% larger than a week earlier and 30% above the corresponding 1964 period. Slaughter calf prices were fully steady on Monday but declined 50¢ per cwt. during the week. Good grades of killing calves weighing up to 550 lbs. were quoted at $21 to $22.50 per cwt., and 250- to 500-lb. stocker steer calves sold at ~~21. 50 to $25. 60. A total of 975 hogs was received at Fort Worth during the week ended September 16, or 125 more than in the preceding week and 25 above a year earlier. Thursday prices for barrows and gilts were steady to 25¢ per cwt. lower than a week ago, with the majority of the U. s. No. l through No. 3 Grades of 195- to 270-lb. butchers quoted at $22 to $22.25 per cwt. Sheep and lamb offerings, at about 1,450, reflected decreases of 44% from the preceding week and 64% from last year. Prices were generally unchanged as compared with the preceding Thursday. The bulk of the Good and Choice 70- to 95-lb. shorn slaughter lambs brought $20 to $22.50 per cwt. POULTRY In the week ended Friday, September 17, commercial broiler-fryer markets opened fully steady in east Texas but weaker in south Texas, according to the State Department of AgricultuTe:- Following Thursday price decreases in other broiler-fryerproducing states, the undertone in the Texas markets was weaker at Friday's close. The closing quotation in south Texas was 15¢ per lb., and prices in east Texas were 13.5¢ to 14¢. During the corresponding 1964 period, the closing quote in south Texas was 15¢ per lb., and east Texas prices ranged from 13.8¢ to 14.7¢. On Monday, September 20, commercial broiler markets were weaker in south Texas and about steady in east Texas. Prices were 14¢ per lb. in south Texas and 13.5¢ in east Texas. BROILER CHICK PLACEMENTS Week ended September 11 2 1965 Percent change from Comparable Previous week weekz 1964 Texas ...••. Louisiana .• 2,646,ooo 591,000 -4 -4 27 23 states •• 42 2 720 2 000 -2 17 6
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