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AGRICULTURAL NEWS OF THE WEEK FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS Number 835 Wednesday, December 29, 1965 WINTER WHEAT The national acreage seeded to 1966-crop winter wheat is placed at 42.1 million acres, a total that is 6% smaller than the year-earlier plantings but slightly more than the 5-year (1960-64) average, according to the Statistical Reporting Service. All major wheat-producing states except Colorado seeded less acreage than in the preceding year. The largest percentage decreases occurred in Montana and the Corn Belt states. Colorado, where moisture supplies are the best in many years, seeded the same acreage as a year ago. Based on December 1 conditions and other factors, the 1966 winter wheat output in the United States is indicated to be 1,059 million bushels. A crop of this size would be 3% above the 1965 outturn and 7% greater than the 1960-64 average. The table below shows the acreage seeded and indicated production of 1966crop winter wheat for the Eleventh District states and comparable data for the crops of 1965 and 1960-64. WINTER WHEAT Five Southwestern States Area ACREAGE SEEDED (In thousands of acres) Crop Crop Crops of of of 1966 1965 1960-64 Arizona •••••••••• Louisiana •••••••• New Mexico ••••••• Oklahoma ••••••••• Texas •••••••••••• 32 94 296 5,215 3,996 Five States •••• 9,633 PRODUCTION (In thousands of bushels) Crop Crop Crops of of of 19661:./ 1965 1960-64 - - 296 5,321 4,162 30 85 284 4,749 3,913 1,344 1,222 3,848 119,945 63,936 1,196 1,050 4,924 132,916 72,630 1,145 1,128 4,703 95,047 62,436 9,897 9,061 190,295 212,716 164,459 28 90 1/ Indicated December 1, 1965. SOURCE: U. S. Department of Agriculture. PROGRAM SIGNUPS SCHEDULED A schedule of program signups for the 1966 crops of wheat, ~grains, and cotton has been announced by the USDA. In most states, farmers may enroll in the commodity programs between January 31 and April 1, 1966; however, signups may begin earlier - at any time that a state Agricu1tural Stabilization and Conservation (ASC) committee determines that its county offices are ready. Signup for the Cropland Adjustment Program (CAP) will begin not later than January 31, 1966, but also may begin earlier if the county offices are ready. The beginning dates will be announced by the respective state committees, and the signup deadline for this program will be announced later. PROFILE OF THE RETAIL FLOWER INDUSTRY Annual sales of the 22,000 retail florists in the Nation amount to more than $1 billion, according to a profile of the industry published recently by the USDA.--Although the financial impact of this billion-dollar business on the American economy is significant, the retail flower industry is one of small shops approximately two-thirds of the retailers sell less than $50,000 annually. About one out of every nine florists has sales of more than $100,000 a year, and this group accounts for around 40% of the total sales of the industry. Single copies of Profile of the Retail Florist Industry, 1964, MRR 741, may be obtained, without charge, by-Posteard request, from the Office-0f Information, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 20250. The USDA asks that the person's ZIP Code be included with the request. LIVESTOCK Fort Worth marketings of all classes of livestock for the week ended Thursday, Decem~23, were substantially below the previous week, according to the Consumer and Marketing Service. The cattle supply totaled an estimated 1,600 head, or less than one-half the week-earlier offerings and one-tenth below the corresponding 1964 period. Thursday quotations for slaughter steers and heifers were firm as compared with a week ago. Choice 700- to 840-lb. slaughter steers sold at $25 to $25.50 per cwt., and Utility and Commercial cows brought $14.50 to $16. Trading on feeder cattle was active, and prices were steady to 50¢ per cwt. higher than in the preceding week. Choice 500- to 700-lb. steers and yearlings cleared at $25 to $26.60 per cwt., and most of the high-Good and low-Choice 500- to 600-lb. animals brought $23.50 to $25. Calf receipts are placed at about 650, compared with 2,450 in the preceding week arur"450 a year earlier. Quotations for slaughter calves were strong to 50¢ per cwt. higher than a week ago. Standard and Good grades of 400- to 550-lb. killing calves brought $20.50 to $22.60, and mixed Good and Choice 300- to 500-lb. stocker steer calves were quoted at $24.50 to $25. A total of 725 hogs was received at Fort Worth during the week ended December 23, or 200 fewer than in the preceding week but about the same as in the comparable 1964 period. Demand was generally good, and trading was moderately active. Prices for barrows and gilts advanced 50¢ to 75¢ per cwt. The bulk of the week's supply of U. S. No. 1 through No. 3 Grades of 185- to 275-lb. butchers cleared at $27 to $28. Sheep and lamb offerings are placed at 900, or only about one-half of the previous week's 'SUPply and one-tenth below a year earlier. Trading was active, and slaughter lamb prices closed 50¢ per cwt. higher than a week ago. Good and Choice 80- to 105-lb. wooled slaughter lambs brought $23 to $25 per cwt. BROILER CHICK PLACEMENTS Percent change from Comparable Previous week week! 1964 Area Week ended December 18 2 1965 Texas •••••• Louisiana •• 2,867,000 639,000 2 1 13 23 States •• 45 2558 2000 1 12 -3
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