Various

“ The Government will allow the producer a royalty on all seed used or sold for planting purposes, but will reserve the right to limit the rate of, or to discontinue entirely, its propagation.
Further information on this proposed control plan may be obtained upon request to the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates, Washington, D. C.
The economic importance of seeds is perhaps greater than that of any other farm commodity. ”

“ Prairie.—More favorable weather has resulted in larger receipts of prairie hay at Minneapolis. The market remained steady, however, because of buying by the local stockyard. Firm prices on timothy and light receipts of prairie totaling only six cars for the week caused a firm market at Chicago also. The light receipts were attributed to the low prices which prevailed a short time ago. Increased receipts at Kansas City, caused apparently by the recent high prices, are more than equal to the limited demand and the market for prairie is weak with prices somewhat lower than last week. ”

“ Cotton seed in some sections is moving more freely and meal mills are expected to increase their offerings. Feed shipments from Minneapolis mills were heavy and stocks in public warehouses at lake ports are increasing. Approximately 28,750 tons of wheat feeds were reported in these warehouses at the end of the week under review, compared with about 2,200 tons at the corresponding time last year.
Wheat mill feeds.—Continued heavy production of bran and middlings, together with a lack of sufficient demand to absorb the offerings, resulted in a very weak feed market during the week. ”

“ Goods from Canada at prices around 171⁄4¢ to 18¢ delivered at New York looked so attractive to a number of buyers who anticipate heavier export demand later in the season, that considerable quantities were purchased. Only a small quantity of this cheese has actually been imported as yet, according to current reports, the bulk of it remaining in Canadian storages. The large Canadian Cheddars are not entirely suitable for our domestic trade, although in some markets certain dealers split them. ”

“ Omaha, where receipts were considerably lighter than the preceding week, showed advances on practically all classes of cattle. Other River markets under review showed irregular declines on grass cattle and comparatively little change on desirable corn-feds. At Chicago, where receipts of northwestern range cattle were nearly double the largest previous run this season, grass steers and the less desirable of the warmed-up and plain, heavy, fed steers sold steady to 25¢ lower, and the better grades of corn-fed steers, including yearlings, all the way from 10¢ to 50¢ higher. ”

“ The best of the light, corn-fed heifer yearlings sold well in line with finished steer yearlings, but they had to be of the baby-beef type. Owing to scarcity of corn-fed cows and a slackened demand for kosher cows due to the approaching Jewish holidays, few heavy cows were good enough to bring $6 at any of the large western markets.
Bulls sold steady to lower at most points, while calves were sharply lower at both Chicago and St. Paul, little changed at Kansas City and St. Louis, and higher at Omaha because of meager receipts. ”

“ During the remainder of the week prices eased off somewhat under heavy hedge selling and liquidation by long interests, but indications were that the demand for future contracts, as well as for spot cotton during the entire week, was fully equal to the offerings. The end of the week found prices higher than those prevailing at the close of the previous week except for the prices for the more distant months, which were a few points lower.
The average price of Middling as determined from the quotations of the 10 designated spot markets closed at 20.71¢ per lb. on Oct. ”

“ Other eastern markets were practically unchanged. Good hay is scarce but equal to the light demand.
Prices at both the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati markets advanced $1 during the week, but the advance at Cincinnati was lost on Saturday because of a lack of support from shippers. Light receipts were almost entirely responsible for the firm market tone both at Chicago and St. Louis, as the demand was not large and was confined principally to local needs. At Chicago cars of choice hay in small bales sold at premiums of $1 to $2 over current quotations. ”

“ Red Clover.—In a number of important sections only 5 to 25% of the red clover seed crop had been sold by growers at the end of September. This season’s movement, however, has exceeded the belated movement of the 1920 crop, but has been a little slower than usual. Growers see evidences of a short crop in their immediate vicinity, and in view of the fact that prices offered are on an average $2 to $4 per 100 lbs. lower than last year, and $25 to $28 lower than two years ago at a corresponding time, they are not inclined to sell freely. ”

“ Cotton PRICES OF SPOTS AND FUTURES CONTINUE TO ADVANCE. Condition of Crop Poorest on Record—Production Estimated at Only 6,537,000 Bales.
Perhaps the main feature in the cotton markets for the week ending Oct. 1 was the sensational advance in prices which occurred on Sept. 27. That day was the first day for the issuance of notices of deliveries to be made on October future contracts at the two future exchanges and it is reported that the notices issued were for more than 80,000 bales at New York and over 20,000 bales at New Orleans. ”

“ WHEAT AND CORN FUTURES DROP STEADILY IN PRICE. Cash Premiums Strengthen in all Markets Except Minneapolis—Flour is Imported.
The wheat market closed lower every day except two during the week ending Monday, Oct. 3, and the net decline in the different markets was 6¢ to 101⁄2¢ for the December future and 5¢ to 81⁄2¢ for the May future. Corn was influenced by wheat and followed the fluctuations of the latter. The net loss in corn was 2¢ for the December future and 1¢ for the May future. Corn touched the lowest prices for the crop on Oct. ”

“ Large Chicago manufacturers reported a slight increase in buying orders toward the last of the week. Buffalo reported a light demand, but mills are not pressing sales as they were a few days ago.
Hominy feed.—Lower corn prices were reflected in the hominy feed market. Prices declined 50¢ to $1 in several markets and mills were urgent sellers. The demand for all other feeds is very light so that a surplus in the offerings, especially of yellow hominy feed, is noticeable. ”

“ Louis, there was a good demand for middlings and shorts from both local buyers and shippers. The shipping demand was rather broad, mostly in single car orders, from the Central West, South, and Southeast. The higher prices asked for middlings in the southern markets, however, are causing consumers to buy bran instead. Although prices are low some dealers are inclined to think that still lower prices will prevail if an attempt is made to market the feed stored at lake ports before navigation closes. However, Minneapolis mills are holding firm at present quotations. ”

“ Much of the stock that is being sold is that for which storage space can not be obtained or which must be sold for financial reasons. The growers generally feel that they should have $1.75 per 100 lbs. bulk.
The first heavy frost of the season came Sept. 21, and digging of all varieties will be pushed from now on. Shipments will continue moderately heavy and would undoubtedly become very heavy with stronger market conditions.
Top price of the season in New York was $1,150 per car. The general range in June in New York was $450 to $900 and in July $250 to $550. ”

“ Opening, Oct. 3.—Beef steers were strong to 25¢ higher at Chicago with desirable corn-feds gaining most. River markets were generally steady to strong on corn-feds and slow to lower on grassers. The week opened with a big run of 35,000 cattle at Kansas City. Chicago’s receipts at 20,000 cattle were well below expectations and the supply of good corn-fed cattle showed a marked decrease. Top yearlings reached $11.15 at Chicago, the highest point reached since early in January and within 10¢ of the top for the year on yearlings. ”

“ New seed is now moving to mills in larger quantities and the available supply of meal is increasing. There is practically no consumptive demand and dealers are therefore holding off buying as they expect lower prices. Offerings from mills are still limited and in some sections only for October delivery. ”

“ Foreign Markets
INCREASE IN WHEAT SHIPMENTS FEATURES EXPORT TRADE. August, 1921, Exports of Wheat Exceed in Quantity Those of Any Single Month in Ten Years.
Exports of farm products during August had a total value of $233,000,000, an increase of $57,000,000 over the month of July, when the value of agricultural exports totaled $176,000,000, according to preliminary trade statistics obtained from the Department of Commerce. Agricultural products represented 62.1% of the total exports during the month, as compared with 55% during July. ”

“ Cattle.—Higher prices for most grades of beef steers showing effective corn feeding, further seasonal expansion in the movement of both native and western grass cattle, and further evidences of increasing interest on the part of stocker and feeder buyers featured the cattle trade during the week under review. ”

“ An increased proportion of trashy, light-weight cattle indicated that producers were anxious to liquidate surplus holdings before stormy weather sets in, while a corresponding decrease in receipts of corn-feds suggested a decreased number of well-conditioned beef cattle in feeders’ hands. ”

“ Boxed apple shipments were 3,568 cars, or nearly double last week’s movement and more than three times as heavy as for the same week a year ago. Washington with 1,864 cars exceeded last week’s entire boxed apple movement of 1,846 cars. Barreled apple shipments were 2,348 cars compared with 2,771 a year ago. New York, the heaviest shipping section, sent 1,301 cars.
Onions.—Demand for onions was slow and markets were dull in the East. Chicago held steady. Eastern yellow Globes No. 1 were firm in New York the middle of the week at $3.75 to $4 per 100 lbs. ”

“ The movement of red clover seed from growers’ hands has been below normal, but that of alsike clover has been fully normal, according to reports received by the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates during the week ending Oct. 1. There is a tendency on the part of the growers of red clover seed to hold their seed because the crop, which is now being thrashed in many sections, is not turning out any better than was expected at harvest time and as reported in The Market Reporter for Sept. ”

“ The imports of red clover seed during July, August, and September totaled 1,792,900 lbs. compared with 305,200 lbs. during the same months a year ago. These heavy imports of old seed from Europe and South America have tended to depress prices for domestic seed. French, German, and Italian correspondents state that large quantities of red clover seed were sold during July and August and consequently stocks of old seed have been reduced greatly. ”

“ A shortage of seed in any country or section of a country may mean a shortage of food. The commercial supply of seeds in the United States safeguards every section of this country against a deficiency in the necessary requirements for planting annually and indirectly helps to maintain the stocks of food at uniform levels.
The best commercial grades of red clover, alfalfa, and timothy seed test 99.5% or better in purity.
Hay and Feed
HAY PRICES REGISTER ADVANCE IN NEW YORK MARKET. Prices in Most Markets Unchanged Under Continued Light Receipts—Demand for Top Grades Only. ”

“ The cleaning, if any, that the average farmer gives his seed merely removes dirt, chaff, and weed and other foreign seeds that are much larger or smaller or much heavier or lighter than the kind of seed that is being cleaned. ”

“ The impression appears to be growing in the grain trade that the United States has probably already sold for export all the wheat that can be spared and that there will be a scarcity later in the season unless there are liberal importations from Canada.
There were some changes in the cash wheat markets. At Chicago a good demand developed for No. 2 Red Winter and supplies of that kind of wheat were scarce. The premium over the December strengthened and on Oct. ”

“ Pittsburgh $12.50, Chicago $13.50, Cincinnati and Minneapolis $9.
WHEAT MILL FEED MARKET SHOWS VERY WEAK CONDITION. General Inactivity in Feed Market Continues—Offerings of Cottonseed Meal Increasing.
The feed market throughout the country was very dull and weak for the week ending Oct. 1. There was practically no investment buying of any commodity and dealers were supplying their immediate needs only. Prices generally are weak and in some markets lower on several feeds.
Production of wheat and corn feeds remains fairly heavy. ”

“ Live Stock and Meats
HEAVY RECEIPTS FEATURE WEEK’S LIVE STOCK BUSINESS. Trend of Cattle Prices Decidedly Irregular—Hog Market Has Fairly Healthy Tone. (Chicago, East St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, and St. Paul.) ”

“ Alfalfa meal.—Alfalfa meal at Kansas City was weak and lower, No. 1 meal being offered as low as $17.20 per ton and No. 2 at $14. The demand from both feeders and feed manufacturers is light. But little improvement in the market for this feed can be expected until some activity appears in the demand for other feeds.
Peanut meal.—No offerings of new crop peanut meal have been reported, and it is stated that probably none will be offered until about Nov. 1.
DEMAND FOR CUT HAY ALMOST A THING OF THE PAST. General Use of Automobiles and Electric Street Cars Cuts Sales—Was Used Mostly in Cities. ”

“ Apples.—Apple markets were well supplied, demand was slow to moderate, and prices show some declines. New York Baldwins, A21⁄2, were steady at $6.50 to $7 per bbl. in New York, $7 to $7.50 in Philadelphia, and sold in Boston at $2.10 to $2.15 per bu. box. This stock closed 25¢ higher at $6.25 f. o. b. shipping points. New York Rhode Island Greenings declined 50¢, closing at $7.50 to $8.25 in Chicago, and at $8 to $9 in New York. Northwestern Extra Fancy Jonathans were firm early in the week in New York City at $4.75 to $5 per box, but declined to a close of $4 to $4.25. ”