Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2016)
June 3, 2016 CapitalPress.com 13 Farm Market Report Hay Market Reports Potato Market Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • St. Joseph, Mo.-Portland Compiled by North American Potato Market News and USDA Agricultural Market Service Hay prices are dollars per ton or dollars per bale when sold to re- tail outlets. Basis is current delivery FOB barn or stack, or delivered customer as indicated. Grade guidelines used in this report have the following relation- ship to Relative Feed Value (RFV), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients), or Crude Protein (CP) test num- bers: Grade RFV ADF TDN CP Supreme 185+ <27 55.9+ 22+ Premium 170-185 27-29 54.5-55.9 20-22 Good 150-170 29-32 52.5-54.5 18-20 Fair 130-150 32-35 50.5-52.5 16-18 Utility <130 36+ <50.5 <16 CALIFORNIA HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. May 27 This week FOB Last week Last year 16,585 16,050 7,430 Compared to May 20: All classes traded steady. Demand moder- ate to light. Coming into the summer months, Lake Mead current- ly sits at 37 percent full while Lake Powell is slightly higher at 48 percent full, according to the May 23 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Water Supply Report. Tons Price REGION 1: NORTHERN INTERMOUNTAIN Includes the counties of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas. Alfalfa Supreme 150 $168 REGION 2: SACRAMENTO VALLEY Includes the counties of Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano, Sacramento. Alfalfa Supreme 200 $210 Good/Prem. 300 $140 Good 125 $110 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Premium 125 $180 REGION 3: NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tu- olumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa. Alfalfa Premium 250 $160 280 $160-170 125 $220 Good 1100 $130 Fair/Good 625 $110 Fair 55 $125 Oat Good 600 600 225 $85 $75 $95 $75 Good 500 REGION 4: CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo. Alfalfa Supreme 200 $245 Fair/Good 75 $95 REGION 5: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and West- ern San Bernardino. Alfalfa Premium 450 $200 REGION 6: SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial. Alfalfa Premium 600 $170 375 $185 Good/Prem. 1500 $155 3900 $150-155 100 $160-170 Good 300 $140 600 $142 Fair/Good 1100 $140 Bermuda Grass Premium 1000 $150 Klein Grass Premium 1000 $120 Teff Premium 25 $190 Forage Mix-Four Way Good 100 $150 OREGON AREA HAY (USDA Market News) Portland, Ore. May 26 This week FOB Last week Last year 321 238 999 Compared to May 20: Prices trended generally steady compared to week ago prices in a very limited test. Many hay producers are sold out for the year. New crop hay is growing and will be harvested in the upcoming weeks. Tons Price CROOK, DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, WASCO COUNTIES Orchard Grass Small Square Premium 30 $240-250 Grass Mix Five-Way Mid Square Good 5 200 Small Square Premium 24 $240-265 EASTERN OREGON Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Good/Prem. 20 $165 Wheat HARNEY COUNTY Orchard Grass Large Square Good 32 $180 LAKE COUNTY Alfalfa Large Square Good 120 $135 Small Square Premium 75 $200 Alfalfa/Oat Mix Large Square Fair/Good 15 $100 KLAMATH BASIN: No new sales confirmed. IDAHO HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. May 26 This week FOB Last week Last year 4,600 3,000 3,600 Compared to May 20: All grades of Alfalfa steady in a light test. New crop sales reported this week are having high moisture prob- lems as rain showers dominate the trade area. Trade slow with light to moderate demand. Idaho hay stocks are 6 percent higher than a year ago on May 1, 2015. Retail/feed store/horse not tested this week. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Supreme 600 $155 Prem./Sup. 2000 $125 Good/Prem. 2000 $125 WASHINGTON-OREGON HAY (Columbia Basin) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. May 27 This week FOB Last week Last year 21,660 19,100 4,900 Compared to May 20: All grades of export and domestic Alfalfa steady to firm. Trade active this week for new crop non-rained-on export Alfalfa. Demand good for export quality light for dairy hay. Dairy hay trade slow. Rain showers over the trade area has damaged new crop sup- plies. Washington hay stocks are 48 percent higher than a year ago on May 1, 2015. Retail/Feedstore steady in a light test. Demand remains good. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Supreme 2000 $155-160 Good/Prem. 15,000 $140-160 Good 400 $125 Fair/Good 1200 $110 3000 $120-125 Timothy Grass Small Square Good/Prem. 60 $150 Grain Market Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Portland Grains are stated in dollars per bushel or hundredweight (cwt.) except feed grains traded in dollars per ton. National grain report bids are for rail delivery unless truck indicated. PORTLAND GRAIN (USDA Market News) Portland May 19 PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARKET SUMMARY Cash wheat bids for May delivery ended the reporting week on Thursday May 26, mixed compared to last week’s noon bids for May delivery. July wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday, May 26, higher as follows compared to last week’s closes: Chicago wheat futures were 12.50 cents higher at $4.8125, Kansas City wheat futures were 14.25 cents higher at $4.6225 and Minneapolis wheat futures trended 6 cents higher at $5.3450. Chicago July corn futures trended 18.25 cents higher at $4.0825 and July soybean futures closed 8.25 cents higher at $10.7975. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit trains or barges during May for ordinary protein were not available as most exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. There were no white club wheat premiums for this week. One year ago bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for May delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were not available and bids for White Club Wheat were also not available. Forward month bids for soft white wheat ordinary protein were as follows: June $5.20-5.3125, July $5.20-5.3125 and August New Crop $5.20-5.32. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: June and July were not avail- able, August New Crop and September $5.85-6.01. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5 per- cent protein during May were not available as most exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. There were no white club wheat premiums for guaranteed maxi- mum 10.5 percent protein soft white wheat this week. One year ago bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for May delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were not available and bids for White Club Wheat were also not available. Forward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5 percent proteins were as follows: June $5.32-5.4125, July $5.32-5.4125, August New Crop $5.30-5.5175 and September $5.32-5.4675 One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: June $6.0350- 6.1350, July $6.0150-6.1350, August New Crop $6.01-6.30, and September $6.01-6.30. Bids for 11.5 percent protein U.S. 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for May delivery were 14.25 to 22.25 cents per bushel higher compared to the previous week’s noon bids for May delivery. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. Bids were as follows: May $5.3725-5.5225, June $5.3725-5.5225, July $5.3725-5.5225, Au- gust New Crop $5.3350-5.5350 and September $5.5350. Bids for non-guaranteed 14.0 percent protein U.S. 1 Dark North- ern Spring Wheat for Portland delivery during May were 6 to 16 cents per bushel higher than the previous week’s noon bids for the same delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. Bids for non-guaranteed 14 percent protein were as follows: May $6.2450-6.3950, June $6.2450-6.3950, July $6.2450- 6.3950, August New Crop and September $6.2225-6.4225. COARSE FEEDING GRAINS Bids for U.S. 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for May delivery were 22.25 to 24.25 cents higher from $4.8825-4.9225 per bushel. Forward month corn bids were as follows: June $4.8825-4.9625, July $4.9525-4.9825, August/ September $4.8850-550, October/November $4.9375-4.9975 and December $4.9675-4.9975. Bids for U.S. 1 Yellow Soybeans deliv- ered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for May delivery were 6.25 to 8.25 cents higher from $11.2975-11.3275 per bush- el. Forward month soybean bids were as follows: June $11.3475, July $11.3975-11.4875, August $11.3725-11.5025, September $11.4050-11.4550 and October/November $11.4950-11.5250. Bids for U.S. 2 Heavy White Oats for May delivery trended steady at $3.92 per bushel. PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPORT NEWS There were eight grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thurs- day, May 26, with three docked compared to seven last week with two docked. There were no new confirmed export sales this week from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) of the USDA. CALIFORNIA GRAINS (USDA Market News) Portland May 19 Prices in dollars per cwt., bulk Inc.= including; Nom.= nominal; Ltd.= limited; Ind.= indicated; NYE=Not fully estimated. GRAIN DELIVERED Mode Destination Price per cwt. BARLEY – U.S. No. 2 (46-lbs. per bushel) FOB Solano County NA Rail Los Angeles NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock Bid $8.50 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $8.75-8.90 Kern County NA Colusa County NA Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Madera County NA Glenn County NA Colusa County NA Solano County NA CORN - U.S. No. 2 Yellow FOB Turlock-Tulare $9.02 Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.50 Kings-Tulare-Fresno $7.75 Rail Single Car Units via BNSF Chino Valley-Los Angeles $9.56-9.74 Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $9.33 Los Angeles-Chino Valley NA Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $9.33 Glenn County NA SORGHUM - U.S. No. 2 Yellow Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley via BNSF Single $9.45-9.49 Truck Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $9.25 OATS - U.S. No. 1 White Truck Petaluma $11.25 Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $11.25 Rail Petaluma NA WHEAT - U.S. No. 2 or better-Hard Red Winter (Domestic Values for Flour Milling) Los Angeles 12 percent Protein NA Los Angeles 13 percent Protein NA Los Angeles 14 percent Protein NA Truck/Rail Los Angeles 11-12 percent Protein Los Angeles 12 percent Protein NA Los Angeles 13 percent Protein NA Los Angeles 14 percent Protein NA FOB Tulare NA WHEAT - U.S. Durum Wheat Truck Imperial County $11.08 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties NA WHEAT - Any Class for Feed FOB Tulare NA Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $9.10 Merced County $7.35 Truck/Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley NA Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA King-Tulare-Fresno Counties NA Fresno NA Merced County NA Kern County NA Prices paid to California farmers, seven-day reporting period ending May 12: WHEAT, U.S. No 1, Hard Amber Durum for Flour Milling Imperial Valley $11.08 Spot Del locally Livestock Auctions Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals per pair or head as indicated. Washington TOPPENISH (Toppenish Livestock Auction) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. May 26 This week Last week Last year 1,130 1,300 1,250 Compared to May 19 at the same market: Not enough stocker or feeder cattle this week for ac- curate price trends. Trade active with moderate demand. Slaughter cows and bulls steady to $2 higher. Trade active with good demand. Slaugh- ter cows 68 percent, slaughter bulls 5 percent, and feeders 27 percent of the supply. The feeder supply included 66 percent steers and 34 percent heifers. Near 48 percent of the run weighed over 600 lbs. Replacement Cows: Pre-tested for preg- nancy, and age. Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: 600- 700 lbs. $147-152; 700-800 lbs. $142; 700-800 lbs. $133, Full; 800-900 lbs. $120. Medium and Large 2-3: 600-700 lbs. $120, Full; 800-900 lbs. $115. Small and Medium 1-2: 600-700 lbs. $133. Small and Medium 2-3: 600-700 lbs. $144-145. Small and Medium 4: 500-600 lbs. $99.50. Feeder Holstein Steers: Large 2-3: 300-400 lbs. $110-124; 400-500 lbs. $102-108; 500-600 lbs. $107.50; 500-600 lbs. $117, Value Added. Feeder Bulls: Large 2-3: 100-200 lbs. $185, Per Head. Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: 400- 500 lbs. $142; 500-600 lbs. $139; 600-700 lbs. $139. Medium and Large 2-3: 600-700 lbs. $119; 700-800 lbs. $100. Large 2-3: 100-200 lbs. $125- 137, Per Head; 800-900 lbs. $97, Heiferettes; 900-1000 lbs. $105, Heiferettes; 1000-1100 lbs. $94.50, Heiferettes. Slaughter Cows: Premium White 65-70 percent lean few 1100-1700 lbs. $83-88; Boning 80-85 percent lean 1000-1900 lbs. $74-78; Boning 80- 85 percent lean 1300-1600 lbs. $79-83; Lean 85-90 percent lean 1100-1700 lbs. $72-77; Lean Light 90 percent lean 1000-1200 lbs. $60-64. Slaughter Bulls: Yield Grade 1-2 1500-2600 lbs. $98.50. Bred Cows (Per Head): Medium and Large 1-2: Few Young (3-4 yrs. old) 950 lbs. $1325 6-9 mos. Idaho CALDWELL (Treasure Valley Livestock) April 29 Steers (wt.): 300-400 lbs. $120; 400-500 lbs. $115; 500-600 lbs. $79; 600-700 lbs. $90; 700- 800 lbs. $105; 800 lbs. and up $54. Steers (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $20; 300-400 lbs. $225. Heifers (wt.):600-700 lbs. $60; 700-800 lbs. $70; 800-900 lbs. $98; 900-1000 lbs. $62; 1000- 1100 lbs. $68; 1100-1200 lbs. $60; 1200 lbs and up $78. Heifers (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $80; 300-400 lbs. $200. Bull Calf (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $50. Bull Calf (wt.): 800-900 lbs. $105 . Cows (wt.): 900-1000 lbs. $56; 1000-1100 lbs. $51; 1100-1200 lbs. $50; 1200-1300 lbs. $69.50; 1300-1400 lbs. $66; 1400-1500 lbs. $62; 1500- 1600 lbs. $71.50; 1600-1700 lbs. $65; 1700-1800 lbs. $70; 1800-1900 lbs. $68. Heiferettes (wt.): 1000-1100 lbs. $90; 1200- Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Soon, passengers zipping along Interstate 35 will see a lusher refuge and more food for bees and butterflies in the hopes of helping the insects boost their declining popula- tions, six states and the Fed- eral Highway Administration announced Thursday. That 1,500-mile stretch of road from northern Minneso- ta to southern Texas is a fly- way for monarch butterflies that migrate between Mexico and Canada, and is surround- ed by acres of public land that can serve as friendly ter- ritory for the bees and butter- flies that pollinate the plants that produce much of the na- tion’s food, such as fruits and vegetables. But the monarch butterfly has lost population in recent years, which researchers say is due in part to shrink- ing stands of milkweed, on which butterflies feed and lay eggs. And last year, beekeep- ers reported losing about 40 percent of honeybee colonies in part due to pesticide use, habitat loss and parasites. The agreement signed Thursday by officials from Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas and the federal government is meant to improve the habitat and develop a branding cam- paign to informally name the Sheep/Wool Market Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Greeley, Colo.-San Angelo, Texas Wool prices in cents per pound and foreign currency per kilogram, sheep prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals on per head basis as indicated. NATIONAL WOOL REVIEW (USDA Market News) Greeley, Colo. May 27 Domestic wool trading on a clean basis was at a standstill this week. There were no confirmed trades. Most wools traded so far this year have been falling within the 80 to 85 percent of Aus- tralia range. Prices have been remaining steady, and have followed suit to the currency differenc- es. It has been reported that yields for the current season have been up, which would indicate the winter this past year was closer to ideal for wool producers. Domestic wool trading on a greasy basis was at a standstill this week. There were no confirmed trades. Domestic wool tags No. 1 $.60-.70 No. 2 $.50-.60 No. 3 $.40-.50 NATIONAL SHEEP SUMMARY (USDA Market News) San Angelo, Texas May 27 Compared to last week: Slaughter lambs were steady to $10 higher. Slaughter ewes were steady to $7.50 higher. Feeder lambs were mostly steady to $10 higher. At San Angelo, Texas, 5,044 head sold. No sales in Equity Electronic Auction. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs were steady. 3,300 head of negotiated sales of slaughter lambs were unevenly steady. 9,900 head of formula sales had no trend due to confidentiality. 4,744 lamb carcasses sold with 45 lbs. and down $12.56 lower; 45-65 lbs. no trend due to confidentiality; 65-75 lbs. $3.44 higher; 75- 85 lbs. $1.19 higher and 85 lbs. and up no trend due to confidentiality. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 2-3: San Angelo: shorn and wooled 100-135 lbs. $130-138. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 1: San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $210-230, few 230- 238; 60-70 lbs. $180-200, few $200-228; 70-80 lbs. $165- 184; 80-90 lbs. $160-176, few $180- 182; 90- 110 lbs. $160-170. DIRECT TRADING (Lambs with 3-4 percent shrink or equivalent): 3,300 Slaughter Lambs shorn and wooled 127- 187 lbs. $128- 150 (wtd avg $139.90). California: 1,900 Feeder Lambs 105-115 lbs. $160. Idaho: 600 Slaughter Ewes Utility and Good 1-3 $45; Cull and Utility 1-2 $25. SLAUGHTER EWES: San Angelo: Good 2-3 (fleshy) $55-66.50; Util- ity and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) $70-82; Utility 1-2 (thin) $60- 72; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) $55-60; Cull 1 (extremely thin) $22-50. FEEDER LAMBS Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: 50-60 lbs. $200-210; 60-70 lbs. $180-184; 70-90 lbs. $175-182; 90-95 lbs. $169- 179. REPLACEMENT EWES Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: mixed age hair ewes 90-150 lbs. $102-130 cwt. NATIONAL WEEKLY LAMB CARCASS Choice and Prime 1-4: Weight Wtd. avg. 45 lbs. Down $487.14 45-55 lbs. Price not reported due to confidentiality 55-65 lbs. Price not reported due to confidentiality 65-75 lbs. $288.91 75-85 lbs. $276.98 85 lbs. and up Price not reported due to confidentiality Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal in- spection for the week to date totaled 39,000 com- pared with 40,000 last week and 33,000 last year. California Egg Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Des Moines Shell egg marketer’s benchmark price for negotiated egg sales of USDA Grade AA and Grade AA in cartons, cents per dozen. This price does not reflect discounts or other contract terms. DAILY CALIFORNIA SHELL EGGS (USDA Market News) Des Moines, Iowa May 26 Benchmark prices are steady. Asking prices for next week are unchanged for Jumbo, 10 cents lower for Extra Large, 9 cents lower for Large and 3 cents lower for Medium and Small. The undertone is usually lower. Retail demand is light to at best moderate with food service movement moderate. Offerings are heavy. Supplies are moderate to instances heavy. Market activity is slow. Small benchmark price 66 cents. Size Range Size Range Jumbo 125 Extra large 112 Large 104 Medium 86 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Prices to retailers, sales to volume buyers, USDA Grade AA and Grade AA, white eggs in cartons, delivered store door. Size Range Size Range Jumbo 77-88 Extra large 38-49 Large 35-44 Medium 24-33 Cattle Market Reports 1300 lbs. $94.50; 1300-1400 lbs. $85; 1400-1500 lbs. $90. Oregon MADRAS (Central Oregon Livestock Auction) May 23 Total head count: 239. Baby calves: NA. Steers: 400-500 lbs. $150-160; 500-600 lbs. $145-155; 600-700 lbs. $135-145; 700-800 lbs. $130-140; 800-900 lbs. $125-130. Bulls: High yield $95-102; mostly $93; thinner $87-95. Pairs: NA. Bred cows: NA. Heifers: 400-500 lbs. $140-150; 500-600 lbs. $130-140; 600-700 lbs. $125-130; 700-800 lbs. $120-125. Heiferettes: 850-1000 lbs. $105-120. Cows: Heiferettes $90; Fleshy cows $77; high- yield $75; medium-yield $73; low-yield $65. Oregon VALE (Producers Livestock Market) May 25 Total receipts: 507 head. Comments: Grass calf market steady with fair demand. Steer calves: 400-500 lbs. $147-169; 500-600 lbs. $143-160. Heifer calves: 400-500 lbs. $137-147; 500-600 lbs. $119-138. Yearling steers: 600-700 lbs. $136-150; 700- 800 lbs. $123-135; 800-900 lbs. $112-124; 900- 1000 lbs. $107-119. Yearling heifers: 600-700 lbs. $111-129; 700- 800 lbs. $107-121. Light Holstein steers, 600 lbs. and under: NA. Light Holstein steers, 700 lbs. and over: NA. Stock cows (young): NA. Stock cows (B.M.): $1050-1300. Pairs, young: $1375-1600. Butcher cows: $66-75. Thin shelly cows: $47-61. Butcher bulls: $77-88. Heiferettes: $81-96. California SHASTA (Shasta Livestock Auction) Cottonwood, Calif. May 27 Current week Last week 1,502 2,703 Compared to May 20: Slaughter cows and bulls $3 lower. Few cattle under 400 lbs., which were lower. Steers over 600 lbs. steady to $5 lower. Heifers over 600 lbs. were mixed. Off lots and singles $30-75 below top. Slaughter cows: High yielding $65-70; $71-75 high dress; Boning $59-64; Cutters $40-60. Bulls 1 and 2: $65-90. Feeder steers: 450-500 lbs. $150-160; 500-550 lbs. $152-160; 600-650 lbs. $140-156; 650-700 lbs. $137-150.50; 700-750 lbs. $133-150; 750- 800 lbs. $132-138; 800-900 lbs. $120-139; 900- 1,000 lbs. $116-125. Feeder lbs. heifers: 450-500 lbs. $144-151 lbs.; 500-550 lbs. $130-147; 550-600 lbs. $130-142; 600-650 lbs. $130-135.50; 650-700 lbs. $120- 130; 700-750 lbs. $125-131.50; 750-800 lbs. $124-133; 800-900 lbs. $115-132.50. Pairs: Few $1300-$2025. Calvy cows: Few $1200-1450. Interstate highway becomes butterfly flyway By DAVID PITT Prices are weekly averages of daily prices. All prices are in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.). FWA is a weighted average of shipping point prices or common packs in each area. Weights differ by area. GRI is the Grower Returns Index for each individual area. FRESH RUSSET POTATO MARKET REPORT (North American Potato Market News) (USDA Market News) May 28 Market commentary: Packers in the San Luis Valley and the Columbia Basin are leading the charge for higher count carton prices. SHIPPING AREA FWA Chg GRI Chg 70 ct Chg 10 lb. Film Chg IDAHO BURBANKS $14.03 $0.23 $6.25 $0.14 $25 $1 $7.50 $0 COLUMBIA BASIN $15.41 $0.50 $7.16 $0.31 $25 $1 $8.50 $0 interstate the Monarch High- way. The agreement forms what it calls “a cooperative and co- ordinated effort to establish best practices and promote public awareness of the mon- arch butterfly and other polli- nator conservation.” “We’ve actually found in Minnesota that restoring prairie along the interstate is not only good for the en- vironment but it helps reduce our maintenance costs,” said Charles Zelle, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Natural prairie grasses and flowers that provide for- aging habitat and places to breed, nest and overwinter also don’t have to be mowed as often and help prevent ero- sion on steep banks, he said. The transportation agen- cies will share seed mixes and roadside management practices that promote the best habitats for pollinating insects while making sure the roadside areas are still safe for drivers, Zelle said. The federal government’s involvement stems from an executive memo issued by President Barack Obama in June 2014 directing agencies to create a federal strategy to promote pollinator health. A task force last year set a goal of restoring or enhancing 7 million acres of land over the next five years through feder- al actions and public/private partnerships. Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Oklahoma City-Des Moines-St. Joseph, Mo.-Moses Lake, Wash. Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals per pair or head as indicated. NATIONAL FEEDER AND STOCKER CATTLE (Federal-State Market News) St. Joseph, Mo. May 26 This week Last week Last year 220,100 234,700 162,400 The feeder cattle markets nationwide had a common term listed in most every market report — lower. It just depended on where in the coun- try as to how much lower it was. Compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers were mostly $3 to $10 lower, with steer and heifer calves ranging $5 to $15 lower. Direct feeder trade this week has been slow due to the large difference in bids and offers. Af- ter a couple weeks of higher trends, the feeder cattle market freight train came to a screeching halt as the recent Cattle on Feed Placement number put the brakes on. Recalling the April 2016 Placement number being at 107 percent of 2015; analysts were not expecting that high a figure. However, the placement number in 2016 was reported at 1.664 million head; 116,000 head more than a year ago and just 41,000 head more than 2014. April 2015 placements were as herd expan- sion was in full swing and producers were sell- ing fed cattle in the $160s all month long and betting on the future. The CME Cattle complex took the placement number to heart and moved both Feeders and Live Cattle contracts to limit or near limit lower closes on May 22 and additional losses on May 23. Contracts then recovered throughout the latter half of the week to close the week within $1.50 to $2 of May 19. Cattle coming off wheat this month have had tremendous weather to pack on the pounds through their grazing period; there has not been a shortage of cattle for sale weigh- ing over 900 lbs. This week, fed cattle trade in the South Plains have been sold at $125 after last week’s $130- 132 trade. Carcass weights have come down from the winter highs as the marketing of calf- feds is in full swing and front end supplies ap- pear to be manageable at this time. The Memorial Day holiday weekend is the start of the summer grilling season and is one of the times to see if consumers are willing to purchase high quality beef items. May 26 Choice Boxed Beef price reported at $222.72; $3.24 lower than the May 19 close and $42.87 lower than the all-time high of $265.59 on May 19, 2015. Across the Plains this week, storms from Texas to South Dakota have left an abundance of flash flood warnings, with the most severe weather spawning tornado activity. Corn and soybean planting progress is right on with the previous 5 year average as of May 22; those rains this week could certainly hinder progress; however, with today’s large equipment it allows farmers to catch up in a hurry. Auction volume this week included 55 percent weighing over 600 lbs and 41 percent heifers. AUCTIONS This week Last week Last year 158,400 188,700 104,000 WASHINGTON 1,500. 54 pct over 600 lbs. 33 pct heifers. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 550- 600 lbs. $139.60. DIRECT This week Last week Last year 27,000 44,800 36,700 SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada) 3,700. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Hol- steins: Large 3 275 lbs. $135 October Del; 325 lbs. $128-130.10 October Del. NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Idaho) 3,700. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 26 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB Price 850-900 lbs. $134 Idaho. Current Deliv- ered Price: 850-900 lbs. $141-142 Washing- ton-Idaho; 900-1000 lbs. $126-140. Large 1: Future Delivery Delivered Price: 900-950 lbs. $140 for July-August Idaho. Heifers: Large 1: Current FOB Price: 900 lbs. $129 Washington. Future Delivery Delivered Price: 750 lbs. $139 Washington-Idaho; 850-900 lbs. $129-137 Washington-Idaho. NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE (USDA Market News) Oklahoma City, Okla. May 26 Slaughter cattle sold $5-9 lower in Texas and Kansas. Dressed basis sales were $8 lower in Nebraska. Live Cattle futures were sharply lower after the previous week’s Cattle on Feed report tightening up the spread between cash trade and the contract months. Packers took advan- tage and bought cattle lower. Boxed Beef prices at noon May 26 averaged $212.02 from May 19. The Choice/Select spread is $20.58. Slaughter cattle on a national basis for nego- tiated cash trades through noon May 26 totaled about 56,883 head. The previous week’s total head count was 87,102 head. Midwest Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers: $122-125.50. Dressed Basis: Steers and Heifers $197-198. South Plains Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers $122-125. Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding Prices): Slaughter cows and bulls steady to $1 higher. Cutter Cow Carcass Cut-Out Value May 26 was $173.73 up $1.45 from May 19. NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. May 26 This week Last week Last year 3,700 5,200 2,100 Compared to May 19: Feeder cattle steady to $2 lower. Trade slow. Demand moderate to good at the lower price levels. The feeder supply in- cluded 74 percent steers and 26 percent heifers. Near 100 percent of the supply weighed over 600 lbs. Prices are FOB weighing point with a 1-4 percent shrink or equivalent and with a 5-12 cent slide on calves and a 3-8 cent slide on year- lings. Delivered prices include freight, commis- sions and other expenses. Current sales are up to 14 days delivery. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 850-900 lbs. $134 Idaho. Current Deliv- ered Price: 850-900 lbs. $141-142 Washing- ton-Idaho; 900-1000 lbs. $126-140. Large 1: Future Delivery Delivered Price: 900-950 lbs. $140 for July-August Idaho. Heifers: Large 1: Current FOB Price: 900 lbs. $129 Washington. Future Delivery Delivered Price: 750 lbs. $139 Washington-Idaho; 850-900 lbs. $129-137 Washington-Idaho.