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14 CapitalPress.com August 28, 2015 Farm Market Report Hay Market Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • St. Joseph, Mo.-Portland 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 relationship to Relative Feed Value (RFV), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients), or Crude Protein (CP) test numbers: 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 WASHINGTON-OREGON HAY (Columbia Basin) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Aug. 21 This week FOB Last week Last year 6,720 11,240 16,292 Compared to Aug. 14: Alfalfa generally steady in a light test. Utili- ty/Fair quality steady. Trade slow with light to moderate demand as exporters slowed down this week after China devalued its currency. Timothy steady. Demand light to moderate. Retail/Feedstore steady. Demand remains good. Tons Price Supreme 260 $240 Alfalfa Large Square 350 $350 Premium 1620 $160-185 700 $180 Good 180 $160 1300 $170 Alfalfa Small Square Premium 60 $210 Orchard Grass Small Square Premium 750 $275 Timothy Grass Large Square Premium 300 $175 Good 1000 $150 Oat Straw Large Square Fair/Good 200 $65 OREGON AREA HAY (USDA Market News) Portland, Ore. Aug. 21 This week FOB Last week Last year 6,386 8,947 5,518 Compared to Aug. 14: Prices trended generally steady compared to week ago prices. Trade activity declined slightly compared to a week ago. Many producers have decided to hold on to their hay for now, in hopes for higher prices. Tons Price CROOK, DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, WASCO COUNTIES Premium 38 $230-250 Alfalfa Small Square Orchard Grass Small Square Premium 101 $230-280 Mixed Grass Small Square EASTERN OREGON Alfalfa/Grass Mix Timothy Grass Large Square HARNEY COUNTY Alfalfa Large Square Triticale Large Square KLAMATH BASIN Forage Mix-Three Way Large Square LAKE COUNTY Alfalfa Large Square Small Square Premium Good 35 5 $250 $200 Standing Prem./Sup. 200 $125 $210 Prem./Sup. Good Fair Fair/Good Fair $220 $175-180 $150 $130 $125 200 355 400 300 500 Good/Prem. 25 $160 Premium Good/Prem. Good Premium Good Good/Prem. $210-225 $195 $150 $265 $150 $150 950 2500 101 52 60 30 Alfalfa/Oat Mix Small Square Forage Mix-Three Way Large Square Good 33 $120 IDAHO HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Aug. 21 This week FOB Last week Last year 670 7,000 15,651 Compared to Aug. 14: Premium and Good Alfalfa continue to be weak. Trade was slow this week. Retail/feed store/horse not tested this week. Tons Price Alfalfa Large Square Supreme 200 $170 Prem./Sup. 150 $155 Good/Prem. 60 $130 Good 200 $130 Timothy Grass Large Square Good 60 $120 CALIFORNIA HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Aug. 21 This week FOB Last week Last year 7,405 18,245 13,895 Compared to Aug. 14: All classes traded slow on moderate de- mand. According to Sharon Bernstein from Reuters, California’s ongoing drought will cost the economy in the most populous U.S. state an estimated $2.74 billion in 2015 and lead to the loss of 100 seasonal farm jobs, despite overall health in the state’s agricultural sector, researchers said. Prices on dry cow hay continue to drop week to week while test hay is getting harder to find. Prices reported FOB at the stack or barn unless otherwise noted. REGION 1: North Intermountain Includes the counties of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas. Tons Price Alfalfa Good/Prem. 135 $147-160 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Good/Prem. 100 $253-280 Orchard Grass Premium 225 $319-320 Timothy Grass Good 225 $297 Brome Grass Good/Prem. 125 $ REGION 2: Sacramento Valley Includes the counties of Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano, Sacra- mento. Tons Price Alfalfa Good 208 $160-170 25 $259 225 $170-180 Fair 500 $180 Orchard Grass Premium 175 $260 Rye Grass Straw Fair 2000 $10 REGION 3: Northern San Joaquin Valley Includes the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tu- olumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa. Tons Price Alfalfa Supreme 200 $295 Premium 550 $190 Good/Prem. 100 $200 Good 500 $175 50 $180 Oat Good 325 $100 REGION 4: Central San Joaquin Valley Includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo. Tons Price Alfalfa Good 300 $188 150 $220 Oat Good 325 $70 Corn Silage Good 1 $50 REGION 5: Southern California Includes the counties of Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and West- ern San Bernardino. Tons Price Alfalfa Good 171 $145 REGION 6: Southeast California Tons Price Alfalfa Good/Prem. 75 $205-215 365 $150-160 Good 25 $160 Bermuda Grass Good/Prem. 25 $210 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 Aug. 21 PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARKET SUMMARY Cash wheat bids for August delivery ended the reporting week on Thursday, Aug. 20, mixed compared to Aug. 13 noon bids for August delivery. Soft white wheat and hard red winter wheat bids moved higher, while dark northern spring wheat bids moved lower. September wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday, Aug. 20, mixed as follows compared to Aug. 12 closes: Chicago wheat futures were 3 cents higher at $5.0625, Kansas City wheat futures were 4 cents lower at $4.8125 and Minneapolis wheat futures trended 5.25 cents lower at $5.13. Chicago September corn futures trended 7.25 cents higher at $3.71 and September soybean futures closed 14.75 cents lower at $9.2150. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit trains or barges during August for ordinary protein were $5.6125-5.6625, mostly $5.6425. Bids trended 8 cents per bushel higher compared to $5.5325-5.5825, mostly $5.5625 last week. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. There were no white club wheat premiums for this week or last week. One year ago bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for August delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $6.7850-7, mostly $6.8575 and bids for White Club Wheat were $7.7950-8.3450, mostly $8.0475. Nearby bids for U.S. 1 Soft White wheat ordinary protein started the reporting week on Aug. 14 at mostly $5.5950, then continued lower to mostly $5.5550 on Aug. 17, and mostly $5.4925 on Aug. 18. On Aug. 19, bids moved slightly higher to mostly $5.5425 and ended the week today Aug. 20 at the week- ly higher at mostly $5.6425. Soft white wheat bids followed the Chicago September wheat futures during the week. Forward month bids for soft white wheat ordinary protein were as follows: September $5.6125-5.6625, October and De- cember $5.6625-5.7125. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: September $6.7950-7.03, October $6.80-7.06, November $6.85-7.09, and December $6.85-7.12. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5 percent protein during August were $6.3125-6.6125, mostly $6.4225, 8 to 18 cents per bushel higher compared to $6.3325- 6.4325, mostly $6.3325 last week. White club wheat premiums for guaranteed maximum 10.5 percent protein soft white wheat were 75 cents to $1.25, mostly 92 cents per bushel over soft white wheat bids compared to 75 cents to 1.25, mostly 94 cents Aug. 12. Nearby bids for U.S. 1 Soft White wheat guaranteed maxi- mum 10.5 percent protein began the reporting week on Aug. 14 at mostly $6.3750, Aug. 17 at mostly $6.3950, Aug. 18 at mostly $6.3325, Aug. 19 at mostly $6.3425, and ended the week Aug. 20, higher at mostly $6.4225. Forward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5 percent proteins were as follows: September $6.3625-6.6525, October $6.3225-6.6225, November $6.25-6.6625, and De- cember $6.3625-6.7025. Bids for 11.5 percent protein U.S. 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for August delivery were 1 to 6 cents per bushel higher com- pared to last Thursday’s noon bids. On Thursday, bids were as follows: August $5.5625-5.8125, mostly $5.6925; September $5.5125-5.9125; October through December $5.7125-5.9125. Bids for non-guaranteed 14.0 percent protein U.S. 1 Dark Northern Spring Wheat for Portland delivery during August were 0.25 of a cent to 5.25 cents lower than Aug. 13 noon bids for the same delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. On Thursday, bids for non-guaranteed 14 percent protein were as follows: August $5.98-6.33, mostly $6.19; September $6.03-6.33; October and November $6.1775-6.3775; and De- cember $6.2775-6.4275 COARSE FEEDING GRAINS Bids for U.S. 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Pacific North- west - BN shuttle trains for August delivery were 14.25 to 17.25 cents higher from $4.57-4.60 per bushel. Forward month corn bids were as follows: September $4.57-4.60, October $4.5750- 4.6250, November $4.6050-4.6350, December $4.6150- 4.6550, and January $4.7375-4.7675. Bids for U.S. 1 Yellow Soybeans delivered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for August delivery was not available. Forward month soybean bids were as follows: September $9.9725-10.0225, October $9.9525-10.0425, November $10.0875-10.1175, De- cember $10.0575-10.0975, and January $10.0625-10.0925. Bids for U.S. 2 Heavy Wheat Oats for August delivery were 21.75 cents lower at 3.63 per bushel. PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPORT NEWS There were eight grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thursday, Aug. 20, with three docked compared to six Aug. 13 with four docked. There were no confirmed export sales this week from the Commodity Credit Corporation of the USDA. CALIFORNIA GRAINS (USDA Market News) Portland Aug 21 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) Rail Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA Tulane County NA Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $10.25 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties NA Madera County NA Kern County NA Glenn County NA Colusa County NA Solano County NA CORN-U.S. No. 2 Yellow FOB Turlock-Tulare $8.68 FOB Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $7.75-8 Rail Single Car Units via BNSF Chino Valley-Los Angeles $9.16-9.21 Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.98 Los Angeles-Chino Valley NA Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $8.98 SORGHUM-U.S. No. 2 Yellow Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley via BNSF Single $10.80 Truck Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA OATS-U.S. No. 1 White Truck Los Angeles-Chino Valley NA OATS-U.S. No. 2 White Truck Petaluma $13.25 Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $13.25 Rail Petaluma NA WHEAT-U.S. No. 2 or better-Hard Red Winter (Domestic Values for Flour Milling) Los Angeles 12 percent Protein $11.65 Los Angeles 13 percent Protein $11.85 Los Angeles 14 percent Protein $12.05 Truck/Rail Los Angeles 11-12 percent Protein Los Angeles 12 percent Protein NA Los Angeles 13 percent Protein $10.69 Los Angeles 14 percent Protein NA WHEAT-U.S. Durum Wheat Truck Imperial County NA Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties NA WHEAT-Any Class for Feed FOB Tulane NA Truck/Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley $10.52 Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA King-Tulare-Fresno Counties NA Merced County NA Colusa County NA Kern County $9.60 Prices paid to California farmers, seven-day reporting period ending Aug. 14 WHEAT, U.S. No. 1, Hard Amber Durum for Flour Milling Imperial Valley $13 Spot Del locally Truck Livestock Auctions Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals per pair or head as indicated. California SHASTA (Shasta Livestock Auction) Cottonwood, Calif. Aug. 21 Current week Last week 1,278 468 Compared to Aug. 14: Tough market Friday with big downs in the stock market and cattle futures. Slaughter animals $3 lower. Feeder cattle mostly $5-10 lower. Cows and pairs low- er on few single-iron cows. Off lots and singles $40-90 lower than top offerings. Slaughter cows: Breakers $97-102, $103-110 high dress; Boning $92-97; Cutters $80-94. Bulls 1 and 2: $110-134; $135-145 high dress. Feeder steers: 450-500 lbs. $239-266; 500- 550 lbs. $231-270; 550-600 lbs. $224-253; 600-650 lbs. $210-243; 650-700 lbs. $201-225; 700-750 lbs. $190-220; 750-800 lbs. $185-200; 800-900 lbs. $175-195. Feeder heifers: 450-500 lbs. $213-226; 500- 550 lbs. $200-221; 550-600 lbs. $200-220.50; 600-650 lbs. $190-210.50; 700-750 lbs. $180- 193. Pairs: Full mouth pairs $2300-2950. Broken mouth pairs $1775-2175. Calvy cows: Full mouth cows $1900-2400. Broken mouth butcher price to $1850. Idaho CALDWELL (Treasure Valley Livestock) Aug. 21 Steers: 300-400 lbs. $138.75; 400-500 lbs. $95; 500-600 lbs. $115; 600-700 lbs. $105.25; 700-800 lbs. $112.25; 800 lbs. $107. Heifers: 300-400 lbs. $105; 400-500 lbs. $92.50; 500-600 lbs. $90; 700-800 lbs. $118.25; 800-900 lbs. $116; 900-1000 lbs. $121.25. Bull calves (wt.): 400-500 lbs. $142.50; 500- 600 lbs. $79; 800-900 lbs. $119; 1000-1100 lbs. $92.75; 1100-1200 lbs. $98.50. Heiferettes (wt.): 1100-1200 lbs. $124.75; 1200-1300 lbs. $127.25; 1300-1400 lbs. $121.75; 1400-1500 lbs. $123.50; 1500-1600 lbs. $122. Cows (wt.): 1000-1100 lbs. $92.75; 1100- 1200 lbs. $98.50; 1200-1300 lbs. $109.75; 1300-1400 lbs. $96.25; 1400-1500 lbs. $98.21; 1500-1600 lbs. $96.75; 1600-1700 lbs. $100.75; 1700-1800 lbs. $96.75; 1800-1900 lbs. $102.50; 1900-2000 lbs. $102.50. Oregon EUGENE (Eugene Livestock Auction) Junction City, Ore. Aug. 22 Total head count: 431. Market conditions compared to last week: Cows and bulls up $8-10; feeders down $5-10. Top cows: High dressers $94-117.50; low dressers $80-93.75; top 10 $103.05. Top bulls: High dressers $118-150. Feeder Bulls: 300-500 lbs. $212-224; 500- 700 lbs. $138-150; 700-900 lbs. $144-148. Choice steers: Medium to large frame No. 1 and No. 2: 300-400 lbs. $190; 400-500 lbs. $200-255; 500-600 lbs. $190-208; 600-700 lbs. $170-200; 700-800 lbs. $170-182; 800-900 lbs. $150-165. Choice heifers: Medium to large frame No. 1 and No. 2: 300-400 lbs. $180-220; 400-500 lbs. $180-208; 500-600 lbs. $170-193; 600-700 lbs. $155-172; 700-800 lbs. $146-174.50; 800 lbs. and up $160-181. Bred Cows: $925-1375 head. Pairs: $1725-2110 pair. Head calves (up to 250 lbs.): $420-620 head; dairy $110-157 head. Feeder lambs: 50-90 lbs. $120-160; 90-130 lbs, $110-150. MADRAS (Central Oregon Livestock Auction) Aug. 10 Baby calves: NA. Steers: 200-300 lbs. $225-275; 300-400 lbs. $215-225; 400-500 lbs. $215-219; 500-600 lbs. $219-222.5; 600-700 lbs. $165-176; 700-800 lbs. $181-200; 800-900 lbs. $175-180. Bulls: High yield. $117-130; mostly $124- 126; thinner $105-115. Heifers: NA. Heiferettes: 850-1000 lbs. NA. Cows: Heiferettes NA; Feeder cows $100; high-yield $105; medium-yield $90; low-yield $80. Consumers shell out more for eggs; prices soar in California SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Consumers are shelling out more for a carton of large eggs as benchmark prices in Califor- nia have gone up by 150 percent in a year. Last August, a dozen large eggs cost $1.45 and a year later the price is $3.61 for the same carton, according to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday that one rea- son for the jump was an avian flu outbreak this spring that re- sulted in the killing of 48 million domestic chickens and turkeys, mostly in the Midwest. In addition, California pro- ducers have to pay 20 cents more per dozen eggs for chick- en feed because it’s mostly shipped from the Midwest, said Ken Klippen, president of the National Association of Egg Farmers. The rollout of Proposition 2, which requires that all eggs sold in California come from farms that allow chickens to move around freely, has also caused prices to soar, the newspaper reported. Under the measure, each egg-laying hen must have 116 square inches of space, rather than the standard 67 inches of space in battery cages, resulting in the upgrading of farms and fewer hens overall. “The costs of having to build new structures and new facilities were incurred by the egg farm- ers, and those costs have to get passed along,” said John Segale, spokesman for the Association of California Egg Farmers. California farmers produce roughly one-third to one-half of the eggs eaten in the state. Some larger farms in Iowa that raise hens according to Prop. 2 spec- ifications for California have been shut down since the avian flu outbreak, said Klippen. Potato Market Reports Compiled by North American Potato Market News and USDA Agricultural Market Service 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) Aug. 22 Market Commentary: Russet consumer bag prices are starting to pick up, as the transition to the 2015 potato crop continues. SHIPPING AREA FWA Chg GRI Chg 70 ct Chg 10# Film Chg IDAHO NORKOTAHS $14.27 $0.05 $6.86 $0.04 $24 -$2 $8.50 $1 COLUMBIA BASIN $13.86 $0.40 $6.20 $0.25 $24 $0 $7.50 $0.50 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. Aug. 21 Domestic wool trading on a clean basis was at a standstill this week. There were no confirmed trades. Most are at a point where they delivering previously sold contract wool from earlier in the year. Some warehouses have begun collecting small wool pools and will continue collecting into the fall. Domestic wool trading on a greasy basis was at a standstill. There were no confirmed trades this week. Domestic wool tags No. 1 $.60-.70 No. 2 $.50-.60 No. 3 $.40-.50 NATIONAL SHEEP SUMMARY (USDA Market News) San Angelo, Texas Aug. 21 Compared to Aug. 14: Slaughter lambs were uneven, $10-20 higher at San Angelo, Texas, and steady to $20 lower at New Holland, Pa. Slaugh- ter ewes were mostly steady to $10 lower. Feeder lambs were steady to $5 higher. At San Angelo, 4,119 head sold in a one-day sale. No sales in Equity Electronic Auction. In direct trading slaughter ewes were not tested; feeder lambs were $3.50 lower. 2,300 head of negotiated sales of slaughter lambs were steady to 1 higher. 6,800 head of formula sales under 55 lbs. were not well tested; 55-65 lbs. were $4-6 higher; 65- 75 lbs. were $7-10 higher; 75-85 lbs. were steady to 2 higher; 85-95 lbs. were $4-8 higher and over 95 lbs. were not well tested. 5,219 carcasses sold with 45 lbs. and down $34.94 lower; 45-55 lbs. $17.87 lower; 55-65 lbs. $.08 lower; 65-75 lbs. $.27 higher; 75-85 lbs. $1.05 lower and 85 lbs. and up $3.03 higher. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 2-3: San Angelo: shorn and wooled 105-135 lbs. 140-160. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 1: San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $230-252; 60-70 lbs. $220-232, few $232-240; 70-80 lbs. $200-218, few $220-226; 80-90 lbs. $190-200, few $206- 208; 90-110 lbs. $170-180, few $188. DIRECT TRADING (Lambs with 3-4 percent shrink or equivalent): 2300 Slaughter Lambs shorn and wooled 136- 163 lbs. $145-165 (wtd avg $156.09). Oregon: 1000 Feeder Lambs 95-105 lbs. $163. Idaho: 600 Feeder Lambs 80-90 lbs. $170. 5000 Feeder Lambs 100-110 lbs. $165 del in September. SLAUGHTER EWES: San Angelo: Good 2-3 (fleshy) $60-70; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) $70-81; Utility 1-2 (thin) $64-72; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) $50- 60; Cull 1 (extremely thin) $38-50. FEEDER LAMBS Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: 57 lbs. $218; 60-70 lbs. $200- 208; 70-90 lbs. $180-186; 90-120 lbs. $170-175. REPLACEMENT EWES Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: hair ewe lambs 60-80 lbs. $220- 238 cwt. NATIONAL WEEKLY LAMB CARCASS Choice and Prime 1-4: Weight Wtd. avg. 45 lbs. Down $433.87 45-55 lbs. $372.13 55-65 lbs. $343.07 65-75 lbs. $326.95 75-85 lbs. $313.17 85 lbs. and up $297.43 Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal in- spection for the week to date totaled 39,000 com- pared with 36,000 last week and 39,000 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 Aug. 21 Benchmark prices are steady. Asking prices for next week are unchanged for Jumbo, 20 cents lower for Extra Large, 10 cents lower for Large and 20 cents lower for Medium and Small. The undertone is lower. Demand is light to moderate on light to mostly moderate offerings and supplies. Market activity is slow to moderate. Small benchmark price $2.60. Size Range Size Range Jumbo 380 Extra large 377 Large 361 Medium 280 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 332-344 Extra large 303-315 Large 293-302 Medium 218-227 Cattle Market Reports 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. Aug. 21 This week Last week Last year 178,200 229,700 354,700 Compared to Aug. 14: Calves and yearlings traded weak to $5 lower with a number of in- stances $10 lower from midweek on. Direct sales traded steady to $2 lower early in the week, then turning $3-7 lower late week. Cattle futures seem to keep the focus on the bearish side, not wanting to show much life. Cattle futures on Aug. 19 closed with sharp tri- ple-digit losses, making new lows for the month. Market psychology keeps focus on negative fundamentals, with plentiful supplies and lower prices for competing meats, struggling outside markets, lower meat exports and the focus of trading the market on what is happening right now. The stock market is on course for its lowest finish of the year, as the Dow closed over 350 points lower on Aug. 20, dropping below 17,000 points. Stocks fell sharply on global growth worries that rattled the markets from China to Germany and the U.S. It was the Dow’s worst performance in 18 months. Losses then continued on Aug. 21 as the glob- al market rout deepened with the Dow losing over 500 points as of this writing. Oil futures are also hovering near 6-year lows at nearly $40 a barrel. This attitude and volatility dominates the market at this time. Global worries also swamped the cattle complex on Aug. 21 as Feeder Cattle futures dropped limit down. Lack of fed cattle support made its impact and weighed heavy on the feeder cattle market this week as fed cattle trade on Aug. 19 was $4-6 lower on dressed sales in Nebraska ranging from $232- 234. Any leverage that tight fed cattle numbers may hold doesn’t seem to matter as demand remains light to mod- erate at best. In the next 30-45 days auctions should see a good number of feeder cattle moving off pasture into feed yards. Unless the fed cattle market gets a move up the feeder cattle market won’t be able to maintain the premiums that has been paid for yearlings and calves the previous months. Despite lower prices this week it was still pretty optimistic in Valentine, Neb., on Aug. 20 selling near 485 head of yearling steers weigh- ing 900-950 lbs. averaged 917 lbs. sold with a weighted average price of $212.52. Near 775 head of their bigger brothers aver- aged 964 lbs. sold with a weighted average price of $205.76. Time is running out to take advantage of summer grilling demand and with the fed cattle market remaining stagnant, cutout values have made some steady gains over the last couple of weeks heading into Labor Day Weekend. But boxed-beef values closed lower on Aug. 21, following commodity markets lower as Choice cutout closed down $1.56 at $244.90. This week the Pro Farmer Crop Tour is being conducted through the Eastern and Western Corn Belt and through the Midwest. So far corn yields in Indiana 142.9 bpa, Ohio 148.4 bpa, Nebraska 165.2 bpa and Iowa 180.2 bpa are below USDA estimates with South Dakota 165.9 bpa and Minnesota 190.8 bpa, above USDA es- timates, and Illinois pretty much unchanged at 171.6 bpa. The big question remains whether good yields in the Western Corn Belt will compensate for lower yields in the Eastern Corn Belt; so far corn yields on the Pro Farmer Tour will not increase from USDA’s estimates. The Aug. 1 Cattle on Feed Report appears to be neutral as Cattle on Feed was very close to expectations at 102.6 percent. Placements came in at 99 percent and Marketings at 97 percent, both lighter than expected and were lowest for the month of July since the series be- gan in 1996. Auction volume included 54 percent weighing over 600 lbs. and 36 percent heifers. AUCTIONS This week Last week Last year 136,300 129,900 138,400 WASHINGTON Due to absence of reporter Washington auctions were not covered this week. DIRECT This week Last week Last year 24,500 53,100 70,100 SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada) There were no direct sales reported. NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Ida- ho) 1,500. 86 pct over 600 lbs. 52 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 Future Deliv- ery FOB Price 700-800 lbs. $209 for October, Calves, Washington. Current Delivered Price 900 lbs. $199 Washington. Future Delivered price 900 lbs. $195.50, October, Idaho; 550 lbs. $248, November, Washington; 900 lbs. $193.50, November, Idaho. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current Delivered Price 790 lbs. $200, Washington. 850 lbs. $190, Oregon; 900 lbs. $180, Oregon; 900-950 lbs. $189.84, Idaho; 950-1000 lbs. $197.84, Idaho. Future Delivered Price 850 lbs. $192.50, October Idaho. 450-500 lbs. $240, November, Washington. NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Aug. 21 This week Last week Last year 1,543 5,900 2,650 Compared to Aug. 14: Feeder cattle $2-5 lower. Trade moderate with moderate to good demand. The feeder supply included 48 percent steers and 52 percent heifers. Near 86 percent of the supply weighed over 600 lbs. Prices are FOB weighing point with a 1-4 per- cent shrink or equivalent and with a 5-10 cent slide on calves and a 3-8 cent slide on yearlings. Delivered prices include freight, commissions and other expenses. Current sales are up to 14 days delivery. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: Future FOB price: 750-800 lbs. $209, October, Calves, Washington. Current Delivered price: 900 lbs. $199, Washington. Future Delivered price: 900 lbs. $195.50, October, Idaho; 550 lbs. $248, November, Washington; 900 lbs. $193.50, No- vember, Idaho. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current Deliv- ered price: 750-800 lbs. $200, Washington; 850 lbs. $190, Oregon; 900 lbs. $180, Oregon; 900- 950 lbs. $189.84, Idaho; 950-1000 lbs. $197.84, Idaho. Future Delivered price: 850 lbs. $192.50, October, Idaho; 450-500 lbs. $240, November, Washington. NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE (Federal-State Market News) Oklahoma City-Des Moines Aug. 21 Compared to Aug. 14: Cash trade was mostly light on light demand in most feeding regions trade with dressed sales in Nebraska $4-6 lower. Boxed beef prices Aug. 21 averaged $239.89, which is $.19 lower than Aug. 14. The Choice/Select spread is $10.02. Slaughter cattle on a national basis for negotiated cash trades through Aug. 21 totaled about 36,000 head. The previous week’s total head count was 44,397 head. Midwest Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers 35-80 Percent Choice, 1200-1400 lbs. $145-147.50; Dressed Basis: Steers and Heifers $232-234. South Plains Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers 35-65 percent Choice, 1100- 1400 lbs. $145-149. Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding Prices): Slaughter cows $2-4 lower. Slaughter bulls $3-5 lower. USDA’s Cutter cow carcass cut-out value Aug. 21 was $222.54, down $1.75 from Aug. 14.