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.