16 CapitalPress.com
November 27, 2015
Farm Market Report
Sheep/Wool Market Reports
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 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
WASHINGTON-OREGON HAY
(Columbia Basin)
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Nov. 20
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
2,895
2,490
3,080
Compared to Nov. 13: Prem./Sup. dairy fourth and fifth cutting
Alfalfa and export Alfalfa steady in a light test. Trade remains slow.
Demand remains light. Retail/Feedstore steady. Demand remains
good.
Tons
Price
Alfalfa Mid Square
Prem./Sup. 150
$190
Good/Prem. 500
$150
Fair/Good
400
$120-130
Alfalfa Small Square
Premium
150
$260-
265
Orchard Grass Small Square
Premium
70
$260-275
Timothy Grass Mid Square Fair/Good
1500
$105
Wheat Straw Mid Square Good
125
$70
OREGON AREA HAY
(USDA Market News)
Portland, Ore.
Nov. 20
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
573
3,559
6,137
Compared to Nov. 13: Prices trended generally steady compared
to week ago prices. The upcoming holidays have slowed sales.
Many producers have decided to hold on to their hay for now, in
hopes for higher prices. Snow has hit some of the hay producing
areas.
Tons
Price
CROOK, DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, WASCO COUNTIES
Alfalfa Small Square
Premium
21
$250-
260
Good/Prem. 19
$240
Good
61
$230-235
Orchard Grass Small Square
Premium
193
$250-270
EASTERN OREGON
Alfalfa Small Square
Good
100
$190
KLAMATH BASIN
Alfalfa Large Square
Premium
75
$210
Small Square
Premium
50
$220
LAKE COUNTY
Alfalfa Small Square
Good
28
$250
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square
Premium
23
$265
Good
3
$240
HARNEY COUNTY
No new sales.
IDAHO HAY
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Nov. 20
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
3,375
1,860
8,200
Compared to Nov. 13: Supreme, Premium and Good Alfalfa
steady in a light test. Fair/Good Alfalfa weak to $20 lower in a light
test. Trade slow this week with continued light demand. Exporters
continue to look for covered hay with producers sorting out bottom
bales.
Tons
Price
Alfalfa Mid Square
Prem./Sup. 2000
$260
Fair/Good
175
$70
1000
$130-140
Oat Mid Square
Good
200
$80
CALIFORNIA HAY
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Nov. 20
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
5,650
8,188
8,565
Compared to Nov. 13: All classes traded steady to weak on a very
thin test. Demand was very light to light.
Tons
Price
REGION 1: NORTH INTERMOUNTAIN
Includes the counties of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and
Plumas.
Alfalfa
Supreme
450
$215
REGION 2: Sacramento Valley
Includes the counties of Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter,
Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano, Sacramento.
No new sales.
REGION 3: NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Includes the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tu-
olumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa.
Alfalfa
Premium
50
$220
Good
400
$100 Rain Damage
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix
Premium
75
$220
REGION 4: CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo.
Alfalfa
Supreme
325
$250-270
350
$290
REGION 5: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Includes the counties of Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and West-
ern San Bernardino.
Alfalfa
Supreme
200
$215
Fair
150
$110
REGION 6: SOUTHEAST CALFORNIA
Includes the counties of Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and
Imperial.
Alfalfa
Prem./Sup. 150
$190-210
Premium
1000
$185
Good/Prem. 250
$150
Good
50
$140
Fair/Good
2150
$95-105
Bermuda Grass
Premium
50
$170
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 replace-
ment animals on per head basis as indicated.
NATIONAL WOOL REVIEW
(USDA Market News)
Greeley, Colo.
Nov. 20
Domestic wool trading on a clean basis was at
a standstill this week. There were no confirmed
trades. Wool is still being collected from fall shorn
lambs to try to market further down the road.
There is some attempting to trade small amounts
of wool at this time, but many are opting to hold
onto their wool as there is optimism that there
will be another strong rally in the spring. There is
currently some resistance due to the strong U.S.
dollar. Domestic wool trading on a greasy basis
was moderate this week. There were 260,000
lbs. of confirmed trades this week. All trades
reported on a weighted average. Fleece States
Lamb Wool: 35-40 mm 21 micron $1.30; 35-40
mm 24 micron $1.03.
Domestic wool tags
No. 1
$.60-.70
No. 2
$.50-.60
No. 3
$.40-.50
NATIONAL SHEEP SUMMARY
(USDA Market News)
San Angelo, Texas
Nov. 20
Compared to Nov. 13: Slaughter lambs were
steady to $15 higher, instances $20 higher.
Slaughter ewes were steady to $10 higher. Feed-
er lambs were steady to $10 higher. At San Ange-
lo, Texas, 3,260 head sold in a one-day sale. Eq-
uity Electronic Auction sold 340 slaughter lambs
in North Dakota. In direct trading slaughter ewes
were not tested; no comparison on feeder lambs.
6,800 head of negotiated sales of slaughter lambs
were steady to $2 lower. 9,700 head of formula
sales under 55 lbs. were not tested; 55-65 lbs.
were steady to $2 higher; 65-75 lbs. were $4-6
lower; 75-85 lbs. were firm and over 85 lbs. were
not well tested. 6,474 carcasses sold with 55 lbs.
and down $3.65-3.70 lower and 55 lbs. and up
$.59-1.59 lower.
SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 2-3:
San Angelo: shorn and wooled 120-155 lbs.
$140-154.
SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 1:
San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $242-262, few $266-
270; 60-70 lbs. $226-238, few $246-248; 70-80
lbs. $216-221; 80-90 lbs. $198-210; 90-105 lbs.
$170-178.
DIRECT TRADING (Lambs with 3-4 percent
shrink or equivalent):
6,800 Slaughter Lambs shorn and wooled 128-
160 lbs. $134.38-165 (wtd avg $148.49).
SLAUGHTER EWES:
San Angelo: Good 2-3 (fleshy) no test; Utility
and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) $72-78, high-yield-
ing $86; Utility 1-2 (thin) $56-64; Cull and Utility
1-2 (very thin) $45; Cull 1 (extremely thin) $26-40.
FEEDER LAMBS Medium and Large 1-2:
San Angelo: 60 lbs. $184; 70-80 lbs. $182-
192; 80-100 lbs. $170-188.
REPLACEMENT EWES Medium and Large
1-2:
San Angelo: mixed age hair ewes 100-145
lbs. $94-134 cwt.
NATIONAL WEEKLY LAMB CARCASS Choice
and Prime 1-4:
Weight
Wtd. avg.
45 lbs. Down
$434.28
45-55 lbs.
$384.02
55-65 lbs.
$340.54
65-75 lbs.
$321.93
75-85 lbs.
$313.77
85 lbs. and up $302.34
Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal in-
spection for the week to date totaled 42,000
compared with 40,000 last week and 41,000
last year.
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
Nov. 20
PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARKET SUMMARY
Cash wheat bids for October delivery ended the reporting week
on Thursday, Nov. 19, mixed compared to Nov. 12 noon bids for
November delivery.
December wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday,
Nov. 19, mixed as follows compared to Nov. 12 closes: Chicago
wheat futures were 7.25 cents lower at $4.9075, Kansas City wheat
futures were 1.25 cents lower at $4.6250 and Minneapolis wheat fu-
tures trended 3.50 cents higher at $5.0875. Chicago December corn
futures trended 2.25 cents higher at $3.6425 and January soybean
futures closed 3 cents lower at 8.60.
Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit trains
or barges during November for ordinary protein were not available,
compared to $4.98-5.50 last week for November delivery. 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 November delivery
by unit trains and barges to Portland were $6.78-7.1775 and bids
for White Club Wheat were $9.1775-9.6275. Forward month bids
for soft white wheat ordinary protein were as follows: December not
available; January, February and March $4.9225-5.35. One year
ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were
as follows: December $6.78-7.2775, January $6.84-7.36, February
and March $6.84-7.41.
Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5
percent protein during November were $6.5575-6.90, steady to
7.25 cents per bushel lower compared to $6.63- 6.90 last week
for November delivery. White club wheat premiums for guaranteed
maximum 10.5 percent protein soft white wheat were $1.15 to $1.35
per bushel over soft white wheat bids compared to $1.15 to $1.35
Nov. 12. Forward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5
percent proteins were as follows: December $6.5575-6.90, January,
February and March $6.4725-6.90.
Bids for 11.5 percent protein U.S. 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for
November delivery were 1.25 cents per bushel lower compared to
Nov. 12 noon bids for November delivery. On Nov. 19, bids were
as follows: November $5.6250-5.7750, December $5.6750-5.7750,
January $5.7125-5.7625, February $5.7425-5.7925 and March
$5.7725- 5.8125.
Bids for non-guaranteed 14.0 percent protein U.S. 1 Dark North-
ern Spring Wheat for Portland delivery during November were 3.50
to 8.50 cents per bushel higher than Nov. 12 noon bids for the same
delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby de-
livery. On Nov. 19, bids for non-guaranteed 14 percent protein were
as follows: November $6.1875-6.5875, December $6.2575-6.5875,
January $6.0975-6.5275, February and March $6.0975-6.5475.
COARSE FEEDING GRAINS
Bids for U.S. 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Pacific Northwest
- BN shuttle trains for November delivery were 0.25 to 14.25 cents
higher from $4.4825-4.4925 per bushel. Forward month corn bids
were as follows: December $4.4225-4.4925, January $4.5025-
4.5325, February $4.5125-4.5525, March $4.5425-4.5725 and April
$4.5875-4.5975. Bids for U.S. 1 Yellow Soybeans delivered full
coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for November delivery
were 4.25 cents lower from $9.60-9.63 per bushel. Forward month
soybean bids were as follows: December $9.57-9.63, January
$9.55-9.61 and February $9.51-9.53. Bids for U.S. 2 Heavy White
Oats for November delivery trended steady at $3.8475 per bushel.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPORT NEWS
There were 12 grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thursday,
Nov. 19, with four docked compared to nine last Thursday with four
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
Nov. 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 NA
Tulare County
NA
Truck
Petaluma-Santa Rosa
NA
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA
Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties
NA
Madera County
NA
Kern County
NA
Colusa County
$11
Solano County
NA
CORN-U.S. No. 2 Yellow
FOB
Turlock-Tulare
$8.56
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA
Kings-Tulare-Fresno
NA
Rail
Single Car Units via BNSF
Chino Valley-Los Angeles
$9.08
Truck
Petaluma-Santa Rosa
NA
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.65-8.86
Los Angeles-Chino Valley
NA
Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties
$8.86
SORGHUM-U.S. No. 2 Yellow
Rail
Los Angeles-Chino Valley
via BNSF Single
$10.11
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
NA
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA
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
WHEAT-U.S. Durum Wheat
Truck
Imperial County
NA
Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties
NA
WHEAT-Any Class for Feed
FOB
Tulare
NA
Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties
$9.50
Colusa County
NA
Truck/Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley
NA
Truck
Petaluma-Santa Rosa
NA
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA
King-Tulare-Fresno Counties
NA
Fresno
$10.50
Colusa County
NA
Kern County
NA
Prices paid to California farmers, seven-day reporting period end-
ing Nov. 19: No confirmed sales.
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.
Nov. 20
Current week Last week
1,646
2,833
Compared to Nov. 13: Slaughter cows $4 lower.
Lead end of steers under 650 lbs. steady to $10
higher. Very uneven market with most other class-
es $5-15 below the Nov. 13 special sale. Off lots
and singles $30-80 below top offerings.
Slaughter cows: Breakers $73-77, $78-81 high
dress; Boning $65-72; Cutters $50-70.
Bulls 1 and 2: $60-90; $100-116 high dress.
Feeder steers: 300-400 lbs. $200-270; 400-450
lbs. $180-216; 450-500 lbs. $188-223; 550-600
lbs. $170-193; 600-650 lbs. $160-195.50; 650-
700 lbs. $147-173; 700-750 lbs. $149-172; 750-
800 lbs. $135-157.50.
Feeder heifers: 300-400 lbs. $160-186; 450-
500 lbs. $150-171; 500-550 lbs. $142-168;
550-600 lbs. $140-166; 600-650 lbs. $140-165;
650-700 lbs. $140-163; 700-750 lbs. $135-148;
750-800 lbs. $143-147.50; 800-900 lbs. $127-
137.50.
Washington
TOPPENISH
(Toppenish Livestock Auction)
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Nov. 20
This week
Last week
Last year
1,800
1,600
2,150
Compared to Nov. 13 at the same market:
Stocker steers less than 600 lbs. steady to firm
in a light test. Feeder steers and all heifers $9-15
lower in a light test. Trade slow with light demand
for small lots and singles. Slaughter cows $4-5
lower. Slaughter bulls $8-9 lower. Trade slow with
light demand. Demand remains good for feeding
and turnout type cows. Slaughter cows 73 per-
cent, Slaughter bulls 5 percent, and feeders 22
percent of the supply. The feeder supply included
37 percent steers and 63 percent heifers. Near 74
percent of the run weighed over 600 lbs.
Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: 500-
600 lbs. $184-186; 600-700 lbs. $161-166,
Calves; 700-800 lbs. $151-160.60; 800-900
lbs. $155. Medium and Large 2-3: 800-900
lbs. $117.50, Brahman X. Large 1-2: 900-1000
lbs. $145. Small and Medium 1-2: 500-600 lbs.
$165-166; 600-700 lbs. $150-154.
Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: 400-
500 lbs. $161-171; 500-600 lbs. $160-169;
500-600 lbs. $173, Thin Fleshed; 600-700 lbs.
$151-160, Calves; 600-700 lbs. $157.50, Full;
700-800 lbs. $145-147; 700-800 lbs. $110, Full;
800-900 lbs. $136-139; 800-900 lbs. $122.50,
Full. Medium and Large 2-3: 700-800 lbs. $120,
Heiferettes; 800-900 lbs. $102.50, Heiferettes.
Large 1-2: 900-1000 lbs. $129; 1100-1200 lbs.
$102.50-118. Large 2-3: 1200-1300 lbs. $115-
120. Small and Medium 1-2: 400-500 lbs. $151;
600-700 lbs. $117.50.
Slaughter Cows: Premium White: 65-70
Percent lean 1400-1600 lbs. few $86-98 Heif-
erettes.
Slaughter Cows: Boning 80-85 percent lean
1600-2050 lbs. $65-70; Boning 80-85 percent
lean 1300-1600 lbs. $73-75; Lean 85-90 per-
cent lean 1000-1700 lbs. $64-70; Lean 85-90
percent lean 1100-1600 lbs. $71-75; Lean Light
90 percent lean 900-1250 lbs. $52-59.
Slaughter Bulls: Yield Grade 1-2 1800-2200
lbs. $84.50-91.50.
Feeder Cows: Large 2-3: 900-1000 lbs. $74,
Mid-Aged; 900-1000 lbs. $95, Young; 1100-
1200 lbs. $85-87.50, Young; 1200-1300 lbs.
$75, Mid-Aged..
Oregon
Idaho
MADRAS
(Central Oregon Livestock Auction)
Nov. 16
Total head: 2,565.
Steers: 300-400 lbs. $225-240; 400-500 lbs.
$225-237.50; 500-600 lbs. $215-236; 600-700
lbs. $188-207; 700-800 lbs. $158-161; 800-900
lbs. $145-150.
Bulls: High yield $90-94.50; mostly $80-85;
thinner $74-77.
Pairs: NA.
Bred cows: First calf heifers NA.
Heifers: 200-300 lbs. $175-200; 300-400 lbs.
$200-219; 400-500 lbs. $190-215; 500-600 lbs.
$165-180; 600-700 lbs. $155-169; 700-800 lbs.
$135-145.
Heiferettes: 850-1000 lbs. $125-135.
Cows: Heiferettes NA; Feeder cows $80; high-
yield $80; medium-yield $75; low-yield $60.
VALE
(Producers Livestock Market)
Nov. 18
Total receipts: 1,785 head.
Comments: Steady to $2 lower on some weight
classes of calves compared to last week’s sharp
decline and new prices levels from the week be-
fore.
Steer calves: 300-400 lbs. $231-261; 400-500
lbs. $187-243; 500-600 lbs. $174-199.
Heifer calves: 300-400 lbs. $187-201; 400-500
lbs. $163-211; 500-600 lbs. $158-178.
Yearling steers: 600-700 lbs. $161-182; 700-
800 lbs. $143-164; 900-1000 lbs. $144-150.
Yearling heifers: 600-700 lbs. $142-163; 700-
800 lbs. $135-148; 900-1000 lbs. $121-128.
Stock cows (young): $1385-1700.
Stock cows (B.M.): $975-1285.
Butcher cows: $64-71.
Thin shelly cows: $63-69.
Younger heiferettes: $94-127.
Butcher bulls: $60-83.
CALDWELL
(Treasure Valley Livestock)
Nov. 20
Steers (wt.): 400-500 lbs. $99.50; 500-600 lbs.
$127.75; 600-700 lbs. $94; 700-800 lbs. $75.
Steers (hd.): 200-300 lbs. $145; 300-400 lbs.
$175; 400-500 lbs. $325.
Heifers (wt.): 400-500 lbs. $114.50; 500-600
lbs. $110; 600-700 lbs. $101.50.
Heifers (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $70; 200-300 lbs.
$115; 300-400 lbs. $150; 400-500 lbs. $200; 600-
700 lbs. $225.
Bull calves (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $35.
Cows (wt.): 900-1000 lbs. $42; 1100-1200
lbs. $60; 1200-1300 lbs. $59.50; 1300-1400 lbs.
$63.25; 1400-1500 lbs. $65.25; 1500-1600 lbs.
$69.50; 1600-1700 lbs. $68.25; 1700-1800 lbs.
$70.75; 1800-1900 lbs. $70.25; 1900-2000 lbs.
$72.
Washington
EVERSON
(Everson Livestock Auction)
Nov. 14
Total receipts: 409.
Feeder steers: 300-400 lbs. $75-178; 400-500
lbs. $50-187; 500-600 lbs. $72-190;
600-700 lbs. $51-184; 700-800 lbs. $90-178;
800-900 lbs. $80-176; 900-1000 lbs. $75-146;
1000-1100 lbs. $88-126; 1100-1300 lbs. $80-
140; 1300-1500 lbs. $84.50-123; 1500-2000 lbs.
$95-112.
Feeder bulls: $74-192.
Slaughter cows: $67.85.
Slaughter heifers: 300-400 lbs. $75-171;
400-500 lbs. $71-174; 500-600 lbs. $124-160;
600-700 lbs. $51-154; 700-800 lbs. $100-143;
800-900 lbs. $50-130; 900-1000 lbs. $71-141;
1000-1100 lbs. $80-100; 1100-1300 lbs. $60.50-
80; 1300-1500 lbs. $75-93.
Bred Cows: $1250-1275.
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
Nov. 20
Benchmark prices are steady. Asking prices for next week are 7 cents higher for Jumbo, 6 cents
higher for Extra Large, 5 cents higher for Large and unchanged for Medium and Small. The undertone is
currently steady. Offerings are light to moderate for Jumbo and usually moderate on the balance of sizes.
Retail demand is fairly good to good with food service movement good to very good. Supplies are light to
mostly moderate. Market activity is slow to moderate. Small benchmark price $2.31.
Size
Range
Size
Range
Jumbo
298
Extra large
311
Large
306
Medium
251
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
250-261
Extra large
237-249
Large
238-247
Medium
189-198
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 SLAUGHTER CATTLE
(Federal-State Market News)
Oklahoma City-Des Moines
Nov. 20
Compared to last week: Negotiated cash trade
was mostly inactive on light demand in all feeding
regions. Few early dressed sales in Nebraska
$3-7 lower. Boxed Beef prices Nov. 20 averaged
$197.05 and is down $7.13 from Nov. 13. The
Choice/Select spread is $12.19. Slaughter cattle
on a national basis for negotiated cash trades
through Nov. 20 totaled about 18,236 head. The
previous week’s total head count was 58,595
head.
Midwest Direct Markets: Dressed Basis: Steers
and Heifers: $195.
Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding
Prices): Slaughter cows steady to $3 lower.
Slaughter bulls $2-7 lower.
USDA’s Cutter Cow cut-out value Nov. 20 was
$173.68 up $1.50 from Nov. 13.
NATIONAL FEEDER AND STOCKER CATTLE
(Federal-State Market News)
St. Joseph, Mo.
Nov. 20
This week
Last week
Last year
286,500
344,900
310,500
Compared to Nov. 13: The bulk of the steer and
heifer calves traded $5-10 lower with instances
$15 lower; then on Nov. 18 the futures rebounded
many calves throughout the trade area turned
steady to $5 lower. On a light test yearlings trad-
ed steady to $5 lower, instances $10 lower for
the week. Direct trade was mostly $4-11 lower.
Nov. 13 cattle futures ended the week with a
crash and then tanked again on Nov. 16 pressur-
ing feeder cattle markets. It seems volatility has
become commonplace in the cattle complex as
market behaviors look for explanations trying to
find some balance if it exists. Market psychology
keeps focus on bearish fundamentals with heavy
slaughter weights, plentiful supplies and lower
prices for competing meats, struggling outside
markets and lower meat exports keeps the focus
on trading the current market. The fat cattle mar-
ket continues to offer little or no support for the
feeder cattle and those purchasing feeder cattle
to feed out continue to see break evens fall apart.
Corn harvest is winding down across the coun-
try with 96 percent completed and should cause
many farmer/feeders to enter the market to buy
calves. Over the last several weeks there has
been many high quality calves offered throughout
the Northern and Southern Plains with many light
calves suitable to head south to the wheat fields
to graze or to graze as yearlings next year. The
market remains most active for long time weaned
calves with vaccination programs along with rep-
utation strings of ranch calves coming to auctions.
Boxed-beef values continue to see retail interest
tied up in turkeys and ham as retail beef prices
remain in choppy waters and trending lower this
week. Hopefully retailers will start featuring beef
after the turkeys clear out and will see improving
beef retail sales and cutout values.
AUCTIONS
This week
Last week
Last year
251,500
286,600
264,600
WASHINGTON 4,300. 46 pct over 600 lbs. 41
pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 450-
500 lbs. $174.60; 500-550 lbs. $173.48; 550-600
lbs. $169.87; 600-650 lbs. $171.28; 650-700 lbs.
$169.70; 700-750 lbs. $169.19; 800-850 lbs.
$163.57. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 450-
500 lbs. $170.36; 500-550 lbs. $170.65; 550-600
lbs. $170.72; 600-650 lbs. $154.22; 650-700 lbs.
$151.14.
DIRECT
This week
Last week
Last year
34,200
23,400
45,300
(Arizona-California-Nevada)
SOUTHWEST
1800. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Hol-
steins: Large 3 300 lbs. $190 Mar Del.
(Washington-Oregon-Idaho)
NORTHWEST
1,800. 88 pct over 600 lbs. 40 pct heifers. Steers:
Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB Price 450-
500 lbs. $220 Idaho; 600-650 lbs. $164-166
calves Washington. Current Delivered Price 750-
800 lbs. $172-182 Idaho; 800-900 lbs. $167 Ida-
ho. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB
Price 450-500 lbs. $205 Idaho. Current Delivered
Price 600-650 lbs. $183 calves Idaho; 700-800
lbs. $160-164 Idaho; 850 lbs. $161 Idaho.
NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Nov. 29
This week
Last week
Last year
1,750
350
3,600
Compared to Nov. 13: feeder cattle weak to $10
lower. Trade remains slow this week with light de-
mand as a result of lower futures and slaughter
cattle markets most of the week. The feeder
supply included 60 percent steers and 40 percent
heifers. Near 88 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
yearlings. Delivered prices include freight, com-
missions and other expenses. Current sales are
up to 14 days delivery.
Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB
Price: 450-500 lbs. $220 Idaho; 600-650 lbs.
$164-166 calves Washington. Current Delivered
Price: 750-800 lbs. $172-182 Idaho; 800-900 lbs.
$167 Idaho.
Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB
Price: 450-500 lbs. $205 Idaho. . Current De-
livered Price: 600-650 lbs. $183 calves Idaho;
700-800 lbs. $160-164 Idaho; 850 lbs. $161
Idaho.
Scientists: Feeding fish soy, not fish, more sustainable
By DIRK LAMMERS
Associated Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)
— Research supported by the
soybean industry is looking to
convert some farm-raised fish
into vegetarians.
A South Dakota State Uni-
versity fisheries scientist is
developing a soy protein feed
that’s tasty and easily digestible
to eventually reduce the indus-
try’s need for using wild-caught
fish as food for farm-raised fish.
Much of the tilapia, Atlantic
salmon and catfish that Amer-
icans toss into their shopping
carts are raised in fish farms,
where companies traditionally
feed them pellets containing an-
chovy, menhaden and herring.
The harvest of those small spe-
cies has pretty much flat-lined,
SDSU professor Mike Brown
said, and humans’ increased de-
mand for fish has driven up the
cost of creating the pellet feed.
“We’ve fully exploited that
resource,” he said, noting that
the goal is to create a more sus-
tainable — and cheaper — food
source. Traditional fish feed
is currently costing between
$1,450 and $2,000 per ton,
while soybean meal runs about
$425 per ton, Brown said.
But some environmental-
ists worry that feeding fish
species an uncommon food
source could produce excess
waste that muddies up inland
tanks or offshore waters where
fish are raised.
“Nothing’s free in terms of
environmental impact. So you have to
count the soy production system in
whatever you’re calculating there.”
Patty Lovera, assistant director of the Washington-based
sustainability group Food & Water Watch
Toying with soy also has
the potential to open new mar-
kets to soybean farmers deal-
ing with stockpiles that have
driven down prices, said Jere-
my Freking, executive director
of the South Dakota Soybean
Association. The South Dakota
Soybean Research & Promo-
tion Council has invested $1.7
million into the ongoing work
at South Dakota State, which
is being commercialized at the
site by Prairie AquaTech.
Researchers at the Brook-
ings facility have been working
with species including coho
salmon, rainbow trout, barra-
mundi, white leg shrimp, yel-
low perch and hybrid striped
bass to see how much of the
feed can be added to the spe-
cies’ diets without affecting
physiology or reducing growth.
The goal in agriculture and
aquaculture is to have 100
percent of an ingredient di-
gested, absorbed, metabolized
and incorporated into muscle
tissue, Brown said. Through
pre-treatments and microbi-
al fermentation, his research
team has been able to increase
fish’s ability to digest more
than 95 percent of the protein
and energy, he said.
“It’s pretty darn efficient,”
said Brown, who’s been set-
ting up small commercial
validation trials as research-
ers work toward putting their
product into the marketplace.
But if soy protein-based
food results in excess waste,
aquaculture could become
even more damaging to the
environment, said Patty Lo-
vera, assistant director of the
Washington-based sustain-
ability group Food & Water
Watch.
“If it’s not the food they’re
built to eat, how do they toler-
ate it?” she asked.
It’s also important to look
at the entire environmental
footprint — and industrial fish
farms already have a pretty
large one, Lovera said. Plus,
she added, the equation would
have to include all the factors
going into crop production.
“Nothing’s free in terms of
environmental impact,” she
said, “so you have to count
the soy production system in
whatever you’re calculating
there.”