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December 25, 2015 CapitalPress.com 15 Farm Market Report Hay Market Reports Sheep/Wool Market Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • St. Joseph, Mo.-Portland Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Greeley, Colo.-San Angelo, Texas 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 OREGON AREA HAY (USDA Market News) Portland, Ore. Dec. 12 This week FOB Last week Last year 2,772 3,999 1,559 Compared to Dec. 11: 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 Premium 48 $240-260 Alfalfa Small Square Orchard Grass Small Square Premium 53 $240-270 EASTERN OREGON Premium 320 $190 Alfalfa Large Square Good 245 $125 HARNEY COUNTY 400 $140 Timothy Grass Large Square Premium KLAMATH BASIN Alfalfa Large Square Supreme 200 $205 Prem./Sup. 250 $235 Premium 405 $170-180 LAKE COUNTY Alfalfa Large Square Premium 33 $225 Small Square Good/Prem. 120 $210 Fair/Good 60 $150 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Good 24 $200 Good 300 $100 Premium 60 $125 Good 200 $90 Small Square Good 29 $175 CALIFORNIA HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Dec. 11 This week FOB Last week Last year 4,643 5,456 3,410 Compared to Dec. 5: All classes traded steady to weak on a very thin test. Demand was very light to light. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, another stormy week was experienced across most of the region, leaving only the southeastern California desert and part of the San Joaquin Valley devoid of significant precipitation. The heaviest precipitation — more than one foot — affected part of the Washington Cascades, interior northwestern Washington, northwestern Oregon, southwestern Oregon, and northwestern California. Tons Price REGION 1: NORTH INTERMOUNTAIN Includes the counties of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas. Alfalfa Good 75 $130 Fair/Good 300 $110 300 $100 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 $320 Premium 100 $210 Good/Prem. 275 $200 Fair 125 $150 200 $205 Orchard Grass Premium 100 $260-270 Oat Good 100 $100-115 Rice Straw Good 50 $100 REGION 3: NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tu- olumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa. Oat Fair/Good 75 $95 Square Oat Large Square Triticale Large Square REGION 4: CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo. Alfalfa Good/Prem. 200 $200 REGION 5: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and West- ern San Bernardino. Alfalfa Premium 25 $240 Good/Prem. 25 $200 IDAHO HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Dec. 12 This week FOB Last week Last year 3,925 3,175 2,660 Compared to Dec. 12: Fair/Good Alfalfa weak in a light test. Oth- er grades not tested this week. Trade remains slow this week with continued light demand. Most interests now are waiting until after the first of the year. Some interest was noted this week from NW exporters. Retail/feed store/horse steady. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Fair/Good 600 $120 3000 $75 Alfalfa Small Square Premium 100 $150 Wheat Straw Mid Square Good 225 $40-55 WASHINGTON-OREGON HAY (Columbia Basin) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Dec. 12 This week FOB Last week Last year 4,855 4,810 8,350 Compared to Dec. 5: Premium Alfalfa and export Alfalfa steady in a light pre-holiday test. Trade remains slow. Demand remains light. As most interests are out of the market until after the first of the year. Retail/Feedstore steady. Demand remains good. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Prem./Sup. 750 $210 Good 1500 $145 Fair 2500 $120-130 Alfalfa Small Square Premium 75 $260-265 Timothy Grass Mid Square Premium 30 $200 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 Dec. 17 PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARKET SUMMARY Cash wheat bids for December delivery ended the reporting week on Thursday Dec. 17, lower compared to Dec. 10 noon bids for De- cember delivery. March wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday, Dec. 17, lower as follows compared to Dec. 10 closes: Chicago wheat futures were 11.50 cents lower at $4.84, Kansas City wheat futures were 9.25 cents lower at $4.8050 and Minneapolis wheat futures trended $7.50 cents lower at $5.08. Chicago December corn futures trended five cents lower at $3.7425 and January soybean futures closed 1.25 cents lower at $8.77. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit trains or barges during December for ordinary protein were not available this week or last week for December delivery, as most 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 December 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: December not available; January, February and March $4.84-5.30. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: January $6.88-7.3650, February $6.94-7.3650 and March $7.07-7.3650. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5 per- cent protein during December were $6.39-6.68, 15 to 31.50 cents per bushel lower compared to $6.7050-6.83 last week for December delivery. White club wheat premiums for guaranteed maximum 10.5 percent protein soft white wheat were $1.55 to $1.75 per bushel over soft white wheat bids compared to $1.75 Dec. 10. One year ago bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for De- cember delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $8.1850- 8.2850 and bids for White Club Wheat were $10.1850-10.7850. Forward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5 percent proteins were as follows: January $6.34-6.70, February $6.39-6.70, March $6.39-6.50, and April $6.46-6.50. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: January $7.90-8.3350, February $7.96- 8.3350 and March $8.07-8.3350. Bids for 11.5 percent protein U.S. 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for December delivery were $9.25 cents per bushel lower compared to the previous week’s noon bids for December delivery. On Dec. 17, bids were as follows: December $5.6050-5.7050, January $5.6550-5.7550, February $5.7050-5.7550, March $5.7550 and April $5.76-5.79. Bids for non-guaranteed 14.0 percent protein U.S. 1 Dark North- ern Spring Wheat for Portland delivery during December were $7.50 to 12.50 cents per bushel lower than the previous week’s noon bids for the same delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. On Dec. 17, bids for non-guaranteed 14 percent protein were as follows: December $6.28-6.48, January $6.13-6.48, February $6.18-6.48 and March $6.28-6.48. COARSE FEEDING GRAINS Bids for U.S. 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Pacific Northwest – BN shuttle trains for December delivery were five to six cents lower from $4.5125-4.5425 per bushel. Forward month corn bids were as follows: January and February $4.5425-4.5725, March $4.5625- 4.5825, April $4.5825-4.6225 and May $4.5925-4.6225. Bids for U.S. 1 Yellow Soybeans delivered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for December delivery were mixed, from 1.25 cents lower to 0.75 of a cent higher from $9.69-9.73 per bushel. Forward month soybean bids were as follows: January $9.69-9.77 and Feb- ruary $9.5575-9.6675. Bids for U.S. 2 Heavy White Oats for De- cember delivery trended $7.25 cents lower at $3.8475 per bushel. PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPORT NEWS There were 13 grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thurs- day, Dec. 17, with four docked compared to 15 last week 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 Dec. 20 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) Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa Sale $11.65 CORN-U.S. No. 2 Yellow FOB Turlock-Tulare $8.54 Rail Single Car Units via BNSF Chino Valley-Los Angeles $9.13 Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa $9 Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.84 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $8.84 SORGHUM-U.S. No. 2 Yellow Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley via BNSF Single $9.18 OATS-U.S. No. 1 White Truck Los Angeles-Chino Valley NA OATS-U.S. No. 2 White Truck Petaluma $13 Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $12.75-13 WHEAT-U.S. No. 2 or better-Hard Red Winter (Domestic Values for Flour Milling) Los Angeles 12 percent Protein NA WHEAT-U.S. Durum Wheat Truck Imperial County $11 Prices paid to California farmers, seven-day reporting period ending Dec. 17: WHEAT, U.S. No. 1, Hard Amber Durum for Flour Milling Imperial Valley $11 Spot Delivered BARLEY, U.S. No. 2, 48 lbs. per bushel Petaluma $11.65 Spot Delivered 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. Dec. 12 Domestic wool trading on a clean basis was slow this week. There were 130,888 lbs. of confirmed trades. These are a representative of a few cleanup sales where smaller amounts of wool are attempting to be marketed at this time, but many are opting to hold onto their wool as there is optimism that there will be an- other strong rally in the spring where wool will receive more attractive offers for producers. Currently there is still some resistance due to the strong U.S. dollar, though prices have remained relatively steady over the past sev- eral weeks. Domestic wool trading on a greasy basis was slow to moderate this week. There were 281,873 lbs. of confirmed trades. All trades reported on a weighted average. Fleece States Ewe Wool: 60-65 mm 22 micron $1.36; 65-70 mm 23 micron $1.23; 60-65 mm 29 micron $.71. Lamb Wools: 65-70 mm 22 micron $1.33; 65-70 mm 25 micron $1.18; 65-70 mm 26 mi- cron $1.09; Bellies $.71. Territory States Ewe Wool: 60-65 mm Tender 21 micron $1.55; 70- 75 mm 22 micron $1.79; 60-65 mm 23 micron $1.20; 50-55 mm Tender 24 micron $1.01; 60- 65 mm 26 micron $1.12. Yearling wools: 75-80 mm Tender 27 micron $.99. Lamb Wools: 60- 65 mm 21 micron $1.47; 65-70 mm 22 micron $1.47; 65-70 mm 24 micron $1.17; 70-75 mm 26 micron $1.17; 60-65 mm 28 micron $.88; 60-65 mm 30-31 micron $.81. Domestic wool tags No. 1 $.60-.70 No. 2 $.50-.60 No. 3 $.40-.50 NATIONAL SHEEP SUMMARY (USDA Market News) San Angelo, Texas Dec. 12 Compared to Dec. 5: Compared to last week heavy slaughter lambs were steady to 8 lower; light slaughter lambs were steady to $20 high- er, except at San Angelo, Texas, where they were steady to 10 lower. Slaughter ewes were steady. No comparison on feeder lambs. At San Angelo, Texas, 4,400 head sold in a one-day sale. No sales in Equity Electronic Auction. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs were not tested. 3,900 head of negotiated sales of slaughter lambs were $2-3 lower. 10,700 head of formula sales under 55 lbs. were not well tested; 55- 65 lbs. were $2-4 higher; 65-95 lbs. were $1-4 lower and over 95 lbs. had no recent compar- ison. 4,228 carcasses sold with 45 lbs. and down $29.90 higher; 45-65 lbs. $1.77-3.96 higher and 65 lbs. and up $1.46-3.22 lower. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 2-3: San Angelo: shorn and wooled 115-170 lbs. $128-144. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 1: San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $240-264, few 272; 60-70 lbs. $222-236, few $242; 70-80 lbs. $210-228; 80-90 lbs. $198-216; 90-100 lbs. $178-182. DIRECT TRADING (Lambs with 3-4 percent shrink or equivalent): 3,900 Slaughter Lambs shorn and wooled 132-165 lbs. $125-158.10 (wtd avg 143.46). SLAUGHTER EWES: San Angelo: Good 2-3 (fleshy) no test; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) $78-93, high-yielding $96-106; Utility 1-2 (thin) $70-74; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) $62; Cull 1 (ex- tremely thin) $50. FEEDER LAMBS Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $228-232; 60-70 lbs. $205-214; 70-80 lbs. $180-190; 85-90 lbs. $160-168; 103 lbs. $149. REPLACEMENT EWES Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: yearling hair ewes 178 per head; mixed age hair ewes 70-145 lbs. $110- 138 cwt. NATIONAL WEEKLY LAMB CARCASS Choice and Prime 1-4: Weight Wtd. avg. 45 lbs. Down $469.02 45-55 lbs. $389.40 55-65 lbs. $347.66 65-75 lbs. $317.29 75-85 lbs. $306.35 85 lbs. and up $294.68 Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal inspection for the week to date totaled 41,000 compared with 41,000 last week and 43,000 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 Dec. 18 Benchmark prices are steady. Asking prices for next week are 14 cents lower for Jumbo, 12 cents lower for Extra Large, 11 cents lower for Large and 17 cents lower for Medium and Small. The undertone is steady to mostly lower. Offerings are moderate to heavy. Retail demand is moderate to fairly good with loose egg sales generally moderate. Warehouse buying interest remains in a mostly hand-to-mouth fashion as discounting continues. Supplies are light to mod- erate. Market activity is slow to moderate. Small benchmark price $1.69. Size Range Jumbo 295 Large 226 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Prices to retailers, sales to volume delivered store door. Size Jumbo Large Range 217-228 158-167 Size Extra large Medium Range 231 189 buyers, USDA Grade AA and Grade AA, white eggs in cartons, Size Extra large Medium Range 157-169 127-136 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. Dec. 18 Current week Last week 2,643 1,578 Compared to Dec. 10: Today slaughter cows were $5 lower. Rain and limit up futures made for a better feeder market. Most top quality stockers $5-20 higher. Feedlot cattle steady to $2 higher. Off lots and singles $30-70 below. Slaughter cows: Breakers $52-56, $57-60 high dress; Boning $47-51; Cutters $40-50. Bulls 1 and 2: $60-75; $76-83 high dress. Feeder steers: 300-400 lbs. $191 lbs. $227; 400-450 lbs. $200 lbs. $241; 450-500 lbs. $185 lbs. $212.50; 500-550 lbs. $170 lbs. $195; 550- 600 lbs. $158 lbs. $178; 600-650 lbs. $150 lbs. $168; 650-700 lbs. $136 lbs. $157; 700-750 lbs. $136 lbs. $142.50; 750-800 lbs. $130 lbs. $146; 800-900 lbs. $130 lbs. $140. Feeder heifers: 300-400 lbs. $170 lbs. $200; 400-450 lbs. $170 lbs. $207; 450-500 lbs. $150 lbs. $180; 500-550 lbs. $140 lbs. $156.50; 550- 600 lbs. $141 lbs. $159; 600-650 lbs. $130 lbs. $153; 650-700 lbs. $130 lbs. $134; 700-750 lbs. $120 lbs. $133.50. Pairs: Full mouth, better pairs $2,000-2,650; Older, thinner pairs $1,250-1,900. Calvy cows: Average and thinner full mouth $1,200-1,625; Broken mouth butcher price to $1,200. Oregon MADRAS (Central Oregon Livestock Auction) Dec. 14 Total head: 2,224. Baby calves: NA. Steers: 300-400 lbs. $195-215; 400-500 lbs. $180-205; 500-600 lbs. $150-180; 600-700 lbs. $135-150; 700-800 lbs. $130-140; 800-900 lbs. $125-135. Bulls: High yield $80; mostly $75; thinner $80- 87. Bred cows: Full mouth vacc $1700-2100 head; broken mouth vacc $1000-1400. Heifers: NA. Heiferettes: 850-1000 lbs. NA. Cows: Heiferettes NA; Feeder cows $65; high- yield $70; medium-yield $65; low-yield $55. VALE (Producers Livestock Market) Dec. 1 Total receipts: 1528 head. Comments: Somewhat higher on the light 300- 450 wt. calves steady on the 500-800 wt. feeder cattle and big calves; a shade softer on the heifer mate side. Steer calves: 300-400 lbs. $171-196; 400-500 lbs. $162-203; 500-600 lbs. $151-180. Heifer calves: 300-400 lbs. $151-176; 400-500 lbs. $137-172; 500-600 lbs. $136-160. Yearling steers: 600-700 lbs. $134-162; 700- 800 lbs. $128-139; 800-900 lbs. $123-136; 900- 1000 lbs. $120-129. Yearling heifers: 600-700 lbs. $122-144; 700- 800 lbs. $118-131; 800-900 lbs. $112-123. Stock cows (young): $1175-1475. Stock cows (B.M.): $935-1125. Butcher cows: $48-55. Thin shelly cows: $37-47. Younger heiferettes: $74-1112. Idaho CALDWELL (Treasure Valley Livestock) Dec. 11 Steers (wt.): 300-400 lbs. $117.50; 500-600 lbs. $99.25; 600-700 lbs. $59.25; 700-800 lbs. $60.50. Steers (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $135; 300-400 lbs. $85; 400-500 lbs. $230; 500-600 lbs. $230; 600- 700 lbs. $260. Heifers (wt.): 600-700 lbs. $50; 700-800 lbs. $50; 800-900 lbs. $59.25; 900-1000 lbs. $61.75; 1000-1100 $70.75; 1100-1200 lbs. $81.25; 1200 lbs. and up $75.75. Heifers (hd.): 200-300 lbs. $135; 300-400 lbs. $150. Bull calves (wt.): 400-500 lbs. $53; 700-800 lbs. $48. Cows (wt.): 900-1000 lbs. $36.75; 1100-1200 lbs. $46.50; 1200-1300 lbs. $49.75; 1300-1400 lbs. $40; 1400-1500 lbs. $48.75; 1500-1600 lbs. $60.75; 1600-1700 lbs. $62.75; 1700-1800 lbs. $64.25; 1800-1900 lbs. $64.25; 1900-2000 lbs. $61.75. Washington EVERSON (Everson Livestock Auction) Dec. 12 Total receipts: 169. Feeder steers: Under 300 lbs. $86; 300-400 lbs. $134; 400-500 lbs. $60-187; 500-600 lbs. $76-188; 600-700 lbs. $85-162; 700-800 lbs. $93-125; 800-900 lbs. $99-133; 900-1000 lbs. $103-114; 1000-1100 lbs. $85; 1100-1300 lbs. $74.50-114; 1300-1500 lbs. $78. Feeder bulls: $66-148. Slaughter cows: $21.50-93. Slaughter heifers: 300-400 lbs. $78-147; 400-500 lbs. $70-178; 500-600 lbs. $50-148; 600-700 lbs. $133-169; 700-800 lbs. $79-126; 800-900 lbs. $81-121; 900-1000 lbs. $90-118; 1000-1100 lbs. $90-94, Bred Cows: $1175. TOPPENISH (Toppenish Livestock Auction) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Dec. 18 This week Last week Last year 1,100 1,540 1,365 Compared to Dec. 11 at the same market: Not enough stocker or feeder cattle this week for accu- rate price trends. Trade slow with light demand for small lots and singles. Buyer attendance was light. Slaughter cows $5-6 lower. Not enough Slaughter bulls for accurate market test. Trade slow with light demand. Demand re- mains good for cows suitable to be returned to the country. Slaughter cows 80 percent, Slaughter bulls 2 percent, and feeders 18 percent of the supply. The feeder supply included 41 percent steers and 59 percent heifers. Near 80 percent of the run weighed over 600 lbs. Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: 500-600 lbs. $142; 600-700 lbs. $143, Calves; 700-800 lbs. $137.50. Large 1-2: 900-1000 lbs. $115; 1100-1200 lbs. $110. Small 4: 400-500 lbs. $105. Feeder Holstein Steers: Large 2-3: 400-500 lbs. $115. Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: 500-600 lbs. $129-132.50; 600-700 lbs. $122.50, Calves; 800-900 lbs. $121. Large 2-3: 1000-1100 lbs. $103, Heiferettes; 1100-1200 lbs. $105; 1500-1600 lbs. $80. Slaughter Cows: Boning 80-85 percent lean 1300-1950 lbs. $53-60; Lean 85-90 percent lean 1300-1800 lbs. $54-59; Lean 85-90 percent lean 1200-1300 lbs. $60-65; Lean Light 90 percent lean 900-1200 lbs. $44-48. Slaughter Bulls: Yield Grade 1-2 Few 8700-2100 lbs. $70-80. Bred Cows (Per Head): Medium and Large 1-2: Few Mid-Aged 6-9 mos. bred 1200 lbs. $1000. Feeder Cows: Large 2-3: 900-1000 lbs. $87.50, Young; 1000-1100 lbs. $64.50, Aged; 1000-1100 lbs. $61, Mid-Aged; 1000-1100 lbs. $85, Young; 1100- 1200 lbs. $70, Young. 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. (Federal-State Market News) St. Joseph, Mo. Dec. 18 This week Last week Last year 205,800 404,300 215,100 Compared to Dec. 11: Calves and yearlings started the week mostly $5-15 lower then turned steady to $5 lower from mid-week on, in many cases on light receipts. Buyers continue to be very cautious as feeder and live cattle futures still weigh like a lead balloon on the markets. Fed cattle sales on Dec. 16 of this week trad- ed mostly $1-2 lower in the Southern Plains from $117-118. Live and feeder cattle futures contin- ue to experience very light support on rallies, followed by huge downs and failing to gain any open interest on down days. As the month of December has arrived it has Choice boxed-beef got off to a rocky start on Dec. 14 plunging $3.72 lower and falling below the $200 level. Choice boxed-beef closed Dec. 18 $1.62 lower at $194.14 compared to Dec. 11 close at $202.50. With cattle futures up the limit on Dec. 18, cattle bulls appear to have been expecting good news. Cattle on feed came in at 99.8 percent; Place- ments at 89.2 percent and Marketings at 103.9 percent. Auction volume included 45 percent over 600 lbs. and 40 percent heifers. AUCTIONS This week Last week Last year 178,100 337,900 187,800 WASHINGTON 2,000. 43 pct 600 lbs. 42 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 550-600 lbs. $142.93; 650-700 lbs. $134.82; 750-800 lbs. $134.56. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 500- 550 lbs. $134.52. DIRECT This week Last week Last year 26,300 41,300 25,700 SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada) 6,400. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Hol- steins: Large 3 275 lbs. $178 April Del; 300 lbs. $160 April Del; 300 lbs. $169 April-May FOB; 325 lbs. April-May $155 FOB; 325 May $152 FOB. NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Idaho) 3,300. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 29 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB Price 700-750 lbs. $147-149 Washington-Or- egon; 800-850 lbs. $146-148 Washington-Or- egon. Current Delivered Price: 650 lbs. $164 calves Idaho; 700-800 lbs. $148-156.50 Idaho; 800-900 lbs. $142-151 Idaho. Medium and Large 1: 700-750 lbs. $153.50-154 Idaho; 850 lbs. $149.50-150 Idaho. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 650 lbs. $142- 144 calves Washington-Oregon; 700-750 lbs. $139-143 Washington-Oregon. Current De- livered Price: 650-700 lbs. $149 calves Idaho; 700-800 lbs. $142-143 Idaho; 850-900 lbs. $137 Idaho. NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Dec. 18 This week Last week Last year 3,300 2,200 460 Compared to Dec. 11: Feeder cattle steady in a light pre-holiday test despite a lower futures market for most of the week. Trade remains slow to moder- ate with light to moderate demand. The feeder sup- ply included 71 percent steers and 29 percent heif- ers. 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 yearlings. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 700-750 lbs. $147-149 Washington-Oregon; 800-850 lbs. $146-148 Washington-Oregon. Cur- rent Delivered Price: 650 lbs. $164 calves Idaho; 700-800 lbs. $148-156.50 Idaho; 800-900 lbs. $142-151 Idaho. Medium and Large 1: 700-750 lbs. $153.50-154 Idaho; 850 lbs. $149.50-150 Idaho. 52-4/#6