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April 8, 2016 CapitalPress.com 13 Farm Market Report Hay Market Reports Potato 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 OREGON AREA HAY (USDA Market News) Portland, Ore. April 1 This week FOB Last week Last year 1,537 1,906 2,180 Compared to March 25: Prices trended generally steady com- pared to week ago prices in a very limited test. Many producers have decided to hold on to their hay for now, in hopes for higher prices or to feed to their own animals. Many hay producers are sold out for the year. Tons Price CROOK, DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, WASCO COUNTIES Alfalfa Large Square Good 66 $180 Mid Square Good 110 $155 Fair 60 $130 Orchard Grass Small Square Premium 9 $250-260 Good 16 $230 EASTERN OREGON Alfalfa Large Square Good 400 $150 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Premium 10 $195 HARNEY COUNTY Alfalfa Large Square Good 100 $125 Triticale Large Square Good 150 $80 KLAMATH BASIN Alfalfa Small Square Prem./Sup. 25 $180 Good 50 $140-180 Fair 18 $140 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Premium 4 $200 Fair 25 $100 LAKE COUNTY Alfalfa Large Square Supreme 69 $255 Small Square Premium 30 $200 60 25 30 30 250 $200 $150 $150 $100 $180 Good Premium Fair/Good Timothy Grass Small Square Premium IDAHO HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. April 1 This week FOB Last week Last year 3,000 630 6,350 Compared to March 25: All grades of Alfalfa steady in a light test. Trade very slow with continued light demand. Supplies remain heavy. Retail/feed store/horse not tested this week. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Good 1000 $130 Fair/Good 2000 $85 CALIFORNIA HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. April 1 This week FOB Last week Last year 8,890 15,495 12,726 Compared to March 25: All classes traded steady with a softer undertone. Demand light to moderate. According to the California Department of Water Resources, the average water content of the high-elevation Sierra Nevada snowpack currently stands at 24 inch- es, about 87 percent of average. Tons Price REGION 1: NORTH INTERMOUNTAIN Includes the counties of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas. Alfalfa Good 350 $100 REGION 2: SACRAMENTO VALLEY Includes the counties of Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano, Sacra- mento. Alfalfa Good/Prem. 250 $170-200 Good 100 $200 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Good/Prem. 50 $180 Orchard Grass Good/Prem. 50 $200 Oat Good 50 $125 Rice Straw Good 125 $87.50 REGION 3: NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tu- olumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa. Alfalfa Supreme 100 $250 Prem./Sup. 50 $190 Alfalfa/Oat Mix Large Square Fair/Good Almond Hulls Oat Good Good 175 100 600 100 50 $150 $170 $50 $85 $110 REGION 4: CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo. Alfalfa Supreme 100 $250 REGION 5: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and West- ern San Bernardino. No sales confirmed. REGION 6: SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial. Alfalfa Premium 670 $165-175 2000 $160 1990 $170 1000 $170 Good/Prem. 250 $160-165 50 $170 200 $155 Fair/Good 480 $100-130 WASHINGTON-OREGON HAY (Columbia Basin) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. April 1 This week FOB Last week Last year 9,950 6,330 1,910 Compared to March 25: All grades of domestic and export Alfalfa steady. First reported sales of new crop this week. Trade slow to moderate with continued light demand. Exporters are having a chal- lenging time marketing supplies. Retail/Feedstore steady. Demand remains good. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Premium 1000 $125 Alfalfa Small Square Good/Prem. 200 $120-130 200 $140-160 180 $185-190 Fair/Good 60 $130 Alfalfa Standing Good/Prem. 2700 $108 Fair/Good 2700 $108 Utility/Fair 2700 $108 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Premium 25 $265 Orchard Grass Small Square Good/Prem. 100 $210 Timothy Grass Small Square Good/Prem. 85 $175 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 April 1 PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARKET SUMMARY Cash wheat bids for March delivery ended the reporting week on Thursday, March 31, steady to higher compared to last week’s noon bids for March delivery. May wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday, March 31, higher as follows compared to March 24 closes: Chicago wheat futures were 10.50 cents higher at $4.7350, Kansas City wheat fu- tures were $4.50 cents higher at $4.7625 and Minneapolis wheat futures trended 15.50 cents higher at $5.2950. Chicago March corn futures trended 18.50 cents lower at $3.5150 and March soybean futures closed .25 of a cent higher at $9.1075. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit trains or barges during March for ordinary protein were not available this week or 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 April delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $6-6.5175 and bids for White Club Wheat were $8.40-8.9175. Forward month bids for soft white wheat ordinary protein were not available. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: May $6.05-6.5175 and August New Crop $6.1250-6.35. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5 percent protein during March were $5.38-5.5350, steady to 10.50 cents per bushel higher compared to the previous week’s bids for March delivery. White club wheat premiums for guaranteed maximum 10.5 per- cent protein soft white wheat were zero to 55 cents per bushel over soft white wheat bids this week and last week. One year ago bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for April delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $6.8175- 7.18 and bids for White Club Wheat were $8.8175-9.4175. Forward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5 percent proteins were as follows: April $5.42- 5.5350, May $5.44-5.5350, June $5.54- 5.6075 and August New Crop $5.3025-5.36. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: May $6.8175-7.21, June $6.79-7.24 and August New Crop $6.1250-6.45. Bids for 11.5 percent protein U.S. 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for March delivery were 4.50 to 9.50 cents per bushel higher compared to the previous week’s noon bids for March delivery. Bids were as follows: March $5.5125-5.5625, April and May $5.5325-5.5625, June $5.47-5.67 and August New Crop $5.56-5.66. Bids for non-guaranteed 14.0 percent protein U.S. 1 Dark North- ern Spring Wheat for Portland delivery during March were 15.50 cents per bushel higher than last week’s noon bids for the same delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. Bids for non-guaranteed 14 percent protein were as fol- lows: March and April $6.1950-6.2950, May $6.1450-6.2950, June $6.2775 and August New Crop $6.22-6.32. COARSE FEEDING GRAINS Bids for U.S. 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for March delivery were 18.50 to 19.50 cents lower from $4.2550-4.2850 per bushel. Forward month corn bids were as follows: April and May $4.2650-4.2750, June $4.2475-4.2575, July $4.2475-4.2675 and August $4.2550-4.2850. Bids for U.S. 1 Yellow Soybeans delivered full coast Pacific North- west - BN shuttle trains for March delivery were mixed, from 1.75 cents lower to .25 of a cent higher at $9.7575-9.8175 per bushel. Forward month soybean bids were as follows: April $9.7575-9.8375, May $9.8075-9.8375, June and July $9.8275-9.9075 and October/ November $9.9975-10.0475. Bids for U.S. 2 Heavy White Oats for March delivery trended steady at $3.92 per bushel. PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPORT NEWS There were 14 grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thurs- day, March 31, with five docked compared to 17 last week with six 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 April 1 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 Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $10 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $9.50 Colusa County $11.65 CORN - U.S. No. 2 Yellow FOB Turlock-Tulare $8.15 Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8 Rail Single Car Units via BNSF Chino Valley-Los Angeles $8.60-8.63 Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.46 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $8.46 Glenn County $8.40 SORGHUM - U.S. No. 2 Yellow Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley via BNSF Single $8.54-8.56 Truck Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $9.75 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 FOB Kern County $9 Truck/Rail Los Angeles 11-12 percent Protein Los Angeles 12 percent Protein NA WHEAT - U.S. Durum Wheat Truck Imperial County $10 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $9.30 WHEAT - Any Class for Feed FOB Tulare NA Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $9.30 Truck/Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley NA Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $10 King-Tulare-Fresno Counties NA Kern County NA Prices paid to California farmers, seven-day reporting period end- ing March 31: WHEAT, U.S. No 1, Hard Amber Durum for Flour Milling Imperial Valley $10 Spot Del Locally YELLOW CORN, U.S. No 2 or better Glenn $8.40 Spot Del Locally California SHASTA (Shasta Livestock Auction) Cottonwood, Calif. April 1 Current week Last week 707 844 Compared to March 25: Slaughter cows, espe- cially fed cows, $5-9 higher. Stocker and feeder cattle steady to $15 lower depending on weight and type. Off lots and singles $30-50 below top offerings. Slaughter cows: Breakers $73-80; $81-95 high dress; Boning $67-72; Cutters $50-65. Bulls 1 and 2: $75-89; $90-99 high dress. Feeder steers: 300-400 lbs. $215-237.50; 450- 500 lbs. $210; 550-600 lbs. $171-192; 650-700 lbs. $160-162.50; 700-750 lbs. $146-161; 750- 800 lbs. $140; 800-900 lbs. $136. Feeder heifers: 400-450 lbs. $175-215; 500- 550 lbs. $150-171; 550-600 lbs. $141-160.50; 600-650 lbs. $137-153; 700-750 lbs. $134-142; 750-800 lbs. $145.50; 800-900 lbs. $125-126. Pairs: Full mouth running age $2000-2650. Broken mouth $1525-1650. Calvy cows: Too few to test. Idaho CALDWELL (Treasure Valley Livestock) March 25 Steers (wt.): 300-400 lbs. $126; 400-500 lbs. $106.75; 500-600 lbs. $115.25; 600-700 lbs. $88.50; 700-800 lbs. $82; 800 lbs. and up $86. Steers (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $215; 300-400 lbs. $330; 400-500 lbs. $385. Heifers (wt.): 300-400 lbs. $135; 400-500 lbs. $160; 500-600 lbs. $109; 600-700 lbs. $87.50; 700-800 lbs. $85; 800-900; 900-1000 lbs. $88.50; 1000-1100 lbs. $88.75; 1100-1200 lbs. $81.25; 1200 lbs and up $89.50. Slaughter Cows: Premium White 65-70 percent lean 1500-1600 lbs. $76-78; Boning 80-85 per- cent lean 1200-2000 lbs. $68-74; Boning 80-85 percent lean 1200-1600 lbs. $81-83; Lean 85-90 percent lean 1200-1800 lbs. $70-75; Lean Light 90 percent lean 900-1200 lbs. $60-64. Slaughter Bulls: Yield Grade 1-2 1700-2550 lbs. $92-99. Bred Cows (Per Head): Medium and Large 1-2: Young few 1169-1300 lbs. $1475- 1835 6-9 mos.; Mid-Aged 1050-1200 lbs. $1050-1135 6-9 mos. Cow/Calf Pairs (Per Pair): Medium and Large 1-2: Young to Mid-Aged 1150-1750 lbs. $1650- 1975, few $2050 with 75-200 lbs. calves; Aged to Broken Mouth 1400-1500 lbs. $1600-1700 with 100-150 lbs. calves. Washington TOPPENISH (Toppenish Livestock Auction) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. April 1 This week Last week Last year 2,405 1,560 1,600 Compared to March 25 at the same market: Stocker steers less than 600 lbs. weak to $3 low- er. Feeder steers over 600 lbs. and all heifers steady to firm. Trade active with good demand and good buyer attendance. Slaughter cows steady. Slaughter bulls $2-2.50 higher. Trade moderate to active with moderate demand. Slaughter cows 38 percent, slaughter bulls 5 percent, replacement cows 20 percent and feed- ers 37 percent of the supply. The feeder supply included 57 percent steers and 43 percent heif- ers. Near 46 percent of the run weighed over 600 lbs. Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: 400- 500 lbs. $200; 500-600 lbs. $187-197; 500-600 lbs. $176, Full; 500-600 lbs. $200, Thin Fleshed; 600-700 lbs. $162.50-173.50; 600-700 lbs. $150-160, Full; 700-800 lbs. $147; 800-900 lbs. $151. Medium and Large 2-3: 600-700 lbs. $144; 700-800 lbs. $145. Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: 300-400 lbs. $180; 400-500 lbs. $176; 500- 600 lbs. $155-160; 500-600 lbs. $173-177.50, Replacement; 600-700 lbs. $161-165; 600-700 lbs. $150, Full; 700-800 lbs. $150; 700-800 lbs. $170, Thin Fleshed. Medium and Large 2-3: 600-700 lbs. $130-133. Large 1: 900-1000 lbs. $116, Heiferettes. Small and Medium 1-2: 300- 400 lbs. $172.50; 400-500 lbs 160.50. Small and Medium 2-3: 500-600 lbs. $137, Brahman X. Small and Medium 3-4: 500-600 lbs. $138. Oregon VALE (Producers Livestock Market) March 30 Comments: The lighter grass calves remain steady with moderate to good demand. Heavier yearling cattle “sluggish” to lower. Steer calves: 300-400 lbs. $203-215; 400-500 lbs. $172-203; 500-600 lbs. $171-197. Heifer calves: 300-400 lbs. $161-188.50; 400- 500 lbs. $161-180; 500-600 lbs. $153-173. Yearling steers: 600-700 lbs. $157-173; 700- 800 lbs. $132-143; 800-900 lbs. $131-143; 900- 1000 lbs. $128-137. Yearling heifers: 600-700 lbs. $139-156.50; 700-800 lbs. $129-142.50; 800-900 lbs. $124- 136. Stock cows (young): $1600-1875. Stock cows (B.M.): $90-1200. Butcher cows: $71-79. Thin shelly cows: $52-69. Butcher bulls: $71-88. WOODBURN (Woodburn Livestock Exchange) Woodburn, Ore. March 29 Total receipts: 386. 10 top slaughter cows $74; 50 top slaughter cows $77.90; 100 top slaughter cows $72.63. Top certified organic cow $80; all certified or- ganic cows (avg.) $75. All slaughter bulls: $70-107.50. Top beef steers: 300-400 lbs. $180-197; 400- 500 lbs. $180-193; 500-600 lbs. $160-197; 600- 700 lbs. $140-154; 700-800 lbs. $145-162. Top beef heifers: 300-400 lbs. $165-193; 400-500 lbs. $160-175; 500-600 lbs. $140-159; 600-700 lbs. $150-168; 700-800 lbs. $120-129. Mixed Livestock: Day-old beef calves $175-210 head; bred cows $900-1100 head; day-old dairy calves $30-135 head. Hogs: Block hogs $59-67; feeder pigs $22.50- 137.50 head; sows $10-36; weaner pigs $67.50- 67.50 head Sheep: Lambs $40-70 lbs. $165-242, 100-150 lbs. $140-180; thin ewes $50-100; fleshy ewes $60-78; ewe/lamb pairs $75-82. Environmentalists sue to block fences on sage grouse land By SCOTT SONNER Associated Press RENO, Nev. (AP) — Con- servationists are suing the Bureau of Land Management to block the construction of fences in northern Nevada they say are intended to ap- pease livestock ranchers at the risk of harming sage grouse and the drought-stricken fed- eral rangeland. The Western Watersheds Project filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Reno last week on the heels of a broader one it filed last month challenging the Obama ad- ministration’s overall protec- tion plan for the greater sage grouse across 10 western states. Leaders of the Ida- ho-based group say the 3 miles of new fence planned near key grouse habitat flies in the face of BLM’s own re- search showing the low-fly- ing, hen-sized birds often die when they strike fences. Fence posts also provide perches for ravens that prey on grouse nests. The suit says BLM reject- ed a similar proposal to build fences along the grazing al- lotment near Battle Mountain 200 miles northeast of Reno in 2014. Pitched as an alternative to orders to remove cattle from the range, the ranchers said the fencing would keep the animals out of streams and key riparian areas. But BLM said at the time it was too costly and counterpro- 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) April 2 Market commentary: Idaho prices inched up slightly in spite of continued heavy movement. SHIPPING AREA FWA Chg GRI Chg 70 ct Chg 10 lb. Film Chg IDAHO BURBANKS $12.95 $0.02 $5.60 $0.01 $20 $0 $7.50 $0 IDAHO NORKOTAHS $12.88 $0 $5.82 $0 $19 $0 $7.50 $0 COLUMBIA BASIN $13.15 $0 $5.76 $0 $18 $0 $8.50 $0 KLAMATH BASIN $14.93 $0 $6.41 $0 $22 $0 $10 $0 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. April 1 Domestic wool trading on a clean basis was at a standstill this week. There were no confirmed trades. Shearing is in full swing, but some strong snow storms in the mountain states did stop shearing for a couple days this week. Wool is still being collected and samples are being sent in for testing as wool is being market- ed at this time. Domestic wool trading on a greasy basis was at a standstill this week. There were no confirmed trades. Domestic wool tags No. 1 $.60-.70 No. 2 $.50-.60 No. 3 $.40-.50 NATIONAL SHEEP SUMMARY (USDA Market News) San Angelo, Texas April 1 Compared to March 25: Slaughter lambs were mostly firm to $10 higher, instances $20 higher. Slaughter ewes were steady to $10 lower. No good comparison on feeder lambs. Many auc- tions saw reduced receipts due to the Easter holiday. At San Angelo, Texas, 2,653 head sold. No sales in Equity Electronic Auction. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs were not tested. 3700 head of negotiated sales of slaughter lambs were steady to $3 lower. 11,700 head of formula sales had no trend due to confi- dentiality. 6,066 lamb carcasses sold with 55 lbs. and down no trend due to confidentiality; 55-65 lbs. $24.01 lower; 65-75 lbs. $2.40 lower; 75-85 lbs. $.25 higher and 85 lbs. and up no trend due to confidentiality. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 2-3: San Angelo: shorn and wooled 115-150 lbs. $124-142. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 1: San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $230-242; 60-70 lbs. $214-230; 70-80 lbs. $210-220; 80-90 lbs. $194- 200; 90-100 lbs. $180-196, few $202-208. DIRECT TRADING (Lambs with 3-4 percent shrink or equivalent): 3,700 Slaughter Lambs shorn and wooled 139- 181 lbs. $120.38-150 (wtd avg $130.79). SLAUGHTER EWES: San Angelo: Good 2-3 (fleshy) $69-75; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) $85-94, few $96- 98; Utility 1-2 (thin) $69-80; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) $60-62; Cull 1 (extremely thin) $28-49. FEEDER LAMBS Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $220-228; 70-80 lbs. $190-198; 81 lbs. $196; 90-100 lbs. $166-173. REPLACEMENT EWES Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: hair ewe lambs 60-80 lbs. $222- 238 cwt; mixed age hair ewes 90-135 lbs. $100- 138 cwt. NATIONAL WEEKLY LAMB CARCASS Choice and Prime 1-4: Weight Wtd. avg. 45 lbs. Down 799.14 45-55 lbs. Price not reported due to confidentiality 55-65 lbs. 322.28 65-75 lbs. 284.69 75-85 lbs. 275.49 85 lbs. And up P rice not reported due to confidentiality Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal inspection for the week to date totaled 35,000 compared with 40,000 last week and 47,000 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 April 1 Benchmark prices are steady. Asking prices for next week are 26 cents lower for Jumbo, 31 cents lower for Extra Large, 30 cents lower for Large and 34 cents lower for Medium and Small. Trade sentiment is cautiously steady. Offerings continue moderate to mostly heavy. Retail demand is moderate to fairly good with institutional movement moderate. Supplies range light to heavy, mostly moderate. Market activity is moderate. Small benchmark price $113. Size Range Size Range Jumbo 156 Extra large 152 Large 145 Medium 133 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 108-119 Extra large 78-90 Large 77-86 Medium 71-80 Cattle Market Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Oklahoma City-Des Moines-St. Joseph, Mo.-Moses Lake, Wash. Livestock Auctions Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals per pair or head as indicated. Compiled by North American Potato Market News and USDA Agricultural Market Service ductive to range health be- cause fences promote growth of invasive weeds. Ken Cole, the group’s Ida- ho director, says BLM’s re- versal shows the sage-grouse planning process “is just a pile of paper written to avoid an Endangered Species Act listing.” “Nothing has changed on the ground, and most of the new protections from grazing won’t be implemented for years to come,” he said. The BLM approved the fencing under a settlement agreement with ranchers last June to govern the land until the agency completes a for- mal assessment of range con- ditions next year. The six permittees include Henry Filippini Jr., whose family has ranched in Neva- da since the 1870s. Sever- al ranchers rode across the country by horseback in 2014 to deliver a petition to the Obama administration in a protest they called the “Grass March.” The ranchers have paid their grazing fees for years so their situation differs from that of Cliven Bundy, a southern Nevada rancher who owes the government as much as a $1 million for trespassing, staged an armed standoff at his ranch two years ago and now faces fed- eral charges. But in both cases, BLM has been criticized for back- ing down and at least initially declining to enforce laws to avoid confrontation. 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. April 1 This week Last week Last year 217,500 262,300 341,300 Compared to March 25: Calves and yearlings traded mostly steady to $5 lower, with instances $10 lower. Early week most sales were steady to instances higher but a collapse in the cattle fu- tures pressured the market. Market softness prevailed last week with cattle futures seeing some limited downside pressure, trying to find some stability before the free-fall. The return of volatility with defensive futures and with cut-out values also imploding on March 30 with choice closing $3.19 lower put cattle market psy- chology in a black mood. This makes all participants in the cattle market very leery but then no one wants to be caught with empty pens or pastures if profit opportuni- ties appear. These are the results of an industry yearning for profits as volatility the only rule that cattle markets have abided by since last fall with many unpredictable attitudes directing market direction. Then on March 31 cattle futures saw a sharp reversal as the USDA Grain Report was bearish for grain (especially corn) with feeder cattle fu- tures turning bright green with limit gains. This week saw many soft fall-born new crop calves making their way to the market and in many cas- es widening the price spread against the rugged old croppers. In addition to market pressure on feeder calves, many lightweight offerings in the com- ing weeks will be overwhelmingly made up of new crop fall born calves which are not always in high demand by feeder buyers as many are unweaned and carrying plenty of flesh. Nevertheless, most top quality 5 weight and 6 weight steers that are longtime weaned and have good weighing conditions that are suitable for grass are still in good demand. Meat trade following the Easter Holiday has started out on the defensive as well, after a $10 slide backwards last week has still encountered struggling demand as sharp losses developed at midweek. USDA’s Grain Report on March 31, estimated corn acres at their third highest level since 1944 at 93.6 million acres. Soybean acres came in line with expectations at 82.2 million acres. Corn acres were higher than pre-report expectations, with corn stocks for March 2016 at 7.8 billion bushels, up 1 percent from last year. Soybean stocks rose 15 percent from last year at 1.53 billion bushels. Row crops will have a long growing season in front of them with time telling how it will play out. Auction volume this week included 50 percent weighing over 600 lbs. and 42 percent heifers. AUCTIONS This week Last week Last year 166,400 225,300 235,500 WASHINGTON 3,100. 41 pct over 600 lbs. 44 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 500- 550 lbs. $191.53; 550-600 lbs. $180.96; 600- 650 lbs. $172.18; 650-700 lbs. $166.66; 750- 800 lbs. $146.30. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 400-450 lbs. $178.49; 450-500 lbs. $187.82; 500-550 lbs. $172.49; 550-600 lbs. $161.27. DIRECT This week Last week Last year 23,400 34,600 70,200 SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada) 600. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Holsteins: Large 3 275 lbs. $160 July Del. NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Idaho) 2,200. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 48 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB Price 600-700 lbs. $149-160 Washington; 850-900 lbs. $144 Washington. Current Delivered Price: 750 lbs. $155 Idaho; 850-900 lbs. $145-152 Idaho. Large 1: 900 lbs. $143 Idaho. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 600-650 lbs. $152 Washington; 800 lbs. $141 Oregon. Current Delivered Price: 750 lbs. $143 Idaho; 800-850 lbs. $141-143 Idaho. Large 1: 900-950 lbs. $136- 136.50 Idaho. Future Delivery Delivered Price: 800-850 lbs. $140 for July Idaho. NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE (USDA Market News) Oklahoma City, Okla. April 1 Slaughter cattle traded mostly $2-4 lower. Dressed sales in Nebraska traded $3-4 lower. Cattle futures fell hard at the beginning of the week and then traded more toward a steady level by week’s end. Beef prices fell through the week, thus packers moved bids lower. Boxed Beef pric- es April 1 averaged $213.02 down $6.61 from March 25. The Choice/Select spread is $12.18. Slaughter cattle on a national basis for nego- tiated cash trades through April 1 totaled about 55,582 head. The previous week’s total head count was 52,362 head. Midwest Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers $133-134. Dressed Basis: Steers and Heifers $214-215. South Plains Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers $132-133. Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding Prices): Slaughter cows and bulls steady to $3 higher. USDA’s Cutter Cow cut-out value was $173.54 up $.07 from March 25. NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. April 1 This week Last week Last year 2,150 3,450 7,750 Compared to March 25: Feeder cattle weak to $4 lower in a light test. Trade slow to moderate. Demand light to moderate. Bullish expectations were smashed on March 30 as aggressive long liquidation toppled live and feeder futures and beef cut-outs absolutely imploded. The feeder supply included 52 percent steers and 48 percent heifers. Near 100 percent of the supply weighed over 600 lbs. Prices are FOB weighing point with a 1-4 percent shrink or equiv- alent and with a 5-12 cent slide on calves and a 3-8 cent slide on yearlings. Delivered prices in- clude freight, commissions and other expenses. Current sales are up to 14 days delivery. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 600-700 lbs. $149-160 Washington; 850- 900 lbs. $144 Washington. Current Delivered Price: 750 lbs. $155 Idaho; 850-900 lbs. $145- 152 Idaho. Large 1: 900 lbs. $143 Idaho. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 600-650 lbs. $152 Washington; 800 lbs. $141 Oregon. Current Delivered Price: 750 lbs. $143 Idaho; 800-850 lbs. $$141-143 Idaho. Large 1: 900-950 lbs. $136-136.50 Idaho. Future Delivery Delivered Price: 800-850 lbs. $140 for July Idaho.