August 19, 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
WASHINGTON-OREGON HAY
(Columbia Basin)
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Aug. 12
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
11,393
9,660
11,240
Compared to Aug. 5: All grades of export Alfalfa steady. Domes-
tic Alfalfa not well tested this week. Export buyers are looking for
negative GMO, 160 or better RFV test and 1,000 or less on the
nitrate levels.
Trade moderate with light to moderate to good demand. Retail/
Feedstore steady in a light test. Demand remains good.
Tons Price
Alfalfa Large Square
Premium
700
$150
Export
720
$145
Good/Prem. 250
$125
Good
1460 $135
2005 $155
Fair
2600 $100
Alfalfa Small Square
Premium
24
$170
Retail/Stable
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix
Small Square
Premium
72
$190
Orchard Grass
Small Square
Premium
500
$135
Timothy Grass
Large Square
Premium
160
$180
Small Square
Premium
862
$195
Good
640
$140
Oat Large Square
Good
1000 $95
Wheat Straw Large Square
Utility
400
$65
OREGON AREA HAY
(USDA Market News)
Portland, Ore.
Aug. 12
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
13,539
18,228
8,947
Compared to Aug. 5: Prices trended generally steady compared
to week ago prices. Most demand lies with the retail/stable hay.
Many hay producers are selling or have already sold most of their
irst and second cutting hay and are working on later cutting(s) re-
sulting in higher volumes of hay moving.
All prices are in dollars per ton and FOB unless otherwise stat-
ed.
Tons
Price
CROOK, DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, WASCO COUNTIES
$215-240.00
Alfalfa Small Square Prem. 137
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix
Small Square
Orchard Grass
Small Square
Timothy Grass
Large Square
Meadow Grass
Small Square
Orchard/Bluegrass
Small Square
Grass Mix Five-Way
Small Square
EASTERN OREGON
Alfalfa Large Square
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix
Small Square
HARNEY COUNTY
Alfalfa Large Square
KLAMATH BASIN
Alfalfa Large Square
Alfalfa Small Square
Orchard Grass Small Square
Meadow Grass Large Square
Small Square
Oat Large Square
Wheat Large Square
LAKE COUNTY
Alfalfa Large Square
Good/Prem. 3
Good
25
$220
$205
Premium
28
$245
Premium
Good
111
50
$230-240
$220
Good
250
$140
Good
25
$215
Premium
50
$240
Premium
15
$250
Supreme
280
$135
Premium
5
$185
Premium
500
$160
Premium
Premium
Good/Prem.
Fair
Premium
Good
Good
Premium
Fair
350
175
260
25
250
300
50
300
75
$170
$170
$150
$100
$273
$90.00
$100
$75
$75
Supreme
135
$180-225
5450 $185-195
Prem./Supr. 800
$170
Premium
2000 $170
Good
150
$150
Alfalfa Small Square
Supreme
550
$180
30
$200
Premium/Supreme 100 $175
Premium Organic
28 $265
Premium
100
$200
Good
60
$150.
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Premium
200
$180
Alfalfa/Grass Mix
Small Square Organic
Premium
20
$245
Alfalfa/Oat Mix Large Square Good
60
$110
Timothy Grass Large Square Premium
150
$190
Meadow Grass
Small Square Organic
Good
12
$150
Triticale Large Square Good
80
$80
350
$100
IDAHO HAY
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Aug. 12
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
1,235
10,400
7,400
Compared to Aug. 5: All grades of Alfalfa steady. Trade near
standstill on Alfalfa with light demand as exporters and dairies quit
buying. Retail/feed store/horse not tested this week. All prices are
dollars per ton and FOB the farm or ranch unless otherwise stated.
Tons Price
Alfalfa Large Square
Supreme
735
$125
Premium
500
$105
CALIFORNIA HAY
(USDA Market News)
Greeley, Colo.
Aug. 12
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
26,962
0
18,245
Compared to Aug. 5: All classes traded steady. Demand moder-
ate. This is the dry season for the West Coast, so changes to the
Drought Monitor are very rare this time of year. Large amount of
export hay has been moving the past month. Region 1 still having
test hay being put up at third cutting.
REGION 1: NORTH INTER-MOUNTAIN: Siskiyou, Modoc,
Shasta, Lassen and Plumas counties.
Alfalfa
Supreme
1100 $160
175
$168
Prem./Sup. 725
$155
800
$160
Premium
550
$150
250
$125
Good/Prem. 600
$140
REGION 2: SACRAMENTO VALLEY: Sacramento Valley:
Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada,
Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano, Sacramento, Amador and
Alpine counties.
Alfalfa
Supreme
75
$175.
Premium
50
$175
220
$135
Good
67
165
Fair/Good 75
$100
REGION 3: NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY: Northern
San Joaquin Valley: San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus,
Tuolumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa counties.
Alfalfa
Premium/Supreme 1225
$213
Premium
175
$140
250
$200
Good
200
$137
200
$155
Fair
925
$103
REGION 4: CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY: Central San
Joaquin Valley: Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Inyo
counties.
Alfalfa
Fair
5000 $140
REGION 5: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Southern California:
Kern, Northeast Los Angeles and Western San Bernardino
counties.
No conirmed sales.
REGION 6: SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA: Southeast Cali-
fornia: Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial
counties.
Alfalfa
Fair/Good 4200 $134.29
Fair
400
$90
Bermuda Grass
Premium
1000 $150
Klein Grass
Premium
2400 $130
Alfalfa Straw
Good
300
$32
Bermuda Straw
Good
6000 $22.50
August delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $6.2725-
6.4425 and bids for White Club Wheat were $7.0225-7.6725. For-
ward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5 percent pro-
teins were as follows: September $4.9125-5.05, October $4.97-5.10
and November $4.97-5.07.
One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any pro-
tein were as follows: September $6.3725-6.4925, October $6.3725-
6.4925, November $6.3725-6.6325 and December $6.3725-6.5725.
Bids for 11.5 percent protein US 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for Au-
gust delivery were 6.50 to 16.50 cents per bushel higher compared
to last week’s noon bids for August delivery.
Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. This
week, bids were as follows: August $4.9225-5.2225, September
$4.9225-5.2725, October, November and December $5.13-5.48.
Bids for non-guaranteed 14.0 percent protein US 1 Dark North-
ern Spring Wheat for Portland delivery during August were 14.75
to 19.75 cents per bushel higher than last week’s noon bids for
the same delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids
for nearby delivery. This week, bids for non-guaranteed 14 per-
cent protein were as follows: August $5.8850-6.0350, September
$5.8850-6.1850, October, November and December $5.9450-
6.2950.
COARSE FEEDING GRAINS
Bids for US 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Paciic Northwest -
BN shuttle trains for August delivery were 0.25 of a cent per bushel
higher from $4.41-4.51 per bushel. Forward month corn bids were
as follows: September $4.44-4.51, October $4.4975, November
$4.4375-4.4475, December $4.4175-4.4375 and January $4.42-
4.46. Bids for US 1 Yellow Soybeans delivered full coast Paciic
Northwest - BN shuttle trains for August delivery were 3.50 cents
higher at $11.04 per bushel. Forward month soybean bids were as
follows: September and October $11.19-11.21, November $11.19,
December $11.1350 and January $11.0550-11.0850.
Bids for US 2 Heavy White Oats for August delivery trended
steady at $3.2650 per bushel.
OUTSTANDING EXPORT SALES
Outstanding U.S. white wheat export sales as of Aug. 4, 2016
for the marketing year beginning June 1, 2016 and ending May 31,
2017, in 1000 MT, totaled 1098.2 thousand MT compared to 1143.0
thousand MT one year ago. Outstanding white wheat export sales
for the 2016-2017 marketing year were to the following countries in
1000 MT: Philippines 188.3, South Korea 163.0, Japan 115.2, Indo-
nesia 83.3, Thailand 54.1, Guatemala 33.8, Burma 6.3, El Salvador
5.6, Nigeria 4.2, Mexico 2.7, Vietnam 1.9, Canada 1.1, Hong Kong
0.8 and total unknown 437.9.
Accumulated white wheat export shipments as of Aug. 4, 2016, in
1000 MT for the 2016-2017 marketing year, totaled 740.9 compared
to 426.7 one year ago.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPORT NEWS
There were 17 grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thursday,
Aug. 11, with ive docked compared to 18 last week with ive docked.
There were no new conirmed export sales this week from the Com-
modity Credit Corporation (CCC) of the USDA.
CALIFORNIA GRAINS
(USDA Market News)
Portland
Aug. 11
Prices in dollars per cwt., bulk Inc.= including; Nom.= nominal;
Ltd.= limited; Ind.= indicated; NYE=Not fully estimated. Paid by
feed manufacturers and other users, delivered plant or receiving
station. All prices are offers for prompt shipment unless otherwise
stated.
Due to limited availability, prices were not available with the ex-
ception of the following categories:
GRAIN DELIVERED
Mode
Destination
Price per cwt.
BARLEY US No 2 (46 lbs. per bushel)
Truck
Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties
$8.25
Colusa County
$9.75
Bid $9.00
CORN US No 2 Yellow
FOB
Kings-Tulare-Fresno
$6.75-7.00
Turlock/Tulare
$7.87
Rail
Single Car Units via BNSF
Los Angeles-Chino Valley
$8.05
Truck
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.18
Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties
$8.18
Glenn County
$7.50-9.40
SORGHUM-US No 2 Yellow (Milo)
Rail
Los Angeles-Chino Valley
via BNSF
$7.86-7.87
Prices paid to California farmers, seven-day reporting period
ending Aug. 11:
YELLOW CORN, US No 2 or better
Glenn
$7.50-9.40
Spot
2015
Old Crop
Livestock Auctions
California
SHASTA
(Shasta Livestock Auction)
Cottonwood, Calif.
Aug. 12
Current week
Last week
703
1272
Compared to Aug. 5: Slaughter cows steady to $2
lower. Quite a few think cows today. Bulls stronger.
Feeder market steady to $2 lower. Off lots and singles
$30-50 below top offerings.
Slaughter cows: High yielding $71-75; $76-81 high
dress; Boning $65-70; Cutters $40-65.
Bulls 1 and 2: $75-95; high dress $96-104.
Feeder steers: 600-650 lbs. $130-145; 650-700 lbs. (few)
$127-134; 700-750 lbs. $137.50; 750-800 lbs. $125-137.50.
Feeder heifers: 550-600 lbs. $127-137; 600-650
lbs. $120-130; 650-700 lbs. $120-131.50; 700-750
lbs. $125; 800-900 lbs. $113-120.
Calvy cows: No test.
MADRAS
(Central Oregon Livestock Auction)
Aug. 8
Total head count: 204
Steers: 300-400 lbs. $150-160; 400-500 lbs. $140-
150; 500-600 lbs. $138-150; 600-700 lbs. $135-145;
700-800 lbs. $130-135; 800-900 lbs. 125-130.
Bulls: High yield. $90-95; Mostly $88-92; Thinner
$85-88.
Cows: Heiferettes NA; Fleshy cows $75; high-yield
$75; medium-yield $71; low-yield $65.
CALDWELL
(Treasure Valley Livestock)
Aug. 12
Steers (wt.): 400-500 lbs. $96; 500-600 lbs. $92;
600-700 lbs. $43; 700-800 lbs. $71-75; 800 lbs. and
up $92-98.50.
Steers (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $200; 200-300 lbs. $325;
300-400 lbs. $130 ($280 top).
Heifers (wt.): 300-400 lbs. $106; 400-500 lbs. $60;
500-600 lbs. $64.74 ($80 top); 700-800 lbs. $59.50;
800-900 lbs. $52; 900-1000 lbs. $89.50; 1000-1100
lbs. $85; 1100-1200 lbs. $86.75; 1200 & UP lbs. $86.50
(top $95)
Heifers (hd.): 400-500 lbs. $200.
Bull Calf (hd.): 500-600 lbs. $61.
Cows (wt.): 900-1000 lbs. $52.75; 1000-1100
lbs. $70.75; 1200-1300 lbs. $68.75; 1300-1400
lbs. $71.25; 1400-1500 lbs. $70.50; 1500-1600 lbs.
$75.25; 1600-1700 lbs. $73.75; 1700-1800 lbs.
$74.75; 1800-1900 lbs. $76.
Holstein Bulls (wt.): n/a.
3 years into nation’s hemp experiment, crop’s future is hazy
By KRISTEN WYATT
Associated Press
PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) —
Three years into the nation’s
hemp experiment, a 20-acre farm
in southern Colorado exempliies
the crop’s hazy potential.
Hemp could be enormously
proitable, but right now there
are just as many questions as an-
swers for Will and Ally Cabaniss,
two Florida natives who moved
to southern Colorado to embark
on the hemp business.
“Every day brings something
new and different,” said Will
Cabaniss, holding up a red plas-
tic cup containing a hemp seed-
ling awaiting planting. “Right
now we’re just building data for
the industry, seeing what works
and what doesn’t.”
Authorized for research and
experimental growth in the 2014
Farm Bill, hemp is being grown
this year on only about 6,900
acres nationwide, according to
industry tallies based on state
reports.
Capital Press File
Hemp grows on a farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 2015. Less
than 6,900 acres of the crop are grown nationwide.
The crop is still too new to be
tracked by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, which has no re-
cent estimate of market prices or
commercial uses for marijuana’s
non-intoxicating cousin.
The Cabaniss farm is typical
of many nascent hemp farms,
where optimism overcomes the
many challenges of growing a
crop that was illegal for decades.
Growing hemp was illegal
from 1937 until 2014 because
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 replace-
ment animals on per head basis as indicated.
NATIONAL WOOL REVIEW
(USDA Market News)
Greeley, Colo.
Aug. 12
Compared to Aug. 5: Domestic wool trading
on a clean basis has been at a standstill this
week. No confirmed trades were reported.
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. 12
Compared to last week: Slaughter lambs
were mostly steady to $5 higher, except steady
to $10 lower at Ft. Collins, Colo. Slaughter
ewes were mostly steady, instances $6-10
higher. Feeder lambs were steady.
At San Angelo, Texas, 5,125 head sold. No
sales in Equity Electronic Auction. In direct
trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs were
not tested.
7,500 head of negotiated sales of slaugh-
ter lambs were steady. 8,900 head of formula
sales had no trend due to confidentiality.
4,189 lamb carcasses sold with 45 lbs. and
down $7.61 lower; 45-75 lbs. no trend due to
confidentiality; 75-85 lbs. $2.69 higher and 85
lbs and up $3.75 higher. All sheep sold per hun-
dred weight (CWT) unless otherwise specified.
SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 2-3:
San Angelo: Shorn and wooled 100-140 lbs.
$130-148.
Virginia: Wooled 110-125 lbs. $159-160;
130-160 lbs. $122.50.
Pennsylvania: Shorn and wooled 110-130
lbs. $180-200; 130-150 lbs. $167-184.
Ft. Collins: Shorn 130-140 lbs. $154-163;
150-185 lbs. $142.50-159.
South Dakota: Shorn and wooled 110-165
lbs. $161-167.50.
Billings, Mont.: No test.
Kalona, Iowa: Shorn 110-130 lbs. $160-
160.50; wooled 110-155 lbs, $158-165.
Missouri: 90-160 lbs. $150-157.50.
Equity Elec: No sales.
Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 1:
San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $220-242; 60-70 lbs.
$190-220, few $220-234; 70-80 lbs. $166-190,
few $190- 198; 80-90 lbs. $160-180, few $188-
194; 90-110 lbs. $152-172.
Pennsylvania: 50-60 lbs. $250-257; 60-70
lbs. $220-225; 80-90 lbs. $217-218; 90-110
lbs. $193-215.
Kalona, Iowa: 75-80 lbs. $172.50-173; 95-
110 lbs. $158-165.
Ft. Collins: 80-90 lbs. $178-183; 90-100 lbs.
$175-183.
Missouri: 50-60 lbs. $163-180; 60-70 lbs.
$165-190; 70-80 lbs. $160-165; 80-90 lbs.
$155.
Virginia: 30-60 lbs. $145-150; 60-80 lbs.
$185; 80- 110 lbs. $161-166.
South Dakota: No test.
Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Des Moines
Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Portland
Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.)
except some replacement animals per pair or head
as indicated.
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. 13
Market Commentary: Federal-State Market News has discontinued reporting prices for the 2015 crop,
with storage shipments winding down.
SHIPPING AREA
FWA
Chg
GRI
Chg
70 ct
Chg
10 lb. Film
Chg
IDAHO NORKOTAHS
$16.64
-$0.47
$8.54
-$0.35
$24.00
$0.00
$12.00
-$1.00
COLUMBIA BASIN
$14.33
-$0.72
$6.41
-$0.45
$20.00
-$2.00
$9.50
$0.00
California Egg Reports
Grain Market Reports
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. 11
PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARKET SUMMARY
Cash wheat bids for July delivery ended the reporting week on
Thursday, Aug. 11, were higher compared to last week’s noon bids
for August delivery.
September wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday,
Aug. 11, higher as follows compared to last week’s closes: Chicago
wheat futures were 13 cents higher at $4.1625, Kansas City wheat
futures were 6.50 cents higher at $4.1225 and Minneapolis wheat
futures trended 14.75 cents higher at $5.0350. Chicago September
corn futures trended 0.25 of a cent higher at $3.21 and August soy-
bean futures closed 31.75 cents higher at $10.2225.
Bids for US 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit trains
or barges during August for ordinary protein trended ive to 18.00
cents per bushel higher compared to week ago prices for the same
delivery period at $4.8625-4.95. Some exporters were not issuing
bids for nearby delivery.
White club wheat premiums were zero to 5 cents per bushel over
soft white wheat bids this week and last week.
One year ago bids for US 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for
August delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $5.4725-
5.6225 and bids for White Club Wheat were also $5.4725-5.6225.
Forward month bids for soft white wheat ordinary protein were as
follows: September $4.9125-5.00, October $5.02-5.10, November
$5.02-5.09 and December $5.02-5.12.
One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any
protein were as follows: September $5.4725-5.6225, October and
November $5.2225-5.6225 and December $5.5225-5.6725.
Bids for US 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5
percent protein during August trended 10.00 to 18.00 cents per
bushel higher than week ago prices for the same delivery period
at $4.9125-5.00. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby
delivery.
White club wheat premiums for guaranteed maximum 10.5 per-
cent protein soft white wheat this week were zero to ive cents per
bushel over soft white wheat bids this week and last week.
One year ago bids for US 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for
Compiled by North American Potato Market News and USDA
Agricultural Market Service
the plant can be manipulated to
enhance a psychoactive chemi-
cal in the plant’s lowers, called
THC, to produce the drug in
marijuana. The U.S. Drug En-
forcement Administration said
this week that it still considers
the plant an illicit drug with no
medical use, limiting its produc-
tion to state-authorized research
and experimental uses.
So even though hemp produc-
tion is legal, it’s still challenging.
First, farmers have to live
in one of the 29 states that have
authorized hemp research. The
hemp they grow can be sold for
proit, but only if authorized by
their state’s agriculture authori-
ties.
Next they have to ind seed,
a daunting prospect. Farmers
can now legally import hemp
seeds, but the seeds are pricey,
running to $5 to $10 per seed.
That’s a steep investment, es-
pecially considering that seeds
developed to thrive in Canada or
another country may struggle in
the U.S.
Then farmers have to make
sure their seeds grow into hemp
plants with a very low content of
THC.
“It’s been a challenge,” said
Duane Sinning of the Colora-
do Department of Agriculture,
which regulates hemp growers.
The agency is at least a year
away from certifying hemp seed
— meaning the seed is guaran-
teed to produce hemp under the
legal THC threshold.
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 relect discounts or other contract terms.
DAILY CALIFORNIA SHELL EGGS
(USDA Market News)
Des Moines, Iowa
Aug. 12
Benchmark prices are steady. Asking prices for next week are 18 cents higher for Jumbo, Extra
Large, and Large and 5 cents higher for Medium and Small. The undertone is steady to higher. Offer-
ings continue light for Jumbo and Extra Large, light to moderate for Large and moderate for Medium.
Demand into all sectors is reported as moderate to fairly good. Supplies are light to moderate for the
larger sizes and moderate for Medium. Market activity is moderate to active. Small benchmark price
52 cents.
Size
Range
Size
Range
Jumbo
138
Extra large
115
Large
102
Medium
72
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
113-125
Extra large
64-75
Large
56-65
Medium
20-29
Cattle Market Reports
Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Oklahoma City-Des
Moines-St. Joseph, Mo.-Moses Lake, Wash.
NATIONAL FEEDER AND STOCKER
CATTLE
(Federal-State Market News)
St. Joseph, Mo.
Aug. 12
This week
Last week
Last year
466,100
275,700
229,700
Compared to last week: Calves and year-
lings traded mostly steady to $5 higher. Sig-
nals from last week’s higher fed cattle trade,
cattle futures staying in mostly positive terri-
tory along with a large corn crop looming on
the horizon have helped to keep the uptrend
intact.
Over the last couple of weeks CME cattle
futures have been driven by good support
after a long winding and rocky road has con-
tinued to make headway without giving too
much back.
The cattle market has consistently been
one of disappointment on rallies higher and
caution should be approached as cattle fu-
tures sold off on Thursday taking a pause on
their push higher.
Market fundamentals seem to have im-
proved and hopefully some equilibrium has
been established in this market. Demand for
feeders, especially yearlings remains very
good, given gains in fed cattle values and
lower corn prices.
Yearling market in Kearney, Neb., on
Wednesday was pretty optimistic as 566
head of steers sold weighing between 950
and 1000 lbs. averaging 978 lbs. sold with a
weighted average price of $145.22 and 232
head of their bigger brothers averaging 1012
lbs. sold with a weighted average price of
$143.07.
Corn prices could be looking at a very neg-
ative basis that could get worse in the fall and
a further growth of farmer-feeders has pro-
ducers looking to walk a lot of corn to town.
It’s hard to convince anyone right now that we
will have any corn production problems when
ratings remain so high and trade thinking the
size of the corn crop will overshadow any
demand.
Friday’s Supply and Demand Report fore-
cast corn production a record high 15.2 bb,
up 613 mb from July’s report with corn yields
projected at a record high of 175.1 bpa, up 7.1
bpa from last month.
Continuing good pasture conditions across
the country also have given good support
to the feeder cattle market. Beef at the re-
tail level has also started to reappear more
regularly in ads. The record high beef prices
over the last several years pushed a lot of
consumers away from the meat counter. The
trend is beginning to reverse as falling beef
prices have brought consumers back and
started to build per capita meat consumption.
Boxed-beef values seem to have hit a bot-
tom and are starting to work slowly higher this
week with packer margins still in the black as
packers will be sure to exercise buying dis-
cipline.
Continued good clearance at the consum-
er level is still critical and having beef retail
features competing better in grocery space
alongside pork and poultry as Labor Day busi-
ness lies ahead. Auction volume this week in-
cluded 62 percent weighing over 600 lbs. and
37 percent heifers.
AUCTIONS
This week
Last week
Last year
162,800
122,000
129,900
TEXAS 4,100. 68 pct over 600 lbs. 39 pct
heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1 400-450
lbs. (423) $177.16; 450-500 lbs. (472) 166.94;
550-600 lbs. (560) $155.75; 600-650 lbs.
(636) $151.28; 650-700 lbs. (681) $149.27;
700-750 lbs. (721) $151.03; 750-800 lbs.
(763) $148.26; 800-850 lbs. (807) $146.09;
850-900 lbs. (879) $140.48; 900-950 lbs.
(921) $133.87; load 960 lbs. $134.
Medium and Large 1-2 500-550 lbs. (522)
$150.12; 650-700 lbs. (690) $142.52; 750-
800 lbs. (772) $142.72; 800-850 lbs. (839)
$134.83.
Heifers: Medium and Large 1 350-400 lbs.
(375) $166.50; 400-450 lbs. (433) $158.98;
500-550 lbs. (536) $146.14; 550-600 lbs.
(575) $142.06; 600-650 lbs. (605) 151.25;
650-700 lbs. (678) $135.99; 700-750 lbs.
(724) $133.84; 750-800 lbs. (778) $133.18.
Medium and Large 1-2 450-500 lbs. (474)
$147.19; 550-600 lbs. (564) $133.33; 650-
700 lbs. (673) $131.52; 750-800 lbs. (764)
$134.05.
MONTANA 1,500. 83 pct over 600 lbs. 73
pct heifers.
Steers: Medium and Large 1 string 548 lbs.
$161.50; 700-750 lbs. (714) $154.58; 800-850
lbs. (828) $145.34.
Heifers: Medium and Large 1 600-650 lbs.
(638) $144.95; 700-750 lbs. (704) $140.29;
750-800 lbs. (764) $139.19; 800-850 lbs.
(836) $136.03; 900-950 lbs. (943) $132.28.
Medium and Large 1-2 600-650 lbs. (642)
$140.27.
WASHINGTON - There were not enough
feeder cattle sales to report.
DIRECT
This week
Last week
Last year
93,500
105,100
53,100
(92 pct over 600 lbs., 26 pct heifers)
SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada)
There were no direct sales reported.
NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Idaho)
6000. 96 pct over 600 lbs. 36 pct heifers.
Steers: Medium and Large 1 Current deliv-
ery: Delivered: 875 lbs. $147; 900-960 lbs.
$139.50-140; 1010 lbs. $139.75; September
775 lbs. $151.75; 825 lbs. $149; 900-975 lbs.
$142.40-147.90; October delivery 625-650
lbs. $149-152; 875 lbs. $135; 650 lbs. $143-
144.50.
Heifers: Medium and Large 1 Current de-
livery: Delivered: 860-885 lbs. $136; 925 lbs.
$131; September 800 lbs. $145; Septem-
ber-October 850 lbs. $137; October 580-600
lbs. $139-142; 850 lbs. $137; November 625-
635 lbs. $133-134.50.
NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Aug. 12
This week
Last week
Last year
5,950
14,000
5,900
Compared to last Friday: Feeder cattle
mostly steady. Cattle futures declined some-
what mid-week but demand for feeder cattle
remained good.
The feeder supply included 64 percent
steers and 34 percent heifers.
Near 96 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. Current sales are up to 14
days delivery. Delivered prices include freight,
commissions and other expenses.
Feeder Steers Medium and Large 1 Current
delivery: Delivered: 875 lbs. $147; 900-960
lbs. $139.50-140; 1010 lbs. $139.75; Septem-
ber 775 lbs. $151.75; 825 lbs. $149; 900-975
lbs. $142.40-147.90; October delivery 625-
650 lbs. $149-152; 875 lbs. $135; 650 lbs.
$143-144.50.
Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1 Current
delivery: Delivered: 860-885 lbs. $136; 925
lbs. $131; September 800 lbs. $145; Septem-
ber-October 850 lbs. $137; October 580-600
lbs. $139-142; 850 lbs. $137; November 625-
635 lbs. $133-134.50.