August 26, 2016
CapitalPress.com
13
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.
Aug. 19
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
4,770
11,393
6,720
Compared to Aug. 11: 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 ni-
trate levels. Trade light with light to good demand. Retail/Feedstore
steady in a light test. Demand remains good.
Tons Price
Alfalfa Large Square
Supreme
100
$155
Premium
400
160
Good
500
$125
250
$130
400
$155
Fair
30
$100
1500 $95
Alfalfa Small Square
Good
280
$150-160
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small
Square
Premium
50
$210
Good/Prem. 30
$160
Orchard Grass Small Square Premium
130
$225
Wheat Straw Large Square
Utility
1100 $60-65
OREGON AREA HAY
(USDA Market News)
Portland, Ore.
Aug. 19
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
6,904
13,539
6,386
Compared to Aug 12: Prices trended generally steady compared
to week ago prices. Most demand lays 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.
Tons Price
CROOK, DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, WASCO COUNTIES
Alfalfa Small Square
Good
10
$205
Orchard Grass Small Square
Prairie Grass Small Square
Oat Small Square
EASTERN OREGON
Alfalfa Large Square
KLAMATH BASIN
Alfalfa Small Square
Prairie Grass Small Square
Wheat Small Square
LAKE COUNTY
Alfalfa Large Square
Premium
Good
Good
Good
29
50
25
25
$230-250
$220
$215
$160
Premium
600
Good/Prem. 600
$120
$100
Prem./Sup. 25
Premium
25
Premium
25
$200
$200
$170
Premium
550
170
Good/Prem. 4500 $165
Alfalfa Small Square
Premium
60
$190-200
Good
30
$200
Triticale Large Square
Good
350
$80
HARNEY COUNTY: No new sales conirmed.
IDAHO HAY
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Aug. 19
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
700
1,235
670
Compared to Aug. 12: 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.
Tons Price
Alfalfa Large Square
Supreme
200
$180
Premium
500
$110-125
CALIFORNIA HAY
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Aug. 19
This week FOB
Last week
Last year
43,550
26,962
7,405
Compared to Aug. 12: All classes traded steady. Demand mod-
erate. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, this is the dry season
for the West Coast, so changes are rare this time of year. Demand
picking up in Region 2. Oat hay and forage mix traded activity slow
in Region 3. Corn Silage getting chopped in Region 3.
Tons Price
REGION 1: NORTHERN INTERMOUNTAIN
Includes the counties of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas.
Alfalfa
Supreme
900
$165-172
Premium
900
$155
930
$325-335
325
$160-180
Good
1100 $100-110
785
$220-235
150
$120-140
Fair
400
$95
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix
Premium
25
$220
Orchard Grass
Premium
350
$180-300
Oat
Premium
300
$100
REGION 2: SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Includes the counties of Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter,
Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, E Dorado, Solano, Sacramento.
Alfalfa
Premium
289
$160-170
Good
270
$110-130
Fair
125
$100
Utility
315
$90
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix
Premium
50
$240
Oat
Premium
200
$110
Fair/Good 200
$80
Fair
25
$75
Wheat
Premium
150
$110
Triticale
Premium
25
$80
REGION 3: NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Includes the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tu-
olumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa.
Alfalfa
Supreme
1008 $170-210
Premium
930
$160-200
75
$180
50
$215
Good/Prem. 300
$150
Good
200
$140
Fair/Good 500
$120
Fair
2400 $90-110
Alfalfa/Orchard Mix
Premium
25
$200
Orchard Grass
Premium
50
$200
Sudan
Premium
100
$130
REGION 4: CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo.
Corn Standing
Good
24,000 $40
REGION 5: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Includes the counties of Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and West-
ern San Bernardino.
Alfalfa
Premium
75
$200
Good
100
$140-180
Fair
948
$105-115
Forage Mix-Three Way
Premium
100
$180
REGION 6: SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA
Includes the counties of Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and
Imperial.
Alfalfa
Supreme
250
$225
Premium
100
$165
125
$155-180
Good/Prem. 75
$145
Good
500
$137
Fair
1000 $85
1500 $130-140
Utility
800
$85
50
$80
Bermuda Grass
Premium
225
$160-180
Bermuda Straw
Good
250
$26
Grain Market Reports
Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Portland
Grains are stated in dollars per bushel or hundredweight (cwt.)
except feed grains traded in dollars per ton. National grain report
bids are for rail delivery unless truck indicated.
PORTLAND GRAIN
(USDA Market News)
Portland
Aug. 18
PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARKET SUMMARY
Cash wheat bids for July delivery ended the reporting week on
Thursday, Aug. 18, were higher compared to Aug. 11 noon bids for
August delivery.
September wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday,
Aug. 18, higher as follows compared to Aug. 11 closes: Chicago
wheat futures were 10.75 cents higher at $4.27, Kansas City wheat
futures were 8.75 cents higher at $4.21 and Minneapolis wheat fu-
tures trended 24.25 cents higher at $5.2775.
Chicago September corn futures trended 11 cents higher at
$3.32 and September soybean futures closed 30.50 cents higher
at $10.3225.
Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit
trains or barges during August for ordinary protein trended 18.75 to
19 cents per bushel higher compared to Aug. 11 prices for the same
delivery period at $5.05-5.14. Some exporters were not issuing bids
for nearby delivery. White club wheat premiums were zero to 10
cents per bushel over soft white wheat bids this week compared
to zero to 5 cents per bushel over soft white wheat bids last week.
One year ago bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for
August delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $5.4925
and bids for White Club Wheat were also $5.4925.
Forward month bids for soft white wheat ordinary protein were as
follows: September $5.07-5.18, October $5.1425-5.23, November
$5.1425-5.28 and December $5.1425-5.31.
One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any
protein were as follows: September $5.4925, October, November
and December $5.5375.
Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5 per-
cent protein during August trended 10.75 to 12 cents per bushel
higher than week ago prices for the same delivery period at $5.02-
5.12. 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 5 cents per
bushel over soft white wheat bids this week and last week.
One year ago bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed max-
imum 10.5 percent protein for August delivery by unit trains and
barges to Portland were $6.1925-6.4925 and bids for White Club
Wheat were $6.9425-7.5425.
Forward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5 percent
proteins were as follows: September $5.10-5.12, October $5.15-
5.1925 and November $5.1925.
One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any pro-
tein were as follows: September $6.2425-6.5525, October $6.2375-
6.4975, November $6.2375-6.5675 and December $6.2375-6.5875.
Bids for 11.5 percent protein U.S. 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for
August delivery were 8.75 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 $5.01-5.31, September $5.01-5.36, October, November and
December $5.2175-5.6175.
Bids for non-guaranteed 14.0 percent protein U.S. 1 Dark North-
ern Spring Wheat for Portland delivery during August were 24.25
cents per bushel higher than Aug. 11 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 follows: August
$6.1275-6.2775, September $6.1275-6.4275, October, November
and December $6.11-6.46.
COARSE FEEDING GRAINS
Bids for U.S. 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Paciic Northwest
- BN shuttle trains for August delivery were 1 to 6 cents per bushel
higher from $4.47-4.52 per bushel.
Forward month corn bids were as follows: September $4.47-4.50,
October $4.52-4.54, November $4.49-4.50, December $4.47-4.50
and January $4.4975. Bids for U.S. 1 Yellow Soybeans delivered full
coast Paciic Northwest - BN shuttle trains for August delivery were
not available as most exporters were not issuing bids for nearby
delivery. Forward month soybean bids were as follows: September,
October and November $11.4950, December $11.4050-11.5050
and January $11.3650-11.3850. Bids for U.S. 2 Heavy White Oats
for August delivery trended steady at $3.2650 per bushel.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPORT NEWS
There were 13 grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thurs-
day, Aug. 18, with four docked compared to 17 last week with ive
docked. There were no new conirmed export sales this week from
the Commodity Credit Corporation of the USDA.
CALIFORNIA GRAINS
(USDA Market News)
Portland
Aug. 18
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
Kern County
NA
Rail
Los Angeles
NA
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $9.75
Petaluma-Santa Rosa
$9.75
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA
Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties
NA
Colusa County
NA
CORN-U.S. No. 2 Yellow
FOB
Turlock-Tulare
$7.98
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock NA
Kings-Tulare-Fresno
$6.85-7.10
Rail
Single Car Units via BNSF
Chino Valley-Los Angeles
$8.29-8.32
Truck
Petaluma-Santa Rosa
NA
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.29
Los Angeles-Chino Valley
NA
Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties
$8.29
Glenn County
NA
SORGHUM-U.S. No. 2 Yellow
Rail
Los Angeles-Chino Valley
via BNSF Single
$8.09
Truck
Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock
NA
OATS-U.S. No. 1 White
Truck
Petaluma
NA
Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $11.25
Rail
Petaluma
NA
WHEAT-U.S. No. 2 or better-Hard Red Winter
(Domestic Values for Flour Milling)
Los Angeles 12 percent Protein
NA
Truck/Rail Los Angeles 11-12 percent Protein
Los Angeles 12 percent Protein
NA
FOB
Tulare-Kern-Merced
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
NA
Kern 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
NA
Merced County
NA
Colusa County
NA
Kern County
NA
Prices paid to California farmers, seven-day reporting period end-
ing Aug. 18: No new sales conirmed.
Truck
Livestock Auctions
Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.)
except some replacement animals per pair or
head as indicated.
California
SHASTA
(Shasta Livestock Auction)
Cottonwood, Calif.
Aug. 19
Current week
Last week
549
703
Compared to Aug. 12: Slaughter cows steady.
Feeder cattle spotty on lower week in futures.
Range from steady to $5 lower. Off lots and sin-
gles $25-50 below top offerings.
Slaughter cows: High yielding $71-75; $76-81
high dress; Boning $65-70; Cutters NA.
Bulls 1 and 2: $75-98.
Feeder steers: 550-600 lbs. $135-150; 650-700
lbs. $128-135; 700-750 lbs. $126-131; 750-800
lbs. $125-130.50; 800-900 lbs. $124-130.
Feeder heifers: 400-450 lbs. $145-156; 450-
500 lbs. $137-148; 500-550 lbs. $144; 700-750
lbs. $125.50; 750-800 lbs. $120-130.50.
Calvy cows: No test.
Pairs: No test.
Idaho
CALDWELL
(Treasure Valley Livestock)
Aug. 1
Steers (wt.): 400-500 lbs. $96; 500-600 lbs.
$92; 600-700 lbs. $43; 700-800 lbs. $71; 800 lbs.
and up $92.
Steers (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $200; 300-400 lbs.
$130.
Heifers (wt.): 300-400 lbs. $106; 400-500 lbs.
$60; 500-600 lbs. $64.75; 700-800 lbs. $59.50;
800-900 lbs. $52; 900-1000 lbs. $89.50; 1000-
1100 lbs. $85; 1100-1200 lbs. $86.75; 1200 lbs.
and up $86.50.
Heifers (hd.): 400-500 lbs. $200.
Bull Calf (wt.): 500-600 lbs. $61.
Bull Calf (hd.): NA.
Cows (wt.): 900-1000 lbs. $52.75; 1000-1100
lbs. $70.70; 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.
Heiferettes (wt.): NA.
Holstein Bulls (wt.): NA.
Oregon
EUGENE
(Eugene Livestock Auction)
Junction City, Ore.
Aug. 20
Total head count: 259.
Market conditions compared to last week:
Cows and bulls steady; feeder cattle steady on a
light test due to 100+ degree weather
Top cows: High dressers $65-74, low dressers
$55-65; Top 10 cows $66.63.
Top bulls: High dressers $87-89.
Feeder Bulls: 300-500 lbs. $130; 500-700
lbs. $110-114; 700-900 lbs. $90-119.
Choice steers: medium to large frame No. 1
and No. 2: 400-500 lbs. $125-140; 500-600 lbs.
$115-129; 600-700 lbs. $110-129.50; 700-800
lbs. $110-122.
Choice heifers: medium to large frame No. 1
and No. 2: 300-400 lbs. $110-130; 400-500 lbs.
$112; 500-600 lbs. $115-124.50; 600-700 lbs.
$110-121.50; 700-800 lbs. $102-117.
Bred Cows: $610-750 head. Pairs: $925-
1500 pair.
Head calves (up to 250 lbs.): Beef $200-385
head; Dairy $25-165 head.
Feeder lambs: 50-90 lbs. $130-170; 90-130
lbs. $110-155.
MADRAS
(Central Oregon Livestock Auction)
Aug. 15
Total head count: 206.
Baby calves: NA.
Steers: 300-400 lbs. $150-160; 400-500 lbs.
$150-160; 500-600 lbs. $140-150; 600-700 lbs.
$135-145; 700-800 lbs. $130-140; 800-900 lbs.
$125-135.
Bulls: High yield. $95-99; Mostly $95; Thin-
ner $88-94.
Pairs: NA.
Bred cows: NA.
Heifers: NA.
Heiferettes: 300-400 lbs. $150-160; 400-500
lbs. $140-150; 500-600 lbs. $130-140; 600-700
lbs. $125-135; 700-800 lbs. $120-130.
Cows: Heiferettes $95; Fleshy cows $75;
high-yield $78; medium-yield $72; low-yield
$65.
VALE
(Producers Livestock Market)
Aug. 17
Total receipts: 751 head.
Comments: Several nice strings of yearlings
offered with extremely good demand.
Steer calves: 300-400 lbs. $143-172; 400-
500 lbs. $152-165; 500-600 lbs. $140-150.
Heifer calves: 400-500 lbs. $129-141; 500-
600 lbs. $129-140.
Yearling steers: 600-700 lbs. $128-136;
700-800 lbs. $119-138; 800-900 lbs. $124-
134; 900-1000 lbs. $104-110.
Yearling heifers: 600-700 lbs. $139-152.50;
700-800 lbs. $139-146; 800-900 $127-140;
900-1000 lbs. $114-132.
Light Holstein steers, 600 lbs. and under:
NA. Light Holstein steers, 700 lbs. and over:
NA.
Stock cows (young): NA. Stock cows (B.M.):
$1260-1530.
Pairs, young: NA.
Butcher cows: $64-73.
Thin shelly cows: $48-59.
Butcher bulls: $72-86.
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 Ore-
gon head as indicated.
NATIONAL FEEDER AND STOCKER CATTLE
(Federal-State Market News)
St. Joseph, Mo.
Aug. 19
This week
Last week
Last year
192,900
466,100
178,200
Compared to Aug. 12: Calves and yearlings
started out the week on a steady to 3 higher
trend, however mid to late week auctions trended
steady to weak, with some instances marked up
to $3 lower.
The cattle complex appears to have taken a
breath this week as a slight correction seemed to
be in store after a couple weeks worth of higher
markets. Grazers have taken on quite a bit of in-
ventory recently and they want to get the calves
in their pens straightened up before moving on to
the next group.
This week’s lower fed cattle trade came as a
surprise to cattle feeders after recent weekly
gains in the market. However, packers are always
cautious this time of year as beef demand typical-
ly wanes after the Labor Day holiday.
Boxed beef values have become stagnant this
week as Choice was a little over $1 lower and
Select cutout steady with the Aug. 11 close at
$200.07 and $193.60 respectively.
In the South Plains this week, all the market
could muster was $1 lower trading at $118, while
the North Plains dressed trade was steady to
weak at $186-187. Feedlots appear to be current
at this time coupled with this week’s estimated
slaughter of 599,000 head is a good thing for the
cattle industry at this time.
On Aug. 14 at Sioux Falls Regional Stockyards
in Worthing, S.D., a load of 717 lb. thin steers
coming off grass sold for a whopping $166.75.
Also at Tri-State Livestock in McCook, Neb., six
loads of 907 lb. steers sold from $152-152.10
while on Thursday in Valentine, Neb. two loads of
837 lb. steers sold at $156.25.
Optimism abounds for those feedyards willing
to take on the inventory at those levels; however,
there have been many strings of yearlings coming
off grass in the North Central region that will gain
like a house-a-ire when a high protein and con-
centrate diet is put on in front of them.
The previous week’s record corn production
estimate of 15.2 bb has assured friendly cost of
gains in the near future. Cattle on Feed Report
was released Aug. 19 with Aug. 1 reported at 102
percent; Placements at 102 percent and Market-
ings at 99 percent with placements being above
estimates and others coming in near the industry
analyst estimates.
Auction volume this week included 59 percent
weighing over 600 lbs. and 38 percent heifers.
AUCTIONS
This week
Last week
Last year
151,600
162,800
136,300
WASHINGTON There were not enough feeder
cattle sales to report.
DIRECT
This week
Last week
Last year
40,200
93,500
24,500
SOUTHWEST
(Arizona-California-Nevada)
3,100. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Hol-
steins: Large 3 300 lbs. $135 September Del; 300
lbs. $130-134 November-December Del; 300 lbs.
$135 December Del; 600 lbs. $97 Current Del.
NORTHWEST
(Washington-Oregon-Idaho)
There were no direct sales reported.
NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE
(USDA Market News)
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Aug. 19
Slaughter cattle sold mostly $1-2 lower. Cash
cattle continue to trade higher than the futures
board. Slaughter rates also well above last year.
Retailers helping the beef movement as they are
widely featuring beef products in the store.
Boxed Beef prices Aug. 19 averaged $196.84
down $.63 from Aug. 12. The Choice/Select
spread is $6.47. Slaughter cattle on a national
basis for negotiated cash trades through Aug. 19
totaled about 59,370 head. The previous week’s
total head count was 112,618 head.
Midwest Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and
Heifers: $117 Dressed Basis: Steers and Heifers
N/A.
South Plains Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers
and Heifers $116.
Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding
Prices): Slaughter cows and bulls steady to $3
lower than last week. Cutter Cow Carcass Cut-
Out Value Aug. 19 at the close was $170.82 down
$1.10 from Aug. 12.
NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE
(USDA Market News)
Moses Lake, Wash.
Aug. 19
This week
Last week
Last year
5,950
14,000
5,900
Compared to Aug. 12: Feeder cattle mostly
steady. Cattle futures declined somewhat midweek
but demand for feeder cattle remained good. The
feeder supply included 64 percent steers and 34
percent heifers. Nearly 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 deliv-
ery. 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; 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.
Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1 Current de-
livery: Delivered: 860- 885 lbs. $136; 925 lbs. $131;
September 800 lbs. $145; September- October
850 lbs. $137; October 580-600 lbs. $139-142; 850
lbs. $137; November 625-635 lbs. $133-134.50.
Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Greeley, Colo.-San Angelo,
Texas
Wool prices in cents per pound and foreign
currency per kilogram, sheep prices in dollars per
hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement
animals on per head basis as indicated.
NATIONAL WOOL REVIEW
(USDA Market News)
Greeley, Colo.
Aug. 19
Domestic wool trading on a clean basis has
been at a standstill this week. No conirmed
trades were reported. Domestic wool trading on a
greasy basis was at a standstill this week. There
were no conirmed trades 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. 19
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 slaughter lambs
were steady. 8,900 head of formula sales had no
trend due to conidentiality. 4,189 lamb carcasses
sold with 45 lbs. and down $7.61 lower; 45-75 lbs.
no trend due to conidentiality; 75-85 lbs $2.69
higher and 85 lbs. and up $3.75 higher.
SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 2-3:
San Angelo: shorn and wooled 100-140 lbs.
$130-148.
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.
DIRECT TRADING (Lambs with 3-4 percent
shrink or equivalent):
7,500 Slaughter Lambs shorn and wooled 127-
163 lbs. $140-175 (wtd avg $162.81).
SLAUGHTER EWES:
San Angelo: Good 2-3 (leshy) $49-58; Utility
and Good 1-3 (medium lesh) $60-70; Utility 1-2
(thin) $48-60; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) $40-
50; Cull 1 (extremely thin) $25-36.
FEEDER LAMBS Medium and Large 1-2:
San Angelo: 60-70 lbs. $186-196; 70-90 lbs.
$176-192; 90-100 lbs. $171-186.
REPLACEMENT EWES Medium and Large
1-2:
San Angelo: hair ewe lambs 60-70 lbs. $216-
234; 70-90 lbs. $178-214 cwt; mixed age hair
ewes 90-150 lbs. $85-135 cwt.
NATIONAL WEEKLY LAMB CARCASS Choice
and Prime 1-4:
Weight
Wtd. avg.
45 lbs. Down
$488.05
45-55 lbs.
Price not reported
due to conidentiality
55-65 lbs.
Price not reported
due to conidentiality
65-75 lbs.
Price not reported
due to conidentiality
75-85 lbs.
$326.65
85 lbs. and up
$313.29
Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal
inspection for the week to date totaled 38,000
compared with 37,000 last week and 37,000
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 relect discounts or other contract terms.
DAILY CALIFORNIA SHELL EGGS
(USDA Market News)
Des Moines, Iowa
Aug. 19
Benchmark prices are steady. Asking prices for next week are 17 cents higher for Jumbo, 14 cents
higher for Extra Large, 17 cents higher for Large and 13 cents higher for Medium and Small. The under-
tone is steady. Offerings are light for Jumbo and light to moderate on the balance of sizes. Retail demand
is fairly good to good with food service sales moderate to fairly good. Supplies are light to moderate.
Market activity is slow to moderate. Small benchmark price 57 cents.
Size
Range
Size
Range
Jumbo
156
Extra large
133
Large
120
Medium
77
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
128-138
Extra large
96-106
Large
91-100
Medium
42-47
Storms damage trees
in Mexican monarch
butterly reserve
By MARK STEVENSON
Associated Press
MEXICO CITY (AP) —
Storms caused a big spike in
the number of trees blown
down or severely damaged
in forests where migrating
monarch butterlies spend the
winter in central Mexico, ex-
perts reported Tuesday.
The March tempests
caused the loss of 133 acres
of pine and ir trees in the
forests west of Mexico City,
more than four times the
amount lost to illegal logging.
It was the biggest storm-re-
lated loss since the winter
of 2009-10, when unusually
heavy rainstorms and mud-
slides caused the destruction
of 262 acres of trees.
“Never had we observed
such a combination of high
winds, rain and freezing tem-
peratures,” monarch expert
Lincoln Brower said of the
storms of March 8-9.
Two big storm losses
within ive years may suggest
changes in the climatic con-
ditions that have allowed the
survival of patches of moun-
taintop forests. An additional
16 acres of trees were lost to
drought this year.
“This points up just how
fragile these forests are, and
how fragile the monarchs
are, and it makes clear the
importance of reforestation
efforts,” said Omar Vidal,
director of the conservation
group World Wildlife Fund
Mexico.
The monarchs depend on
inding relatively well-pre-
served forests, where mil-
lions of orange-and-black
butterlies hang in clumps
from the boughs. The trees,
and the clumping, help pro-
tect the butterlies from cold
rains and steep drops in tem-
perature.
That is why illegal logging
in the 33,484-acre nucleus of
the reserve is so damaging.
Conservationists have tried
to convince the largely im-
poverished farm and moun-
tain communities that ac-
tually own most of the land
that the forest is worth more
to them in terms of tourism
when left standing than when
it is cut down for logs.
In April, Mexico’s gov-
ernment announced it would
create a special national po-
lice squad to patrol nature
reserves and ight environ-
mental crimes. While the
force has not yet formally de-
ployed, illegal logging in the
monarch reserve dropped this
year, from almost 49.4 acres
in 2015 to about 29.6 acres.
Unlike in past years, when
most logging was done in the
farming communities, about
three-quarters of the tree-cut-
ting this year occurred on
public lands in the reserve’s
core area — precisely the
kind of terrain that environ-
mental police could most ef-
fectively protect.
“This is why we insist that
illegal logging in the reserve
has to be eliminated, and that
the destruction of (the but-
terly’s) milkweed habitat in
the United States has to be
stopped, so that the monarchs
have the ability to better re-
spond to these extreme cli-
mate events” like the March
storms, Vidal said.
Brower criticized author-
ities’ decision to quickly ap-
prove “salvage” logging of
trees downed by the storms,
suggesting it strengthened
logging interests and disturbs
the forests chances for natu-
ral regrowth.
He wrote that the “deci-
sion to authorize the very ex-
tensive salvage logging was
possibly the worst manage-
ment mistake that could have
been made.”
“The photos I have seen
of hundreds of logs on trucks
coming out of the reserve,
and of huge stacks of piled
carefully cut logs below (the
butterly reserve of) Rosario,
are atrocious.”
The damage comes after
a rebound for the monarch.
The area covered by the but-
terlies this winter was more
than 3 1/2 times that of a year
earlier. They clump so dense-
ly in the pine and ir forests
that they are counted by the
area they cover rather than by
individual insects.
The number of monarchs
making the 3,400-mile mi-
gration from the United
States and Canada had been
declining steadily before re-
covering in 2014. This winter
was even better. In Decem-
ber, the butterlies covered 10
acres, compared to 2.8 acres
in 2014 and a record low of
1.66 acres in 2013. That’s
still well below the 44 acres
the covered 20 years ago.