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November 18, 2016 CapitalPress.com Farm Market Report 13 Sponsored by LIMITED BOOTH SPACE! ROP-45-3-4/#7 Hay Market Reports Potato Market Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • St. Joseph, Mo.-Portland Compiled by North American Potato Market News and USDA Agricultural Market Service Hay prices are dollars per ton or dollars per bale when sold to re- tail outlets. Basis is current delivery FOB barn or stack, or delivered customer as indicated. Grade guidelines used in this report have the following relation- ship to Relative Feed Value (RFV), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients), or Crude Protein (CP) test num- bers: Grade RFV ADF TDN CP Supreme 185+ <27 55.9+ 22+ Premium 170-185 27-29 54.5-55.9 20-22 Good 150-170 29-32 52.5-54.5 18-20 Fair 130-150 32-35 50.5-52.5 16-18 Utility <130 36+ <50.5 <16 WASHINGTON-OREGON HAY (Columbia Basin) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Nov. 11 This week FOB Last week Last year 4,500 1,975 2,490 Compared to Nov. 4: All grades of export and domestic Alfalfa steady in a light test. Trade slow with light to moderate demand. Retail/Feedstore not tested this week. Demand remains good. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Prem./Sup. 500 $125 Premium 3000 $135 Fair/Good 800 $80 Timothy Grass Small Square Premium 200 $180 OREGON AREA HAY (USDA Market News) Portland, Ore. Nov. 11 This week FOB Last week Last year 2,535 3,101 3,559 Compared to Nov. 4: Prices trended generally steady compared to week ago prices. Most demand lays with the retail/stable hay. According to some producers, horse owners are starting to prefer lower sugar, higher protein hay. Recent sunny dry weather through- out the state has increased movement. Tons Price CROOK, DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, WASCO COUNTIES Alfalfa Small Square Premium 15 $240 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Orchard Grass Small Square Meadow Grass Small Square Mixed Grass Small Square EASTERN OREGON Alfalfa Large Square Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Orchard Grass Small Square HARNEY COUNTY Alfalfa Large Square Small Square Grass Small Square KLAMATH BASIN Alfalfa Large Square LAKE COUNTY Alfalfa Large Square Good/Prem. 13 Good 25 $220 $210 Premium Premium Good/Prem. Premium Good Good $245 $250 $225-230 $210 $150 $200 13 5 95 50 2 2 Good/Prem. 50 Fair/Good 280 $140 $100-115 Good/Prem. 10 Good/Prem. 20 $185 $165 Good/Prem. 100 Good 75 Good 75 $305 $170 $160 Fair/Good 300 $80 Supreme 100 1200 70 35 $180 $170 $160 $85 Premium Oat Large Square Good IDAHO HAY (USDCALIFORNIA HAY (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Nov. 11 This week FOB Last week Last year 4,151 5,145 8,163 All classes traded steady. Demand light to moderate. Accord- ing to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the drought-stricken areas of the Southeast, southern California, the Intermountain West, and the northwestern Plains received little, if any, precipitation resulting in the persistence or deterioration of drought conditions in these areas. Tons Price REGION 1: NORTHERN INTERMOUNTAIN Includes the counties of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas. Premium 30 $170 Fair 50 $130 REGION 2: SACRAMENTO VALLEY Includes the counties of Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano, Sacramento. No sales confirmed. REGION 3: NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tu- olumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa. Alfalfa Supreme 100 $220 1000 $245 Premium 25 $190 25 $200 Good 125 $180 Fair 1075 $145-150 Green Chop Good 1 $60 REGION 4: CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Inyo. Alfalfa Good 225 $145 150 $200 Sorghum Good 200 $40 REGION 5: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Kern, Northeast Los Angeles, and West- ern San Bernardino. Alfalfa Premium 200 $190 Forage Mix-Three Way Good 50 $200 REGION 6: SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial. Alfalfa Good 300 $160 Fair/Good 225 $135 Bermuda Grass Premium 50 $180 A Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Nov. 11 This week FOB Last week Last year 200 500 1,860 Compared to Nov. 11: All grades of Alfalfa steady in a light test. Trade remains slow with very light demand. Retail/feed store/horse not tested this week. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Fair/Good 200 $75 Alfalfa 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. CALIFORNIA GRAINS (USDA Market News) Portland Nov. 10 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 Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.75 Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA CORN-U.S. No. 2 Yellow FOB Turlock-Tulare $7.83 Kings-Tulare-Fresno $7.15 Rail Single Car Units via BNSF Chino Valley-Los Angeles $8.38-8.42 Truck Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $8.13 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $ 8.13 SORGHUM-U.S. No. 2 Yellow Los Angeles-Chino Valley Rail via BNSF Single $8.22-8.24 OATS-U.S. No. 2 White Petaluma $11.25-11.50 Truck Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock $11.25-11.50 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 Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $10.25 WHEAT-Any Class for Feed Kings-Tulare-Fresno Counties $8.60-8.65 FOB Truck/Rail Los Angeles-Chino Valley NA Truck Petaluma-Santa Rosa NA Prices paid to California farmers, seven-day reporting period ending Nov. 10: BARLEY, U.S. No. 2, 48 lbs. per bushel Stockton $8.25 Spot Del locally YELLOW CORN, U.S. No. 2 or better Glenn $7.90 Spot Del locally PORTLAND GRAIN (USDA Market News) Portland Nov. 11 PACIFIC NORTHWEST MARKET SUMMARY Cash wheat bids for November delivery ended the reporting week on Thursday, Nov. 10, were mixed compared to Nov. 3 noon bids for November delivery. December wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday, Nov. 10, mixed as follows compared to Nov. 3 closes: Chicago wheat futures were 7.25 cents lower at $4.0475, Kansas City wheat futures were 1.75 cents lower at $4.0875 and Minneapolis wheat futures trended six cents higher at 5.1575. Chicago December corn futures trended 4.50 cents lower at 3.4350 and January soybean futures closed 8.50 cents higher at 9.98. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit trains or barges during November for ordinary protein trended 5 to 7.25 cents per bushel lower compared to week ago prices for the same delivery period at $4.65-4.6975. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. White club wheat premiums were 22 to 25 cents per bushel over soft white wheat bids this week compared to zero to 25 cents per bushel over soft white wheat bids last week. One year ago bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat any protein for October delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $4.9075- 5.50 and bids for White Club Wheat were also $4.9075-5.50. Forward month bids for soft white wheat ordinary protein were as follows: December $4.4975-4.70, January and February $4.75- 4.8775 and March $4.6275-4.8775. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: December $4.9075-5.50, January, February and March $4.9550-5.50. Bids for U.S. 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5 percent protein during November trended 7.25 cents per bushel lower than week ago prices for the same delivery period at $4.6475- 4.7475. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. White club wheat premiums for guaranteed maximum 10.5 percent protein soft white wheat this week were zero to 25 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 November delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were $6.5575-6.95 and bids for White Club Wheat were $7.8075-8.0575. Forward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5 per- cent proteins were as follows: December $4.4975-4.7475, January and February $4.75-4.9275 and March $4.6275-4.9275. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: December $6.5575-7, January $6.5050-7, February and March $6.5050-6.90. Bids for 11.5 percent protein U.S. 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for November delivery were 1.75 cents per bushel lower compared to Nov. 3 noon bids for the same delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. Bids were as follows: November $4.9375-5.0375, December $4.8875-5.0375, January $4.8375- 4.9875, February and March $5.0150-5.1650. COARSE FEEDING GRAINS Bids for U.S. 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for November delivery trended mixed, from 9.50 cents lower to 0.50 of a cent higher at $4.0350. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. Forward month corn bids were as follows: December $4.0950-4.1750, January and February $4.24-4.27, March $4.22-4.25 and April $4.2525-4.2825. Bids for U.S. 1 Yellow Soybeans delivered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for November delivery trended 18.25 to 20.25 cents higher at $10.72-10.76. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. Forward month soybean bids were as follows: December $10.72-10.76, January $10.72-10.78, February $10.73 and March $10.7850. Bids for U.S. 2 Heavy White Oats for October delivery trended steady at $3.2650 per bushel. PACIFIC NORTHWEST EXPORT NEWS There were 17 grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thurs- day, Nov. 11, with five docked compared to 14 on Nov. 3, with five docked. There were no new confirmed export sales this week from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) of the USDA. Livestock Auctions Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals per pair or head as indicated. Oregon LEBANON (Lebanon Auction Yard) Lebanon, Ore. Nov. 10 Total Receipts: 276. Top organic cow: $57; avg. all $43.89. Top con- ventional Cow: $61.50; Top 10 Avg.$58.39; avg. all $44.17. Top conventional bull: $74.50; avg. all $66.20. Feeder steers: 400-500 lbs. $91-127.50; 600- 700lbs. $95-99. Feeder heifers: 400-500 lbs. $60-120; 500-600 lbs. $82.50-107.50; 900-1000 lbs. $54-78. Goats: $75-147.50 per head MADRAS (Central Oregon Livestock Auction) Nov. 7 Total head count: 1,859. Baby calves: NA. Steers: 300-400 lbs. $135-145; 400-500 lbs. $130-140; 500-600 lbs. $125-130; 600-700 lbs. $117-122; 700-800 lbs. $115-122; 800-900 lbs. $107-114. Bulls: High yield. $78-78; Mostly $70-75; Thin- ner $60-70. Pairs: NA. Bred cows: NA. Heifers: 300-400 lbs. $128-138; 400-500 lbs. $120-130; 500-600 lbs. $115-125; 600-700 lbs. $108-115; 700-800 lbs. $100-113. Heiferettes: 850-1000 lbs. $95-105. Cows: Heiferettes NA; high-yield $60; fleshy cows $57; medium-yield $50; low-yield $46. VALE (Producers Livestock Market) Nov. 9 Total receipts: 946 head. Comments: Not too many calves offered with a (30-plus day) wean. Therefore, the market looked $3-6 cheaper than last week. Also, choice “fat cat- tle” cash market $1-2 lower than last week. Steer calves: 300-400 lbs. $140-158; 400-500 lbs. $123-142; 500-600 lbs. $116-127. Heifer calves: 300-400 lbs. $125-142; 400-500 lbs. $107-129; 500-600 lbs. $104-115. Yearling steers: 600-700 lbs. lbs. $104-117; 700-800 lbs. $102-114; 800-900 lbs. $96-106; 900-1000 lbs. $91-102; 900-1000 lbs. $87-96. Yearling heifers: 600-700 lbs. $97-109; 700-800 lbs. $94-108; 800-900 lbs. $92-100; . Light Holstein steers, 600 lbs. and under: NA. Light Holstein steers, 700 lbs. and over: NA. Stock cows: $860-985 young; $650-790 older. Pairs, young: 1125-1590. Butcher cows: $49-58. Thin shelly cows: $37-48. Butcher bulls: $52-60. Heiferettes: $62-77. California SHASTA (Shasta Livestock Auction) Cottonwood, Calif. Nov. 11 Current week Last week 4,766 781 Compared to Oct. 28: Slaughter cows and bulls steady. More demand on feeder cows. Tremen- dous demand for grass cattle and 625 lbs. and lighter. $8-15 higher on good pen lots. Cattle over 625 lbs. $3-6 higher. Off lots and singles $25-$50 below top. Slaughter cows: High yielding $53-57; $58-63 high dress; Boning $45-52; Cutters $30-44. Bulls 1 and 2: $55-78. Feeder steers: 300-400 140-175; 400-450 lbs. $140-170; 450-500 lbs. $140-168; 500-550 lbs. $130-150; 550-600 lbs. $125-145; 600-650 lbs. $115-134; 650-700 lbs. $110-127.50; 700- 750 lbs. $108-122.50; 750-800 lbs. $108-121; 800-900 lbs. $111-124.25; 900-1,000 lbs. $104- 120.50. Feeder heifers: 300-400 lbs. $115-148; 400- 450 lbs. $120-140; 450-500 lbs. $115-139; 500-550 lbs. $105-122; 550-600 lbs. $100-119; 600-650 lbs. $100-118.50; 650-700 lbs. $100- 119; 700-750 lbs. $100-112.50; 750-800 lbs. $100-112.50. Calvy cows: Few full mouth $1,000-1,300; Bro- ken mouth $700-1,000 (big cows). Pairs: One iron, full mouth $1,900-2,325; Bro- ken mouth, one iron $1,400 (one set). Washington TOPPENISH (Toppenish Livestock Auction) (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Nov. 9 This week Last week Last year 2,800 2,100 2,030 Compared to Oct. 28: Stocker and feeder cattle $3-10 higher. Trade active with very good demand. Feeders 100 percent of the supply. The feeder supply included 58 percent steers and 42 percent heifers. Near 51 percent of the run weighed over 600 lbs. Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: 300- 400 lbs. $141; 400-500 lbs. $139- 145.50; 500- 600 lbs. $115-126; 500-600 lbs. $110-114.50, Full; 500-600 lbs. $ 130-132, Thin Fleshed; 600- 700 lbs. $115-125, Calves; 600-700 lbs. $ 110, Full; 700-800 lbs. $111-121, Calves; 700-800 lbs. $100, Full; 800- 900 lbs. $116.50-121, Calves. Small and Medium 1-2: 200-300 lbs. $130; 300- 400 lbs. $131; 400-500 lbs. $117-134.50; 600- 700 lbs. $100. Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: 400- 500 lbs. $118-129.50; 500-600 lbs. $ 110-124; 500-600 lbs. $105-108, Full; 600-700 lbs. $108- 117, Calves; 600-700 lbs. $105-107, Full; 700- 800 lbs. $109-114.50, Calves. Small and Medium 1-2: 300-400 lbs. $129-130; 400-500 lbs. $110- 117; 500-600 lbs. $105-114.75. Idaho CALDWELL (Treasure Valley Livestock) Nov. 4 Steers (wt.): 500-600 lbs. $68.50; 600-700 lbs. $38.75; 700-800 lbs. $58.25; 800 & Up lbs. $58. Steers (hd.): 200-300 lbs. $85; 300-400 lbs. $120; 400-500 lbs. $270. Heifers (wt.): 500-600 lbs. $30; 600-700 lbs. $62; 700-800 lbs. $67; 900-1000 lbs. $68; 1000- 1100 lbs. $66; 1100-1200 lbs. $64.50. Heifers (hd.): NA Bull Calf (wt.): NA. Bull Calf (hd.): 100-200 lbs. $55; 300-400 lbs. $200; 400-500 lbs. $215; 600-700 lbs. $310. Cows (wt.): 1000-1100 lbs. $39; 1100-1200 lbs. $39.25; 1300-1400 lbs. $44.50; 1400-1500 lbs. $52.25; 1500-1600 lbs. $51.50; 1600-1700 lbs. $57.25; 1700-1800 lbs. $58.25; 1900-2000 lbs. $56. Heiferettes (wt.): NA. Holstein Bulls (wt.): NA. 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 Oregon head as indicated. NATIONAL FEEDER AND STOCKER CATTLE (Federal-State Market News) St. Joseph, Mo. Nov. 11 This week Last week Last year 324,100 326,600 340,900 Compared to Nov. 4: Steers and heifers of all weights traded mostly steady to $5 higher. Light weight calves bound for wheat pasture sold with very good demand after rains across the wheat belt improved grazing conditions. Demand for unweaned, fleshy calves remains light to mod- erate, but as the weather finally turns, hard frost and cooler daytime temperatures will make it a little easier for cattle owners to straighten out their new purchases. Primarily spring calves on offer throughout most major trading regions, but the yearlings that were available this week had no trouble finding new homes. The cattle in- dustry has finally shown some strength the past couple of weeks and the fact that most markets have held firm or tacked on a few dollars at a time lend some credibility to the modest rally, removing the emotionally driven volatile up and down moves we nearly expect these days. There was no real knee-jerk reaction in the cattle complex to the election, but that’s not to say that cattle owners didn’t initially suffer some fear and anxiety early Nov. 10. A sharp overnight selloff in the financials after Donald Trump’s surprise win was short-lived though, and actually by the close on Nov. 11 the Dow had found a new re- cord high. Markets and traders are unsure what the new President Elect and his policies will entail and it’s certainly too early to predict any repercussions in the beef industry. Cattle futures traded sharply lower Monday but otherwise closed modestly higher during each trading ses- sion. Fat cattle trade took a long time to develop this week. A very few early week live sales, including the Online Fed Cattle Auction, rang in at $103- 104, just a hair lower than last week, and most everyone breathed a sigh of relief. By Nov. 11 though, sellers were feeling pretty optimistic and asking prices were pushed higher. Packers were known to need some cattle, not having a lot of captive supply for the month. Cattle feeders and packers negotiated till nearly suppertime Friday evening before trading some volume at $103- 105 Live with northern dressed sales at $162. Many feel the market has finally found a comfort- able trading range for the time being. Retailers will continue to aggressively feature beef items as long as they are enjoying profitable margins as they are now, just as packers will continue to keep kills over 600,000. Auction volume this week included 38 percent over 600 lbs. and 38 percent heifers. AUCTIONS This week Last week Last year 270,800 279,900 282,600 WASHINGTON 2,700. 63 pct over 600 lbs. 45 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 pkg 495 lbs. $127.50; 500-550 lbs. $115.79; 550-600 lbs. $116.59; 600-650 lbs. $115.24; 650-700 lbs. $114.30; 700-750 lbs. $114.21. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 450-500 lbs. $112.54; 500-550 lbs. $110.99; 550-600 lbs. $110.31; 600-650 lbs. $108.97; 650-700 lbs. $108.85; 800-850 lbs. $105.91. DIRECT This week Last week Last year 31,200 38,300 23,400 SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada) 3300. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Holsteins: Large 3 325 lbs. $90-92 March FOB; 325 lbs. $100 February Del. NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Idaho) There were no direct sales reported. NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE (USDA Market News) Oklahoma City, Okla. Nov. 11 Due to the Veterans Day Holiday this report is being issued early. Through Nov. 10 slaughter cattle trade has yet to develop. Limited trade on a live basis sold $1-4 lower. Dressed trade not yet established at the time of this report. Boxed Beef prices as of Nov. 10 averaged $177.13, down $3.74 from Nov. 4. The Choice/Se- lect spread is $16.92. Slaughter cattle on a national basis for negotiated cash trades through Nov. 11 afternoon totaled about 20,100 head. The previous week’s total head count was 90,419 head. Midwest Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers: $101-104.25 Dressed Basis: Steers and Heifers not established. South Plains Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers few $103-104. Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding Prices): Slaughter cows and bulls $1-3 lower. Cutter Cow Carcass Cut-Out Value Nov. 10 was $156.66 down $.58 from Nov. 4. NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE (USDA Market News) Moses Lake, Wash. Nov. 11 This week Last week Last year 0 3,100 350 Compared to Nov. 4: Stocker and feeder cattle not tested this week as most interests are shipping previously bought supplies. Trade near standstill with good demand. The feeder supply included 0 percent steers and 0 percent heifers. Near 0 per- cent of the supply weighed over 600 lbs. Prices are FOB weighing point with a 1-4 percent shrink or equivalent and with a 5-12 cent slide on calves and a 3-8 cent slide on yearlings. Delivered prices include freight, commissions and other expenses. Current sales are up to 14 days delivery. 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) Nov. 12 Market commentary: Idaho consumer pack prices inched up, on strong pre-Thanksgiving business. Russet prices held steady in other shipping areas. SHIPPING AREA FWA Chg IDAHO BURBANKS $11.78 $0.23 IDAHO NORKOTAHS $10.69 $0.20 COLUMBIA BASIN $10.68 $0 GRI Chg 70 ct Chg 10 lb. Film Chg $4.82 $0.14 $13.50 $0 $10 $0.50 $4.08 $0.15 $12 $0 $10 $0.50 $4.14 $0 $12 $0 $9 $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. Nov. 10 Domestic wool trading on a clean basis has been at a standstill this week. No confirmed trades were reported. Domestic wool trading on a greasy basis was at a standstill this week. There were no confirmed 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 Nov. 10 Compared to Nov. 3: Heavy slaughter lambs were steady to as much as $20 higher with most advance on lambs under 90 lbs. Slaughter ewes were steady to 12 higher. Feeder lambs were sharply higher. At San Angelo, Texas, 2,254 head sold. No sales in Equity Electronic Auction. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs were not tested. 3,800 head of negotiated sales of slaughter lambs were steady. 11,500 head of formula sales had no trend due to confidentiality. 3,810 lamb carcasses sold with 45 lbs and down $6.62 higher; 45-65 lbs no trend due to confiden- tiality; 65-85 lbs $.44-1.22 lower; and 85 lbs and up $3.25 lower. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 2-3: San Angelo: shorn and wooled 100-120 lbs. $120-138. SLAUGHTER LAMBS Choice and Prime 1: San Angelo: 40-60 lbs. $220-232; 60-70 lbs. $212-228; 70-80 lbs. $182-198; 80-90 lbs. $170- 174; 90-110 lbs. $142-158. SLAUGHTER EWES: San Angelo: Good 2-3 (fleshy) no test; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) $60-70; Utility 1-2 (thin) $55-58; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) $45- 52; Cull 1 (extremely thin) no test. FEEDER LAMBS Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: 60-70 lbs. $180; 70-80 lbs. $160- 162; 80-90 lbs. $144-146. REPLACEMENT EWES Medium and Large 1-2: San Angelo: mixed age hair ewes 90-150 lbs. $85-144 cwt. NATIONAL WEEKLY LAMB CARCASS Choice and Prime 1-4: Weight Wtd. avg. 45 lbs. Down $481.96 45-55 lbs. Price not reported due to confidentiality 55-65 lbs. 340.76 65-75 lbs. $314.95 75-85 lbs. $312.88 85 lbs. and up $302.27 Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal in- spection for the week to date totaled 39,000 com- pared with 39,000 last week and 39,000 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 Nov. 11 Prices are steady. The undertone is lower. Demand is light to moderate. Offerings are moderate to heavy. Supplies are moderate to heavy. Market activity is slow. Size Range Size Range Jumbo 135 Extra large 134 Large 131 Medium 97 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 107-117 Extra large 121-126 Large 113-122 Medium 77-89 Dairy Report WESTERN FLUID MILK AND CREAM REVIEW (USDA Market News) Madison, Wis. Nov. 10 Farm milk production is higher in the Central Valley of California as temperatures continue falling. In addition, some dairy operators are transi- tioning cows to the milking string. Milk butterfat and protein components continue improving ap- proaching the seasonal peak. Milk intakes are in good balance with the current processing needs. Bottled milk orders from educational institutions are lower as most schools will be closed during the Veterans Day holiday. Orders from retailers and food service are steady. Some Class 1 and Class 2 processors have started to pull more milk in order to make eggnog, flavored milk, and other holiday favorites. Alfalfa hay harvesting continues actively through- out the state. According to the DMN National Retail Re- port-Dairy for the week of Nov. 4-10, the national weighted average advertised price for one gallon of milk is $2.16. The weighted average regional prices in the Southwest and Northwest are $1.79 and $1.99, respectively. In the West, condensed skim pulls from Class II/III processors are improving ahead of the year- end holidays. Therefore, less skim supplies are clearing into NDM/SMP manufacturing. Milk production in the Pacific Northwest is following typical seasonal patterns and a little lower than previous weeks. Bottling demand is stable and milk intakes are steady at manufacturers. Some industry contacts say solids are still a little down as compared to previous years. In the mountain states of Idaho, Colorado and Utah milk production is steady and in good balance with processing needs. Plenty of milk is available for manufactured dairy products and it is finding homes at nearby plants. Demand is de- cent for bottled fluid milk products. Single serve milk items are pulling good volumes of milk. Western cream requests from sour cream, dips, and cream cheese manufacturers are inching up. In addition, butter churners continue pulling large amounts of cream. As a result, regional cream supplies are tightening, boosting cream premi- ums. This week, multiples for all classes are slightly higher, ranging from 1.06 to 1.26. According to the NASS Dairy Products report, hard ice cream production in the West region for September 2016 was 14.8 million gallons, 16.8 percent lower than a year ago, and 12.4 percent lower than the pre- vious month. Scientists use bacteria to halt spread of cheatgrass By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE (AP) — It sounds like science fiction: An unstop- pable invader is taking over the West and the best hope to stop its relentless advance is a small team of anonymous sci- entists. But that’s what is happen- ing in southwest Idaho, where experiments are underway to determine if soil bacteria can halt the century-long assault of non-native cheatgrass, which sends out roots that cheat other plants of water in the spring. “We hope that we can identify the effectiveness of the bacteria on annual grasses and to identify non-target risk effects,” said Matt Germino, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey run- ning the experiments at three scattered sites of about an acre each. Cheatgrass dries out in the summer, transforming into ex- traordinarily effective tinder for wildfires. The fires then kill competing native plants and destroy habitat needed by cat- tle ranchers and more than 300 species of wildlife, including the imperiled sage grouse bird. The results are huge, cheat- grass-filled landscapes that serve as fuel for frequent wild- fires, some reaching hundreds of square miles. Ann Kennedy, a soil mi- crobiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Washington state, has sorted through 25,000 strains of nat- urally occurring soil bacteria to find a handful that can stop cheatgrass root growth. The bacteria strains she found are active in the spring at the same time as cheatgrass. “In the spring they come up great guns, which then doesn’t let that plant grow very well in the spring, or even over winter very well,” she said. “You can draw down the seed bank of these annual weeds to where basically they’re gone.”
