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12 CapitalPress.com March 30, 2018 Farm Market Report S PONSORED BY ROP-9-5-1/106 For the latest market reports from around the region, go to www.capitalpress.com/markets. Potato 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 retail outlets. Basis is current delivery FOB barn or stack, or delivered customer as indicated. Grade guidelines used in this report have the following relationship to Relative Feed Value (RFV), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients), or Crude Protein (CP) test numbers: 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) March 23 This week FOB Last week Last year 17,150 1890 5730 tons Compared to March 16: Alfalfa firm in a light test. Trade slow this week for old crop. Active trade was noted this week for new crop export hay untarped. Some discounts may apply if rain damaged. Exporters say inventories of 2017 Alfalfa and Timothy hay should sell out this spring. Retail/Feedstore steady. The Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Powell announced a quarter point interest rate in- crease yesterday but indicated a much more aggressive path for interest rates in the future. In addition to the increase yesterday, he suggested two or three more increases this year and three more increases next year. Borrowing cost for many will undergo sharp increases after remaining low for the past decade. Tons Price Alfalfa Mid Square Premium/Export 850 170.00 Good/Prem/New Crp 8000 165.00 Fair/Good/New Crp 8000 145.00 Alfalfa Small Square Prem/Ret/Stab 65 200.00 Orchard Grass Small Square Prem/Ret/Stab 35 240.00 Timothy Grass Mid Square Fair/Export 100 175.00 Timothy Grass Small Square Premium/Export 100 340.00 OREGON AREA HAY (USDA Market News) March 23 Compared to March 16: Prices trended generally steady in an extremely limited test. Retail/Stable type hay remains the most demanded hay. Most hay producers are sold out for the current growing year. This week FOB Last week Last year 2098 308 2587 tons CROOK, DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, WASCO COUNTIES Tons Price Alfalfa Small Square Prem/Ret/Stab 12 220.00 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Prem/Ret/Stab 7 245.00 Orchard Grass Small Square Premium 3 230.00 Prem/Ret/Stab 59 231.36 Good/Premium 150 200.00 Mixed Grass Small Square Prem/Ret/Stab 10 275.00 Triticale Large Square Good/Premium 50 165.00 Eastern Oregon: Alfalfa/Grass Mix Large Square Good 300 120.00 Harney County: Alfalfa Large Square Fair/Good/Rain Dam 300 135.00 Orchard Grass Large Square Premium 120 175.00 Meadow Grass Large Square Good 50 120.00 Klamath Basin: Alfalfa Large Square Premium 200 190.00 Alfalfa/Grass Mix Large Square Util/Fair/Rain Dam 125 160.00 Meadow Grass Small Square Good/Retail/Stab 12 140.00 Wheat Large Square Good/Prem 125 160.00 Lake County: Alfalfa Large Square Supreme 175 215.00 Good 200 165.00 Alfalfa Small Square Prem/Ret/Stab 30 185.00 Alfalfa/Orchard Mix Small Square Premium 60 185.00 Prem/Ret/Stab 30 Triticale Large Square Good/Premium 80 110.00 IDAHO HAY (USDA Market News) March 23 This week FOB Last week Last year 200 195 1000 Compared to March 16: Alfalfa steady in a light test. Export hay has mostly been cleaned up until new crop. Trade near standstill this week with light demand. Exporters say inventories of 2017 Al- falfa and Timothy hay should sell out this spring. Retail/Feedstore steady. Retail/Feedstore not tested. Alfalfa Mid Square Fair/Tarped 200 100.00 CALIFORNIA HAY (USDA Market News) March 23 Compared to March 16: All classes traded steady with very good demand. Chances of rain held off some farmers in Region 6 of knocking hay down this week. Mountain snowpack is less than 25 percent of normal across much of the Sierra Nevada and In- termountain West. This week FOB Last week Last year 2325 2440 3535 tons REGION 1: NORTHERN INTERMOUNTAIN Includes the counties of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen and Plumas. No New Confirmed Sales. REGION 2: SACRAMENTO VALLEY Includes the counties of Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Solano and Sacra- mento. Alfalfa Prem/Ret/Stab 25 280.00 REGION 3: NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tu- olumne, Mono, Merced and Mariposa. Alfalfa Premium/Del 100 279.00 REGION 4: CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY Includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Inyo. No New Confirmed Sales. REGION 5: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Kern, Northeast Los Angeles and Western San Bernardino. No New Confirmed Sales. REGION 6: SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA Includes the counties of Eastern San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial. Alfalfa Prem/Supr 800 222.50 Prem/Ret/Stab 1400 227.14 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 March 22 Pacific Northwest Market Summary: Cash wheat bids for March delivery ended the reporting week on Thursday, March 22, were mixed, mostly lower compared to week ago noon bids for March delivery. May wheat futures ended the reporting week on Thursday, March 22, lower as follows compared to week ago closes: Chicago wheat futures were 23 cents lower at 4.5575, Kansas City wheat futures were 42.50 cents lower at 4.71 and Minneapolis wheat futures trended 22.50 cents lower at 5.93. Chicago May corn futures trended 10.75 cents lower at 3.76 and May soybean futures closed 11 cents lower at 10.2975. Bids for US 1 Soft White Wheat delivered to Portland in unit trains or barges during March for ordinary protein trended steady to 2.25 cents per bushel lower compared to week ago prices for the same delivery period from 5.40-5.6575. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. White club wheat premiums were zero to five 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 March delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were 4.4225- 4.6725 and bids for White Club Wheat were 4.4225-4.7725. Forward month bids for soft white wheat ordinary protein were as follows: April 5.40-5.6575, May 5.60-5.6575, June 5.60-5.67 and August New Crop 5.50-5.60. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: April and May 4.4225-4.88, June 4.4750- 4.84 and August New Crop 4.5350-4.73. Bids for US 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5 per- cent protein during March trended steady to 2.25 cents per bushel lower than week ago prices for the same delivery period from 5.25- 5.6575. 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 five cents per bushel over soft white wheat bids this week and last week. One year ago bids for US 1 Soft White Wheat guaranteed maximum 10.5 percent protein for March delivery by unit trains and barges to Portland were 4.4225-4.80 and bids for White Club Wheat were 4.5225-4.8225. Forward month bids for soft white wheat guaranteed 10.5 per- cent proteins were as follows: April 5.40-5.6575, May 5.61-5.6575, June 5.63-5.67 and August New Crop 5.50-5.53. One year ago, forward month bids for soft white wheat for any protein were as follows: April and May 4.4225-4.80 and August New Crop 4.5350-4.80. Bids for 11.5 percent protein US 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for March delivery trended 42.50 cents per bushel lower than week ago bids for the same delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. This week, bids were as follows: March 6.01-6.26, April 6.06- 6.21, May 6.06-6.26, June 6.25-6.28 and August New Crop 6.0825. Bids for non-guaranteed 14.0 percent protein US 1 Dark North- ern Spring Wheat for Portland delivery during March trended 22.50 cents per bushel lower than week ago bids for the same delivery period. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. This week, bids for non-guaranteed 14 percent protein were as follows: March 7.08-7.28, April 7.08-7.31, May 7.13-7.38, June 7.1150-7.4150 and August New Crop 7.3825-7.4325. Coarse feeding grains: Bids for US 2 Yellow Corn delivered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for March delivery trended 10.75 cents per bushel lower than week ago bids for the same delivery period from 4.71-7.86. Some exporters were not issuing bids for nearby delivery. For- ward month corn bids were as follows: April and May 4.76-4.86, June 4.7925-4.8625 and July 4.6925-4.7425. Bids for US 1 Yellow Soybeans delivered full coast Pacific Northwest - BN shuttle trains for March delivery trended 11.00 cents lower than week ago bids for the same delivery period from 11.0975-11.1475. Some exporters were not issuing bids for near- by delivery. Forward month soybean bids were as follows: April and May 11.2575-11.2775, June 11.3475-11.3575, July 11.3275-11.3475 and October 11.1675-11.2675. Bids for US 2 Heavy White Oats for March delivery trended steady at 3.4825 per bushel. Outstanding Export Sales: Outstanding U.S. white wheat export sales can be found at the following link: https://apps.fas.usda.gov/ export-sales/wheat.htm Outstanding U.S. barley export sales can be found at the follow- ing link: https://apps.fas.usda.gov/export-sales/barley.htm Pacific Northwest Export News: There were 23 grain vessels in Columbia River ports on Thursday, March 22, with six docked compared to 24 last week with five docked. There were no new confirmed export sales this week from the Commodity Credit Cor- poration (CCC) of the USDA. California Weekly Grain Report March 22 Paid by feed manufacturers and other users, delivered plant or receiving station. All prices are offers for prompt shipment unless otherwise stated. Dollars Per Cwt. -Bulk- BARLEY US No 2 (46-lbs. per bushel) FOB Solano County NA Colusa County NA Tehama County NA Yolo County NA Rail: Any Origin - via BNSF and U.P. Los Angeles NA Stockton-Modesto- Oakdale-Turlock NA Dairy Report Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Madison, Wis. FLUID MILK AND CREAM REVIEW – WEST (USDA Market News) March 22 In California, farm milk output is gradually growing week over week. Loads of milk are readily accessible for all processing needs. Class I intakes are lower due to educational in- stitutions preparing to close for the holiday. Some processors suggest that they are get- ting near to the peak of the spring flush. As so, they are concerned about finding homes for additional loads of milk as they are currently working at or near full processing capacities and might not be able to accommodate more milk loads. Arizona milk production continues to be high- er because agreeable weather conditions are boosting cows’ well-being. Many plants are currently working at full ca- pacities and are also preparing for the spring flush. Class I milk sales continue to be down in that some schools are still in spring break. Class II orders for the holiday are still ongoing. In Arizona, 87 percent of alfalfa hay is rated good to excellent while topsoil and subsoil mois- tures are both 83 percent adequate to surplus. Milk yield in New Mexico continues to inch up due to suitable climate for cows’ coziness. Reports suggest abundant volumes of milk available to processors. Although processing plants are efficiently managing all milk loads, repair/maintenance workloads are contributing to increased holdovers in the region. Demand from bottlers and cheese manufac- turers is up, but Class II sales are down. Springlike weather in the Pacific Northwest is promoting steady to higher milk production. Manufacturers have plenty of milk for most pro- cessing needs. End users report getting regular calls from shippers looking for homes for milk and cream. Bottling demand is stable. Compared to last spring, this year’s weather has been much more favorable to milk produc- tion in the mountain states of Idaho, Colorado and Utah. Milk output is well ahead of last year at this time and is steady to higher across the re- gion, due to both more cows and more milk per cow. Manufacturers report there is more than enough milk for most processing needs. Discounted loads of milk are generally readily available if a processor needs more to fill pro- duction runs. In the West, a number of producers are selling condensed skim due to the lack of processing capacity. Therefore, condensed skim continues to move from state to state. Livestock Auctions Oregon EUGENE (Eugene Livestock Auction) March 24 Receipts: 271 Market Conditions Compared To Pre- vious Week: Cows and bulls up $5-8. Feeder cattle steady. High Dressers: 70.00-78.50 Low Dressers: 60.00-69.50 Top 10 Cows: 71.05 Bulls: Top Bulls High Dressers: 89.50 Feeder Bulls: 300-500 lbs 89.00- 154.00; 500-700 lbs 63.00-155.00; 700- 900 lbs NT Choice Steers Medium To Large Frame No. 1 & 2s: Feeder Steers: 300-400 lbs 122.50; 400-500 lbs 120.00-167.00; 500-600 lbs 150.00-163.50; 600-700 lbs 148.00- 157.50; 700-800 lbs NT; 800-900 lbs NT Choice Heifers Medium To Large Frame No. 1 & 2s: Feeder Heifers: 300-400 lbs 130.00- 153.00; 400-500 lbs 130.00-148.00; 500-600 lbs 130.00-144.50; 600-700 lbs 115.00-133.00; 700-800 lbs 109.00- 110.00; 800 lbs and up 110.00 Bred Cows: $660-800 Hd Pairs: $975-1300 Pr Head Calves (up to 250 lbs) Beef: $190-275 HD; Dairy: $20-85 HD Feeder Lambs: 50-90 lbs 175.00- 212.50; 130 lbs 165.00 LEBANON (Lebanon Auction Yard) March 22 Receipts: 352 Butcher Cows: Conventional: Top Cow, $70.00; Top 10 Cows, $66.52; Top 50 Cows, $62.98; Top 100 Cows, $53.54; Organic: Top Cow, $89.00; Top 10 Organic: $86.09; Top 50 Or- ganic, $72.92. Bulls: Conventional: Top Bull, $78.00; Avg. All Bulls, $70.46. Cow/Calf Pairs: $775.00-$1325.00. KLAMATH FALLS (Klamath Falls Livestock Auction) March 20 Choice Steers: 300-400 lbs 153.00-170.00 cwt; 400-500 lbs 116.00-125.00 cwt; 500-600 lbs 127.00-139.00 cwt; 600-700 lbs 109.00-132.00 cwt; 700-800 lbs 101.00-105.00 cwt; 800-900 lbs NT Choice Heifers: 300-400 lbs 115.00-142.00 cwt; 400-500 lbs 120.00-139.00 cwt; 500-600 lbs 115.00-129.00 cwt; 600-700 lbs 112.00-125.00 cwt; 700-800 lbs 107.00-110.00 cwt; 800-900 lbs NT Top Cow: 68.00 Top Bull: 80.50 Slaughter Bulls: High Yield 61.00- 68.00; Med Yield 51.00-60.00; Low Yield 31.00-49.00 Feeder Heiferettes: NT Cow Calf Pairs: NT Bred Cows: NT WOODBURN (Woodburn Livestock Exchange) March 20 Receipts: 494, 486 Cattle Top 10 Slaughter Cows A/P 64.06 cwt Top 50 Slaughter Cows A/P 61.39 cwt Top 100 Slaughter Cows A/P 58.80 cwt Back To The Country Cows 70.00 cwt Certified Cows: 80.00-140.00 cwt Top Certified Organic Cattle: 60.00- 80.00 cwt All Slaughter Bulls: 59.00-84.00 cwt Top Beef Steers: 200-300 lbs 145.00- 165.00 cwt; 300-400 lbs 140.00-167.00 cwt; 400-500 lbs 145.00-167.50 cwt; 500-600 lbs 145.00-169.50 cwt; 600- 700 lbs 125.00-147.50 cwt; 700-800 lbs 120.00-142.00 cwt Top Beef Heifers: 200-300 lbs NT; 300-400 lbs 130.00-140.00 cwt; 400- 500 lbs 140.00-153.00 cwt; 500-600 lbs 130.00-151.00 cwt; 600-700 lbs 115.00-132.00 cwt; 700-800 lbs 100.00- 110.00 cwt Cow/Calf Pairs: NT Bred Cows: NT Day Old Beef Cross Calves: 195.00- 220.00 Hd Day Old Dairy Calves: 5.00-50.00 Hd Block Hogs: 60.00-108.00 cwt Feeder Pigs: NT Sows: 15.00-27.50 cwt Weaner Pigs: NT Lambs: 40-70 lbs 180.00-210.00 cwt; 75-150 lbs 145.00-207.00 cwt Thin Ewes: 42.00-100.00 cwt Fleshy Ewes: 55.00-61.00 cwt Ewe/Lamb Pairs: 27.50-47.50 Hd Goats:10-39 lbs 12.50-57.50 Hd; 40-69 lbs 30.00-155.00 Hd; 70-79 lbs 80.00-170.00 Hd; 80-89 lbs 120.00- 200.00 Hd; 90-99 lbs 90.00-210.00 Hd; 100-199 lbs 100.00-270.00 Hd; 200- 300 lbs 180.00-290.00 Hd California TURLOCK (Turlock Livestock Auction Yard) March 20 Receipts: 820 Hd Comments: Good test on pairs and bred cows. Weigh cows and bulls steady. Too light of a test on stockers to report a trend. The recent rain will slow down the above-average volume for this time ofyear. Special Pair and Bred Cow Sale Results: No. 1 Pairs: 1500.00-2200.00 No. 2 Pairs: 1200.00-1475.00 No. 2 Med and Large Frame Steers: 300-399 lbs 130.00-170.00; 400-499 lbs 125.00-157.00; 500-599 lbs 125.00- 157.00 600-699 lbs 120.00-148.00; 700-799 lbs 110.00-132.00; 800-899 lbs 100.00- 123.00 No. 2 Med and Large Frame Heifers: 300-399 lbs 130.00-157.00; 400-499 lbs 120.00-145.00; 500-599 lbs 110.00- 132.00 600-699 lbs 105.00-132.00; 700-799 lbs 100.00-121.00; 800-899 lbs 95.00- 120.00 Holstein Barren Heifers: 65.00-90.00 Weigh Beef Cows: High Yielding 64.00-70.00; Med Yielding 57.00-63.00; Low Yielding 40.00-56.00 Weigh Dairy Cows: High Yielding 67.00-79.00; Med Yielding 61.00-66.00; Low Yielding 45.00-60.00 Weigh Bulls: High Yielding 85.00- 95.00; Med Yielding 78.00-84.00; Low Yielding 65.00-77.00 COTTONWOOD (Shasta Livestock Auction Yard) March 23 Receipts: 992 Compared to previous week: Weigh- up cows $3-5 lower. Good light cattle market. Feedlot cattle in short supply and lower. Slaughter Cows: High Yielding 63.00- 70.00; Med Yielding 52.00-62.00; Low Yielding 40.00-51.00 Heiferettes: 75.00-95.00 Bulls 1 and 2: 65.00-85.00; High Dress 86.00-94.50 Feeder Steers: 300-400 lbs 198.00 (one set); 400-450 lbs 201.00 (one set); 450-500 lbs 170.00-195.00; 500-550 lbs 162.00-191.00; 550-600 lbs 150.00- 175.00; 600-650 lbs 145.00-158.00; 650-700 lbs 130.00-147.00; 700-750 lbs 125.00-135.00; 750-up NT Feeder Heifers: 300-400 lbs 150.00- 165.00; 400-450 lbs 150.00-161.00; 450-500 lbs 140.00-173.00; 500-550 lbs 135.00-169.00; 550-600 lbs 130.00- 145.00; 600-650 lbs 130.00-145.00; 650-700 lbs 120.00-130.00; 700-750 lbs 123.00-128.00; 750-up NT Pairs: Few older pairs $850-1360 Calvy Cows: $925-1125 Washington TOPPENISH (Toppenish Livestock Auction) March 22 Receipts: 1650 Compared to March 15 at the same market: Stocker cattle less than 700 lbs. suitable to go to grass firm. Feed- er cattle more than 700 lbs. weak. CME posted losses all week except for yesterday. Trade active with good demand for all classes. Slaughter cows and bulls firm to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls steady. Trade active with good demand. Slaughter cows 60 percent, slaughter bulls 10 percent, and feeders 30 percent of the supply. The feeder supply included 38 percent steers and 62 percent heifers. Near 82 percent of the run weighed over 600 lbs. Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1: 500-600 lbs 182.50, Thin Fleshed. Medium and Large 1-2: 600-700 lbs 163.75-171.50; 600-700 lbs 146.00, Fleshy; 700-800 lbs 133.50-135.75; 800-900 lbs 125.00-130.00. Medium and Large 2-3: 600-700 lbs 128.00. Small and Medium 1-2: 500-600 lbs 156.00. Feeder Holstein Steers: Medium and Large 2-3: 900-1000 lbs 111.00. Medium and Large 3-4: 300-400 lbs 107.00; 700-800 lbs 90.00. Large 2-3: 1300-1400 lbs 105.00. Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1: 600-700 lbs 155.00, Thin Fleshed. Medium and Large 1-2: 400-500 lbs 158.00; 500-600 lbs 159.00-160.00; 600-700 lbs 137.50-142.00; 700-800 lbs 125.00-136.50. Medium and Large 2-3: 600-700 lbs 122.50. Large 1: 1000-1100 lbs 111.00; 1200-1300 lbs 99.00, Heiferettes. Large 2-3: 700-800 lbs 86.00; 800-900 lbs 96.00-106.00; 1200-1300 lbs 84.50, Heiferettes. Small and Medium 1-2: 400-500 lbs 151.50; 500-600 lbs 150.50. Slaughter Cows: Boners: 80-85 Pct. Lean; 1200-2100 lbs; Avg Dressing 68.00-73.00; High Dressing 74.00; Low Dressing 63.00- 68.00 Lean: 85-90 Pct. Lean; 1100-1700 lbs; Avg Dressing 65.00-71.00; Low Dressing 61.00-65.00 Lean: 90 Pct. Lean; 900-1300 lbs; Avg Dressing 57.00-61.00; Low Dress- ing 51.00-57.00 Slaughter Bulls: Yield Grade 1-2: 1500-2400 lbs; Avg Dressing 92.00-97.50; High Dressing 103.00-111.50; Low Dressing 82.00- 92.00 Note: The USDA LPGMN price report is reflective of the majority of classes and grades of livestock offered for sale. There may be instances where some sales do not fit within reporting guide- lines and therefore will not be included. Compiled by North American Potato Market News and USDA Agricultural Market Service 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) March 24 SHIPPING AREA FWA CHG GRI CHG 70 CT CHG 10# FILM CHG IDAHO BURBANKS $14.37 $0.30 $6.29 $0.18 $23.00 $1.00 $9.00 $0.00 IDAHO NORKOTAHS $13.48 $0.38 $6.08 $0.28 $21.50 $1.00 $9.00 $0.00 SAN LUIS VALLEY $18.81 $0.00 $11.51 $0.00 $26.00 $0.00 $16.00 $0.00 COLUMBIA BASIN $16.86 $0.33 $7.90 $0.21 $24.00 $0.50 $12.00 $0.00 Sheep/Wool Market Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Greeley, Colo.-San Angelo, Texas Sheep prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals on per head basis as indicated. NATIONAL WOOL REVIEW (USDA Market News) March 23 Domestic wool trading on a clean basis was very slow this week. There were 62,000 lbs of confirmed trades reported. Domestic wool trad- ing on a greasy basis was also slow this week. There were 98,000 lbs of confirmed trades reported. NATIONAL SHEEP SUMMARY (USDA Market News) San Angelo, Texas March 23 Compared to March 16: Slaughter lambs steady to 10.00 lower, mostly 10.00-20.00 lower. Slaughter ewes steady to 10.00 lower. Feeder lambs steady. At San Angelo, Texas, 5252 head sold. Equity Electronic Auction sold 330 slaughter lambs in North Dakota. In direct trading slaughter ewes not tested and no com- parison on feeder lambs. 4100 head of negotiat- ed sales of slaughter lambs were mixed. 3,399 lamb carcasses sold with all weights no trend due to confidentiality. All sheep sold per hun- dredweight (cwt) unless otherwise specified. Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 90-160 lbs: San Angelo: shorn and wooled 110-175 lbs 128.00-150.00, few 120.00. VA: wooled 90-110 lbs 187.50; 110-130 lbs 147.50-177.50; 130-160 lbs 140.00-172.50. PA: shorn and wooled 90-110 lbs 225.00- 247.00; 110-130 lbs 190.00-230.00; 130-150 lbs 175.00-192.00; 150-200 lbs 165.00-182.00. Ft. Collins, CO: wooled 110-125 lbs 160.00- 165.00. South Dakota: shorn and wooled 115-120 lbs 158.00-161.00; 140-150 lbs 149.00-152.00; 150-160 lbs 143.00-148.00. Kalona, IA: wooled 125 lbs 147.00; 130-150 lbs 135.00-144.00. Billings, MT: no test. Missouri: no test. Equity Elec: shorn 135-145 lbs 149.75. Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 1-2: San Angelo: 40-60 lbs 204.00-219.00; 60-70 lbs 200.00-212.00, few 214.00-218.00; 70-80 lbs 197.00-210.00; 80-90 lbs 190.00-208.00; 90-110 lbs 180.00-194.00. Pennsylvania: 40-50 lbs 240.00-275.00, few 280.00-305.00; 50-60 lbs 235.00-270.00, few 275.00-300.00; 60-70 lbs 225.00-255.00, few 275.00-280.00; 70-80 lbs 220.00-255.00, few 270.00-272.00; 80-90 lbs 210.00-245.00, few 275.00-280.00; 90-110 lbs 210.00-235.00. Kalona, IA: 30-50 lbs 190.00-270.00; 50-60 lbs 200.00-240.00; 60-70 lbs 200.00-225.00. Ft. Collins: 55-65 lbs 225.00-227.50. Missouri: 40-70 lbs 240.00-267.50. Virginia: 30-60 lbs 260.00; 60-90 lbs 240.00- 242.50. South Dakota: 80-100 lbs 159.00-160.00. Billings, MT: no test. Direct Trading: (lambs fob with 3-4 percent shrink or equivalent) 4100: Slaughter Lambs shorn and wooled 110-214 lbs 125.00-162.00 (wtd avg 142.74). TX: 2300: Feeder Lambs 90 lbs 220.00. Slaughter Ewes: San Angelo: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 64.00-72.00; Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) 76.00-88.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 68.00-78.00; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) 55.00-66.00; Cull 1 (extremely thin) 40.00- 55.00. Pennsylvania: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 70.00-135.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 75.00-110.00; Cull 1 no test. Ft. Collins: Good 3-5 (very fleshy) 70.00- 79.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 70.00-79.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 47.00-51.00; Cull 1 (extremely thin) no test. Billings, MT: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) no test; Good 2-3 (fleshy) no test; Utility 1-2 (thin) no test; Cull and Utility 1-2 (very thin) no test; Cull 1 no test. So Dakota: Good 3-4 (very fleshy) 46.00- 66.00; Good 2-3 (fleshy) 50.00-68.00; Utility 1-2 (thin) 52.00-64.00; Cull 1 41.00-46.00. Missouri: Utility and Good 1-3 (medium flesh) 100.00-117.50. California Egg Reports Compiled by USDA Market News Service • Des Moines Shell egg marketer’s benchmark price for negotiated egg sales of USDA Grade A 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) March 23 Benchmark prices are unchanged. Asking prices for next week are 29 cents higher for Jumbo, 37 cents higher for Extra Large, 38 cents higher for Large and 22 cents higher for Medium and Small. Trade sentiment is steady to higher. Offerings are light. Retail and food service demand is fairly good to good while warehouse buying interest is mostly moderate as those buyers work to order just for ex- pected needs for the upcoming Easter holiday. Supplies are mostly light to moderate. Market activity is moderate to active. Small benchmark price $1.73. Size Range Size Range Jumbo 272 Extra large 300 Large 297 Medium 193 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Prices to retailers, sales to volume buyers, USDA Grade AA and Grade AA, white eggs in cartons, delivered to store door. Size Range Size Range Jumbo 259-271 Extra large 288-295 Large 285-292 Medium 181-188 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. March 23 This week Last week 2017 296,500 311,300 409,500 Compared to March 16: Steers and heifers sold 3.00-10.00 lower, except in the Southeast where feeder steers and heifers traded mostly 2.00-5.00 lower, with instances 7.00-10.00 lower. Demand was light to moderate for all weight classes. Receipts were lighter this week when compared to last week, perhaps a combination of seasonal trends and lower prices keeping producers away. The CME cattle futures opened the week in the red, posting triple digit losses, which continued through Wednesday. Once the dust finally settled, the front two months of live and feeder cattle contracts lost 3.00-4.00 from last Friday’s close. On Thursday the futures finally saw a slight recovery before hefty losses again on Friday. The discouraging news trickled down to major cattle markets early in the week, with Oklahoma City and Joplin Stockyards posting sharp losses. The rest of the auction barns across the country noticed and followed suit. Order buyers had to readjust their bids accord- ingly to ensure profitability. Feedlots are in no hurry to buy cattle as pen space is limited in the feed yards. There are con- cerns of a large number of market ready cattle in the next quarter, which has the industry looking bearish. Demand for calves has dwindled at the moment as cattle grazers have filled their orders. Nevertheless, demand for thin fleshed cattle suitable for summer grazing remains good and they are selling at a premium. Some steers worth mentioning this week out of Valentine, Neb., are two loads weighing 693 lbs ringing in at 174.75, a good price as compared to the same cattle in other parts of the country. Once again, feedlot trade occurred midweek. On Tuesday in the Southern Plains, live cash trades were at 126.00, with a few live trades in Kansas on Thursday at 125.00. On Wednesday in Nebraska, live purchases ranged from 125.00-126.00, with the bulk at 126.00, and in the Western Cornbelt live cash purchases were from 126.00-128.00, with a few up to 130.00. Dressed trades in Nebraska and the Western Cornbelt on Wednesday were from 200.00- 203.00. Spring is finally here and ranchers are itching to turn calves out on grass; yet, it might be another month until pastures turn green. Winter conditions are still lingering in the North- ern Plains as some parts of the Dakotas saw snow accumulation Monday and Tuesday, forcing cattle raisers to continue to find other ways of feeding. More snow is expected Friday-Saturday with Her- reid, S.D., postponing its sale due to the impending storm. Additionally, cattle that are being marketed throughout local barns in the Dakotas are entering the ring in moderate to heavy flesh conditions. Drought conditions still loom throughout the Southern Plains and in the West with spotty storms providing relief in some areas. Western Oklahoma saw nearly an inch of rain this week, but precipitation levels remain well be- low normal. The Cold Storage report was released Thurs- day with total red meat supplies in freezers down slightly from the previous month but up 1 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in the cooler was down 8 percent from last month and also from a year ago. Frozen pork supplies increased by 6 percent from the last report and 8 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 6 percent from the previous month and up 188 percent from last year. Friday’s Cattle on Feed data showed cattle on feed on March 1 was up 9 percent from a year ago, placements up 7 percent, and marketings up 2 percent. Auction volume this week included 55 percent weighing over 600 lbs and 43 percent heifers. NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE SUMMARY March 23 Slaughter cattle traded mostly 2.00-3.00 lower for live and 2.00-4.00 lower for dressed sales. Boxed Beef prices as of Friday afternoon aver- aged 219.75 down 1.43 from last Friday. The Choice/Select spread is 6.69. Slaughter cattle on a national basis for negoti- ated cash trades through Friday afternoon totaled 148,739 head. Last week’s total head count was 122,247. NORTHWEST WEIGHTED DIRECT FEEDER CATTLE March 23 This week Last week 2017 640 0 2,150 Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heif- ers had no trades last week to compare to. The feeder supply included 100 percent over 600 lbs and 21 percent heifers. Unless otherwise stated prices are FOB weighting points with 2-3 percent shrink or equivalent and a 5-10 cent slide on calves and a 4-12 cent slide on yearlings from base weights. Current sales are up to 14 days delivery. Feeder Steers Medium and Large 1: 142 Hd: 800-810 lbs, 140.47 Current Del 206 Hd: 850 lbs, 141.00 Current Del 160 Hd: 950 lbs, 130.00 Current Del Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1: 67 Hd: 760 lbs, 137.00 Current Del 65 Hd: 850 lbs, 128.00 Current Del