Part 7

+------+-----+-----+-------+------ |Wheat.|Corn.|Oats.|Barley.| Rye. ------------------------------+------+-----+-----+-------+------ Week ending Oct. 1: | | | | | Atlantic ports[1] | 2,061| 157| ... | 101 | 214 Gulf ports[2] | 2,330| 158| 9| ... | ... Pacific ports[3] | 1,149| ... | ... | 483 | ... +------+-----+-----+-------+------ Total | 5,540| 315| 9| 584 | 214 Previous week | 4,379| 193| 12| 2,031 | 186 Corresponding week last year | 7,417| ... | 67| 104 | 623 Total, July 1 to Oct. 1, 1921 |85,223|6,581| 344|11,357 | 2,528 Corresponding period last year|83,750| 97|2,057| 5,545 |11,469 ------------------------------+------+-----+-----+-------+------

[1] Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Portland, Me., and Newport News.

[2] New Orleans, Galveston, Texas City, and Port Arthur, Tex.

[3] Seattle, Tacoma, Astoria, Portland, Oreg., and San Francisco.

Ocean Freight Rates on Grain and Flour Reduced.

A new schedule of grain rates for the North Atlantic service has been announced by the Shipping Board, as the outcome of a joint conference of shipping companies recently held in New York. The old and new rates on wheat and corn per 100 lbs. from North Atlantic ports are as follows:

+---------+---------- To-- |Old rate.| New rate. --------------+---------+---------- |_Cents._ | _Cents._ United Kingdom| 21 | 17 Antwerp | 22¹⁄₂ | 16¹⁄₂ Hamburg | 22¹⁄₂ | 18 --------------+---------+----------

Wheat flour, which takes a differential of 55¢ per 100 lbs., will be subject to a corresponding reduction, making the new rates on flour per 100 lbs. as follows: To the United Kingdom, 22¢; to Antwerp, 21¢; and to Hamburg, 23¢.

Bulk of White Clover Seed Already Sold.

Growers in southern Wisconsin had disposed of 80% of their crop of white clover seed by the end of September. The prevailing prices ranging from $30 to $40 per 100 lbs. have been fairly satisfactory to growers. The quality of the seed varies in different localities but probably averages about the same as or slightly inferior to that of last year because more of it is reported mixed with alsike and timothy.

The imports of white clover seed, principally from Germany, have tended to stabilize prices for the short crop of American seed. From July 1 to Sept. 30 there was permitted entry 538,600 lbs. and none for the same period last year.

Timothy Seed Exports to Europe.

Exports of timothy seed from New York during the two weeks ending Oct. 1, were 550,000 lbs. to Great Britain, 75,000 lbs. to Denmark, 40,000 lbs. to Germany, and 20,000 lbs. to Holland. Exports of Kentucky bluegrass from New York and Baltimore were 21,000 lbs. to Holland, 28,000 lbs. to Great Britain, and 16,500 lbs. to Germany.

The arrivals of imported seed at New York and Baltimore during the same period were: Alfalfa, 425,000 lbs. from Argentina; red clover, 113,000 lbs. from Germany, 92,000 lbs. from France, and 44,000 lbs. from Chile; white clover, 22,000 lbs. from Denmark and 11,000 lbs. from Holland; crimson clover, 105,000 lbs. from Germany; orchard grass, 179,000 lbs. from Denmark, 121,000 lbs. from Germany, and 45,000 lbs. from Holland; sunflower, 560,000 lbs. and canary, 128,000 lbs. from Argentina; rape, 187,000 lbs. from Holland and 44,000 lbs. from France; vetch, 57,000 lbs. from Sweden and 11,600 lbs. from Germany; rye grass, 22,000 lbs. from Great Britain; and grass (kind not specified) 123,000 lbs. from Argentina.

Egypt May Control Sowing of Cotton Seed.

The Government of Egypt is now considering a plan whereby it will assume control over all cotton seed used for planting purposes to preserve the standard varieties in a state of purity and to facilitate the propagation of new varieties under the most favorable conditions.

The history of the cotton industry in Egypt shows that a great number of cotton varieties have been planted which after a period of commercial popularity have almost disappeared from cultivation. Under the plan now being proposed no private person or firm will be permitted to engage in the selection or production of new varieties or strains of cotton unless licensed to do so, and even then not more than 200 acres may be devoted to the experiment. The area to be so planted must furthermore first undergo a field test for at least two years under the direction of the ministry of agriculture.

If the experiment proves satisfactory the seed obtained from the new variety or strain will be propagated and distributed by the Government under the name registered by the original producer. The Government will allow the producer a royalty on all seed used or sold for planting purposes, but will reserve the right to limit the rate of, or to discontinue entirely, its propagation.

Further information on this proposed control plan may be obtained upon request to the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates, Washington, D. C.

* * * * *

=The economic importance of seeds= is perhaps greater than that of any other farm commodity. Seeds are potential plants. Practically all staple foods are derived, either directly or indirectly, from plants. A shortage of seed in any country or section of a country may mean a shortage of food. The commercial supply of seeds in the United States safeguards every section of this country against a deficiency in the necessary requirements for planting annually and indirectly helps to maintain the stocks of food at uniform levels.

* * * * *

=The best commercial grades= of red clover, alfalfa, and timothy seed test 99.5% or better in purity.

_Hay and Feed_

HAY PRICES REGISTER ADVANCE IN NEW YORK MARKET.

Prices in Most Markets Unchanged Under Continued Light Receipts--Demand for Top Grades Only.

A continued light movement of hay to market prevailed during the week ending Oct. 1 and with the exception of one or two markets prices were but little changed from the preceding week.

The average price of No. 1 timothy at the principal timothy markets is now about $23.50 per ton, with the alfalfa average price about $22.75. This is $10 less per ton for both kinds than the prevailing average price Oct. 1, 1920. There is a fair local demand in limited quantities for the better grades of hay but scarcely any shipping demand and the lower grades are neglected. Good pastures and large local supplies of forage are important factors and will probably curtail demand for some time.

Receipts at nine of the important hay markets were practically the same as for the preceding week and totaled only a little over 1,000 cars compared with over 2,000 cars in the same markets at the corresponding time last year. The following table gives receipts of hay in several important markets for the weeks ending Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, 1921, and Oct. 2, 1920.

+------------------+-------- | 1921 | 1920 Cities. +------------------+-------- |Oct. 1.| Sept. 24.| Oct. 2. --------------------+-------+----------+-------- New York | 73 | 164 | 359 Pittsburgh | 50 | 55 | 186 Cincinnati | 93 | 66 | 219 Chicago | 184 | 195 | 207 Minneapolis-St. Paul| 67 | 36 | 18 St. Louis | 152 | 105 | 215 Kansas City | 189 | 139 | 1,019 San Francisco | 78 | 107 | ... Los Angeles | 144 | 150 | 78 --------------------+-------+----------+--------

TIMOTHY UP $4 AT NEW YORK.

_Timothy._--Very light receipts of timothy at New York and efforts on the part of dealers to replenish their light stocks from the small quantity of hay arriving caused prices to advance $4 per ton during the week in that market. Buying was restricted, however, by the higher prices. Other eastern markets were practically unchanged. Good hay is scarce but equal to the light demand.

Prices at both the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati markets advanced $1 during the week, but the advance at Cincinnati was lost on Saturday because of a lack of support from shippers. Light receipts were almost entirely responsible for the firm market tone both at Chicago and St. Louis, as the demand was not large and was confined principally to local needs. At Chicago cars of choice hay in small bales sold at premiums of $1 to $2 over current quotations. Receipts on the North side increased and those on the South side decreased, so that the premium at which hay sold on the North side tracks last week was reduced about $1 per ton.

There was very little activity in the southern markets during the week. Stocks are light, but buying is only for the light local demand. Richmond reports a good demand for No. 1 clover hay, of which very little is being offered.

_Alfalfa._--The alfalfa market showed some advances during the week, but prices were not materially higher. A better demand from southern and southeastern consuming sections and from interior Kansas points, where supplies are relatively small, was reported at Kansas City. Los Angeles also reports an increased demand for good grades. Choice dairy and rabbit hay is selling at a good premium over No. 1 and standard alfalfa. A sharp demand for fertilizer alfalfa is also reported from southern California.

Further shipments of alfalfa from San Francisco to the New England States were made during the week, but local demand in that market is very light. The movement of alfalfa in other Western States is light, caused principally by the light feeding demand and high freight rates.

_Prairie._--More favorable weather has resulted in larger receipts of prairie hay at Minneapolis. The market remained steady, however, because of buying by the local stockyard. Firm prices on timothy and light receipts of prairie totaling only six cars for the week caused a firm market at Chicago also. The light receipts were attributed to the low prices which prevailed a short time ago. Increased receipts at Kansas City, caused apparently by the recent high prices, are more than equal to the limited demand and the market for prairie is weak with prices somewhat lower than last week. There was a good local demand from the stockyards, but practically no shipping demand, which is required to absorb any materially increased receipts. But little change is expected until colder weather arrives.

_Straw._--Light receipts of straw caused slight price advances in several markets. Demand is light, however, and would not absorb a large increase in receipts except at price concessions. The following quotations represent current prices: No. 1 wheat straw--Philadelphia $12, Pittsburgh $11.50, Richmond $13, Cincinnati $9, Chicago $11.50, Minneapolis and Kansas City $8; No. 1 oat straw--Philadelphia and Pittsburgh $12, Cincinnati $11, Chicago $12.50, Minneapolis $9, Kansas City $8; No. 1 rye straw (straight)--New York $22.50, Philadelphia $20; (tangled) Pittsburgh $12.50, Chicago $13.50, Cincinnati and Minneapolis $9.

WHEAT MILL FEED MARKET SHOWS VERY WEAK CONDITION.

General Inactivity in Feed Market Continues--Offerings of Cottonseed Meal Increasing.

The feed market throughout the country was very dull and weak for the week ending Oct. 1. There was practically no investment buying of any commodity and dealers were supplying their immediate needs only. Prices generally are weak and in some markets lower on several feeds.

Production of wheat and corn feeds remains fairly heavy. Cotton seed in some sections is moving more freely and meal mills are expected to increase their offerings. Feed shipments from Minneapolis mills were heavy and stocks in public warehouses at lake ports are increasing. Approximately 28,750 tons of wheat feeds were reported in these warehouses at the end of the week under review, compared with about 2,200 tons at the corresponding time last year.

_Wheat mill feeds._--Continued heavy production of bran and middlings, together with a lack of sufficient demand to absorb the offerings, resulted in a very weak feed market during the week. The lower grain prices were also a bearish factor. Bran was especially dull. Both mills and jobbers were pressing sales in some markets. Some distress bran was in evidence at both Chicago and Cincinnati. Hard winter bran sold as low as $10 per ton on track at Kansas City.

=CARLOAD PRICES OF HAY AND FEED AT IMPORTANT MARKETS, OCT. 1.=

[In dollars per ton.]

+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+ Commodity. | New |Phila-|Rich-| At- | Sa- | Mem-| St. |Pitts-| |York.| del- |mond.| lan-| van-|phis.|Louis.|burgh.| | [1] | phia.| | ta. | nah.| [1] | [1] | [1] | | | | | | | | | | -----------------+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+ HAY. | | | | | | | | | Timothy and | | | | | | | | | clover: | | | | | | | | | No. 1 timothy |31.00| 23.00|26.00|28.00|26.50|24.50| 25.00| 22.50| | | | | | | | | | Standard | | | | | | | | | timothy |30.50| 22.00|25.00|26.00|25.50|22.00| 23.00| 21.50| No. 2 timothy |29.50| 20.00|24.00|24.50|24.50|20.00| 20.00| 19.50| No. 1 light | | | | | | | | | clover, mixed |29.50| 19.00|25.00|26.00|24.50| ... | 22.00| 20.00| | | | | | | | | | No. 1 clover, | | | | | | | | | mixed | ... | ... |24.00| ... | ... | ... | 20.00| 21.00| | | | | | | | | | No. 1 clover | ... | ... |24.00| ... | ... | ... | 21.00| 20.00| Alfalfa: | | | | | | | | | No. 1 alfalfa |28.00| ... | ... |29.00|28.50|23.00| 22.00| ... | | | | | | | | | | Standard | | | | | | | | | alfalfa | ... | ... | ... |27.00| ... |20.00| 20.00| ... | | | | | | | | | | No. 2 alfalfa | ... | ... | ... |25.00| ... |17.00| 18.00| ... | | | | | | | | | | Prairie: | | | | | | | | | No. 1 upland | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 17.00| ... | No. 2 upland | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 15.00| ... | No. 1 midland | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | Grain: | | | | | | | | | No. 1 wheat | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | No. 1 oat | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | FEED (bagged). | | | | | | | | | Wheat bran: | | | | | | | | | Spring |21.25| 20.75|21.50|22.00| ... | ... | ... | 19.50| Soft winter |21.50| 22.50|25.00|22.00|23.50|16.00| 14.50| 20.50| Hard winter |21.50| 21.25| ... |22.00| ... | ... | 14.00| 20.00| Wheat middlings: | | | | | | | | | Spring | | | | | | | | | (standard) |22.25| 21.75|24.00|27.00| ... | ... | ... | 21.50| Soft winter | ... | 28.00| ... |30.00|30.00| ... | 22.50| 27.50| Hard winter | ... | 27.00| ... |28.00| ... | ... | 21.50| 27.50| Hard winter | | | | | | | | | wheat shorts | ... | ... | ... |30.00| ... |24.00| 18.00| 27.00| | | | | | | | | | Wheat millrun | ... | 23.50| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 23.50| Rye middlings | ... | 20.50|21.00| ... | ... | ... | ... | 19.00| High-protein | | | | | | | | | meals: | | | | | | | | | Linseed |46.75| 44.50| ... | ... | ... | ... | 40.75| 45.00| | | | | | | | | [2] | Cottonseed | | | | | | | | | (41%) | ... | 45.25| ... | ... | ... |36.00| 40.00| 44.50| Cottonseed | | | | | | | | | (36%) |45.25| 43.25| ... |41.00|40.50|35.00| 38.50| 42.00| No. 1 alfalfa | | | | | | | | | meal (medium) | ... | ... | ... |29.00| ... |22.50| 20.00| ... | Gluten feed |35.34| 34.93| ... | ... | ... | ... | 29.25| ... | White hominy feed|29.25| 28.75|30.00|28.00| ... | ... | 21.00| ... | Yellow hominy | | | | | | | | | feed |27.25| 26.00|30.00| ... | ... | ... | 19.00| ... | Ground barley | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | | | | | | | | | | Dried beet pulp |29.25| 28.00| ... |33.50|42.00| ... | ... | 25.80| -----------------+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+------+

+-----+-----+------+-----+------+------+----- Commodity. | Cin-| Chi-| Min- | Oma-|Kansas| San | Los | cin-|cago.| nea- | ha. | City.| Fran-|Ange- |nati.| [1] |polis.| [1] | [1] |cisco.| les. | [1] | | [1] | | | [1] | [1] -----------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+------+----- HAY. | | | | | | | Timothy and | | | | | | | clover: | | | | | | | No. 1 timothy |20.00|24.00| 19.50| ... | 14.50| ... | ... | | | | | [2] | | Standard | | | | | | | timothy | ... |22.00| 18.50| ... | 13.50| ... | ... No. 2 timothy |18.50|20.00| 18.00| ... | 12.50| ... | ... No. 1 light | | | | | | | clover, mixed |18.50|21.00| 18.00| ... | 13.50| ... | ... | | [3] | | | [2] | | No. 1 clover, | | | | | | | mixed |17.00|17.00| 17.50| ... | 11.00| ... | ... | | [2] | [2] | | | | No. 1 clover |20.00|17.00| 17.00| ... | 11.50| ... | ... Alfalfa: | | | [2] | | [2] | | No. 1 alfalfa |21.00|22.00| 21.00|15.50| 18.00| 18.00|19.00 | [2] | | [2] | | | | Standard | | | | | | | alfalfa |19.00|20.00| 19.00|13.50| 15.00| 17.00| ... | [2] | | [2] | | | | No. 2 alfalfa |17.00|17.00| 17.00|10.50| 12.00| 13.00| ... | [2] | | [2] | | | | Prairie: | | | | | | | No. 1 upland | ... |17.00| 16.50|11.00| 12.00| ... | ... No. 2 upland | ... |15.00| 14.00| 9.50| 10.00| ... | ... No. 1 midland | ... |14.00| 12.00|10.00| 8.50| ... | ... Grain: | | | | | | | No. 1 wheat | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 20.00| ... No. 1 oat | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 16.00|21.00 FEED (bagged). | | | | | | | Wheat bran: | | | | | | | Spring |17.00|15.25| 12.50| ... | ... | ... | ... Soft winter |17.50| ... | ... | ... | 10.75| 28.00|28.00 Hard winter |17.00|15.25| ... |10.50| 10.50| ... |22.00 Wheat middlings: | | | | | | | Spring | | | | | | | (standard) |20.50|16.50| 13.50| ... | ... | ... | ... Soft winter |24.00| ... | ... | ... | 18.50| 39.00| ... Hard winter |20.50| ... | ... | ... | 18.50| ... | ... Hard winter | | | | | | | wheat shorts | ... | ... | ... |18.00| 15.50| ... | ... | | | | | [3] | | Wheat millrun | ... | ... | 30.00| ... | 15.00| 27.00| ... Rye middlings |17.00| ... | 12.50|12.00| ... | ... | ... High-protein | | | | | | | meals: | | | | | | | Linseed |45.00|41.00| 38.00|41.50| 39.25| ... | ... | | | | | | | Cottonseed | | | | | | | (41%) |41.25|42.00| ... | ... | 39.75| 41.00| ... Cottonseed | | | | | | | (36%) |38.50|40.00| ... | ... | ... | ... |36.00 No. 1 alfalfa | | | | | | | meal (medium) |23.50|21.50| ... |17.00| 17.25| 20.00|27.00 Gluten feed |32.45|28.65| ... | ... | 34.50| ... | ... White hominy feed|26.00|21.00| ... |19.00| 20.00| ... | ... Yellow hominy | | | | | | | feed |26.00|19.00| ... |18.50| 19.00| ... | ... Ground barley |36.00|31.00| 20.00| ... | 24.50| ... |30.00 | | | | | | | [4] Dried beet pulp |25.90| ... | 23.50| ... | 21.00| ... |25.00 -----------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+------+-----

[1] Hay quotations represent average of cash sales at these markets.

[2] Nominal.

[3] Brown.

[4] Rolled.

MIDDLINGS ACTIVE.

Middlings were more active than bran and in several western markets, including Kansas City and St. Louis, there was a good demand for middlings and shorts from both local buyers and shippers. The shipping demand was rather broad, mostly in single car orders, from the Central West, South, and Southeast. The higher prices asked for middlings in the southern markets, however, are causing consumers to buy bran instead. Although prices are low some dealers are inclined to think that still lower prices will prevail if an attempt is made to market the feed stored at lake ports before navigation closes. However, Minneapolis mills are holding firm at present quotations.

_Cottonseed meal._--The cottonseed meal market has lost much of the strength displayed during the past few weeks. New seed is now moving to mills in larger quantities and the available supply of meal is increasing. There is practically no consumptive demand and dealers are therefore holding off buying as they expect lower prices. Offerings from mills are still limited and in some sections only for October delivery. Lack of demand rather than heavy offerings is probably the cause of the present weakness in meal prices. Some exports of meal are reported at New Orleans. The demand for meal for fertilizer purposes is light because other ammoniates are cheaper at the present time.