Weekly Farm Price

Weekly Farm Price

Outlook

BROILERS

Don’t look for strength in broiler prices for the next week or two. Slaughter has been running heavy as growers unload at slightly improved prices.

Prices dropped back a little last week after the holidays, and it will probably be another week or so before slaughter drops back’and prices recover.

But in about two weeks, broiler supplies for the nation will dip below last year and prices should rise. In August, supplies will average about Seven per cent below a year ago.

The price rise may not be in proportion to what happened during previous p r o d u c t i o n. dips though. There are indications that broiler s*les are not responding as fast at retail as they have in past years.

It is also a good time to take another look at broiler plans for this fall. Projeced chick placements will move above last year again, the first week in October, which could usher in another round of below-cost prices at the rate eggs are being" set right now.

Monthly broiler prices were 15.4 cents in October last year, 15.0 cents in November and 14.3 cents in December and this year, there will be stiffer competition from other meats, which are dropping in price at retail. The consolidated broiler price in Virginia was 16 to 17 cents last week, half a cent lower than the previous week. North Carolina’s price was down half a cent to 15. and Geogia off one cent to 15. Delmarva was up half a cent to ) 171/2 10 18EGGS

For the next two to three weeks it looks egg prices will stay about where they are now. But for the next few month s—indications point to the usual rising seasonal trend. But don’t expect this rise to be as high as las year's. Production is turning down seasonally and the number of layers during June was reduced more than normal, and there has been heavy buying for storage.

From January to June the hatch of egg type chicks was up 11 per cent over last year. This will put a large supply of small and medium size eggs into market during the next few months.