Crop & Livestock Roundup OCT. EGG PRODUCTION flock produced 260 million 3 % ABOVE SEPT. eggs during October. October The Keystone State’s laying production was up 3 per cent I. H. BRUBAKER 350 Strosburg Pike, Lancaster Vbonej Lime, 397-5179 Strasburg 687-6W3~ Lititz 626-776* HIAMv^VIV. Wishing you and yours a most joyful Thanksgiving, brimming with the bounty and blessings of the season. D. E. HORN & CO., INC Hens and pullets of laying age numbered 14 9 million dur ing October, about 1 per cent more than both the previous month and a year ago. Rate of lay for October at 17 45 eggs compares with 17.10 for September The October late of lay was also slightly higher than in October 1963. Prices received by farmers for eggs averaged 39 cents a dozen in October, a cent above the mid-month September price but a cent below the Oc tober 1963 mid-month price. The egg-feed price ratio indi cates egg producers are in a more favorable position .than the previous month or a year ago. - Production of egg-type chicks in Pennsylvania from January to September inclusive totaled 24.7' million, 9 per cent less 'than the comparable period last year. The January through September total for the Unit ed States was 2 per cent above a year earlier. The- slight increase in egg •type -hatchings suggests an increased egg supply for next year, .and possibly a slightly lower price. t * - r - YORK, PA. from a month earlier, This change is the smallest Septem ber t 6 October increase in re cent years. The usual advance is about 6 per cent. In recent years this change has gradual ly became smaller. Production during October 1963 was 2 per cent less than this October. Lancaster Panning, /Saturday, November 21, 1964 PA. FALL PLANTINGS OFF TO A POOR START Most of the Commonwealth had some rain in early October but succeeding weeks were dry and soil moisture continued to be deficient in all areas ex cept the northwest according to the Pennsylvania Crop Re porting Service. Fall seeded grains did not germinate un til ram supplied the necessary moisture Some seed was in the soil a month before it sprouted Most fall plantings are up but lack of moisture is hampering growth. The cool dry weather favored harvest ing of corn, potatoes, apples, and fall vegetables. LOW CORN PRODUCTION THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR Prospects for this year’s corn crop are below normal but better than the two preceding dry years. Production of corn for grain is forecast at 51.9 million bushels, 20 per cent greater than last year but 6 per cent below the 1958-62 average production of 56.3 mil lion bushels. Production dur ing 1958 through 1961 ranged from 57 to -62 million bushels. Early planted corn matured and produced good yields while late planted corn was hurt by both the dry growing season and September freezes. Corn prices arc finishing har vest above last year and are expected to slay higher than 1963-64 throughout the season, with a strong rise going into summer. PA SEEDLEAF PRODUCTION BELOW LAST YEAR Production of Pennsylvania Seedleaf tobacco is forecast at 481 million pounds. The cur rent estimate is 4 per cent be low 1963 production and 9 per cent below the 1958-62 average. The later planted tobacco is not curing as fast as usual and stands a risk of shed freez ing The month of October of fered too little warmth in com bination with sufficient mois ture to give late tobacco the best cure For proper cure, the seedleaf needs warm sun ny days with some moisture. Leaves on the late crop are short but heavy. Early tobacco cured down quite well. It has a nice chest nut brown color and is of good quality. Some growers were ready to start stripping the ear ly crop shortly after Novem ber 1. A small percentage of the acreage was frozen and not harvested but damage by insects and disease was very light this year. PA POTATO PRODUCTION PROSPECTS DOWN 5 *> The combined late summer and fall potato production in the Keystone State is forecast at 7 0 million hundredweight, down 5 per cent from October 1 expectations. This places production 5 per cent below last year and 9 per cent below the 1958-62 average. The com bined yield is estimated at 180 hundredweight per acre. The fall crop is estimated at 6 4 million hundredweight based on an average yield of 180 hundredweight per acre. Variable weather across the State during October bad sig nificant effects on the progress of digging in the major fall producing areas, but by No vember 1, harvest in all areas was virtually completed. Grow ers in the east had little trou ble with foul weather prevent ing digging and the crop was finished by October 20. Al though yields in eastern coun ties are only fair, quality is very good and the potatoes are a lot drier than those in the west Many growers m west ern counties had excellent yields. Digging of potatoes in the west was delayed by ram ear ly in October. When the weath er turned favorable growers hastened harvesting operations in anticipation of more foul weather. The quality of the western potatoes is- better than originally reported- Be cause of the excess moisture in the west this year, growers fear some breakdown of po tatoes in storage. The hollow heart found earlier in Erie County was not as serious as first expected and prices in that area are now in their normal relationship' with the remain der of the State. US Fall Production Below 1963 Fall potato production is estimated at 176.7 million hun dredweight, 1 per cent less than forecast on October 1 and 10 per cent less than 1963 production. This is the small est fall potato crop since 1960. Total potato production for all seasonal groups is estimat ed at 244 0 million hundred weight compared with 271.7 million in 1963 The 1964 crop is the smallest since 1957. It is expected that potato prices will move up sharply this winter. (Continued on Page 14) 11
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