—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 21, 1972
40
Poultry, Egg Prices Seen Above Last Year’s
Egg prices are picking up and
for fall and winter will run well
above the depressed levels of a
year earlier, reflecting reduc
'ions in flock size according to the
USDA’s Economic Research
Service Broiler prices are due
or a seasonal decline, but even
.vi th moderately greater output
his year, prices will be above
last fall’s level thanks to strong
demand. Increased turkey
production will hold seasonally
rising turkey prices a little below
a year ago.
Egg output this year has ex
ceeded expectations largely
because of higher productivity
resulting from the use of Marek’s
disease vaccine January-August
egg output totaled slightly above
the same months of 1971,
although production since April
has lagged year-ago levels.
Flock size on September l was
down 4 percent, the rate of lay
was up about 2 percent, and
output in August was 1 percent
below a year earlier. The rate of
lay continues to set new monthly
records despite an aging flock
and more molted layers in the
flock. However, a continued
smaller laying flock in the fall
and winter will more than offset
further increases in the rate of
lay, keeping egg output below
year-earlier levels.
Weak shell egg demand for
table use has kept 1972 egg prices
down, but the lagging output is
beginning to stimulate prices.
January-August prices paid to
Georgia producers for Grade A
large eggs averaged around 24
cents a dozen, about 4 cents below
the same period of 1971. Prices to
lowa producers averaged about
31 cents in Georgia and 29% cents
m lowa, about the same as a year
earlier. New York wholesale
prices of Grade A large white
eggs in mid-September were
about 39 cents a dozen, 7 cents
above the prior month and 3 cents
above mid-September 1971.
Prices in the fall and winter are
expected to run well above last
fall’s depressed prices. New York
wholesale prices for Grade A
large eggs averaged 34 cents a
dozen last fall and less than 32
cents during January-March
1972.
Broiler meat output in
Federally inspected plants
continues at record levels, up
nearly a tenth through July this
year. The number reaching
Federally inspected plants ad
vanced 6.6 percent. The average
weight of broiler inspected for
slaughter increased and con
demnations were sharply lower.
Although the production
margin over a year earlier will
narrow, it likely will remain
positive at least into 1973.
Demand prospects are favorable
as a result of pork production
running relatively light, red meat
prices continuing high, and
disposable personal incomes
increasing. Based on chick
Landisville, Pennsylvania 17538
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placements and egg settings, the
number of broilers for marketing
during September-November will
be up around 2.5 percent with
largest gains early in the period.
Broiler prices lagged in early
April as output continued to gain
Prices strenghtened in the
summer and during August
moved above year-earlier levels.
The 9-city average wholesale
price dropped to the 25-cent level
in early April then recoverd and
averaged about 30 cents for the
second week of September.
Prices will decline in the fall but
will probably average above the
24.9 cents for October-December
1971.
The 1972 turkey crop is the
largest on record. It is 128 million
birds, 7 percent more than in 1971
and 1 percent above the previous
record of 1967. Turkey meat
output m Federally inspected
slaughter plants through July
this year, a period of seasonally
light marketings, was up 12
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percent from the same period of
1971.
Turkey output during the heavy
marketing season, September-
December, will continue
moderately above 1971. There
were 6 percent more poults
placed during March-June to
provide most of the late summer
and fall market supplies.
Turkey prices have been near
to below year-earlier levels since
early 1972. Weaker prices
resulted largely because of ex
panded output. Although
production was up sharply in the
first half of this year, demand
was strong and cold storage
stocks remained near year
earlier levels. Stocks commenced
to build up seasonally in July and
on September 1 they totaled
about 325 million pounds, up 17
million from September 1, 1971.
Turkey prices will increase
seasonally this fall, perhaps close
to last'fall’s level. At the same
time, reduced pork output, high
red meat prices, and higher in
comes will tend to support turkey
prices.
McHale Says
Farmers Not
To Blame for
Food Prices
“Consumers must understand
that farmers are not to blame for
rising food prices,” Pennsylvania
Secretary of Agriculture Jim
McHale told a Philadelphia
consumer group last week.
“In fact farmers and con
sumers have a common problem
today—both groups are being hit
hard in the pocketbook. Farmers’
net income has stagnated for 20
years and consumers are forced
to pay larger grocery bills each
year,” McHale declared to the
Philadelphia Area Consumer
Organization (PACO) at the
Trinity Lutheran Church in
Germantown.
McHale asserted that mid
dleman food processors are
reaping higher profit margins
and that vertical intergration of
farms is on the upswing. “When
monopolies control production
from seedling to produce in retail
outlets they will have the same
control over prices that the big
three now enjoy with cars,” said
McHale.
McHale called for consumer
backing of progressive farm
legislation that will increase
bargaining power for farmers
and boost parity prices to 100
percent. “Increased farm income
is the only way to save family
farms,” said McHale. “And it is
the family farm that historically
has provided wholesome food to
consumers at reasonable
prices.”
McHale also urged PACO to
fight for better consumer
protection laws on the federal
level. “A single consumer
protection agency is now needed
to protect all the interests of
consumers,” said McHale.
The secretary also described
the regulatory functions of the
Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture, noting various retail
food inspection programs.
Ihf Old limwc
“One objection to voting
a split ticket—you can’t be
sure which party to blame.”