E2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 4, 2003
What’s In A Market Report?
EPHRATA (Lancaster Co.) The USDA’s Agricultural Market
ing Service (AMS) collects and distributes price and sales reports on
farm products to provide equal access to both buyers and sellers on
current marketing information.
Uniform standards (such as quality grade and yield grade) on
which to quote prices have been established for each commodity. The
commodity’s price basis per-hundred weight, per-head, per-ton,
per-bushel, etc. should be noted in the report. Most livestock prices
are reported on a per-hundred pound weight basis (CWT) with those
on a per-head basis adequately noted. The weighted average is com
puted by dividing the total value of the sales by the total number of
units sold.
For example: “Choice 2-3 steers, 1100-1400 lbs, sold 65-68.00”
means the market reporter considered those steers of Choice quality,
ranging from 1,100 to 1,400 pounds, with the estimated yield of
closely trimmed retail cuts graded at 2-3 (on a scale of 1-5 yield
grades) and at prices ranging 65 to 68 cents per-pound live weight.
The word “market” can refer to the geographic location where the
commodity is traded or the price at which it is traded. Market re
ports may denote market activity, price trend, supply, demand and
undertone. An explanation of these terms follows:
• MARKET ACTIVITY: The pace at which sales are made.
Active - Supplies readily clearing the market.
Moderate - Supplies clearing at a reasonable rate.
Slow - Supplies are not clearing the market.
Inactive - Sales are intermittent with few buyers or sellers.
• TREND; The direction in which prices are moving in relation to
trading in the previous reporting period.
Higher - Majority of sales are at prices measurably higher.
Firm - Prices are higher, but not measurably so.
Steady - Prices are unchanged.
Weak - Prices are lower, but not measurably so.
Lower - Prices for most sales are lower.
• SUPPLY: The quantity of the commodity currently available.
Heavy - Volume of supply is above average.
Moderate - Volume is average.
Light - Volume is below average.
• DEMAND: The desire to possess a commodity coupled with the
willingness and ability to pay.
Very Good - Offerings or supplies are rapidly absorbed.
Good - Firm confidence on the part of buyers that general mar
ket conditions are good. Trading is more active than normal.
Moderate - Average buyer interest and trading.
Light - Demand is below average.
Very Light - Few buyers are interested in trading.
• UNDERTONE: Sense of direction in a given market situation.
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Glimpses From Farm Shows Past
Baked potatoes weren’t invented yesterday, as evidenced by the people who
enjoy them in the mid 1950 s at the Farm Show Food Center. (r urn to Page E 29)
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