News

Fractional changes for ag price indices

The USDA says farmers received a little bit more money in April, while spending a little less.

The prices received index was up 0.2% from March at 93.0% with increases in broilers, soybeans, lettuce, and hogs cancelling out decreases for cattle, eggs, calves, and milk. The April 2016 prices received index is down 10% from April 2015. The food commodities index was down 0.5% at 96.8% on reduced marketings of corn, dry beans, cattle, and soybeans.

The dairy index was reported at 74.6%, down 2% from March and 9.1% lower than April 2015. The all milk price at $15.00 per hundredweight was $.30 less than last month and $1.50 below last year. The parity price for all milk to plants is $51.90 per hundredweight with an adjusted base price of $1.80. The price received for dairy cows was $1,820 per head, compared to $1,830 a month ago and $1,970 a year ago. The milk to feed ratio was 1.97 pounds of feed for one pound of whole milk.

The prices paid index was down 0.5% on the month and 4.2% on the year at 106.6%. Producers paid less for feeder cattle, concentrates, wages, and feeder pigs, but paid more for hay and forages, diesel, gasoline, and nitrogen.