Prices received by cattle producers in mid-February were mostly higher compared with the entire month of January. Hogs at $45.00 per cwt were $3.00 per cwt below January but $12.00 per cwt above February 2004. The mid-month price for cows at $53.30 per cwt, was $2.60 more than a month earlier and $8.70 higher than the previous year. Steers and heifers at $98.10 per cwt, were $1.50 and $9.40 above last month and last year, respectively. Calves at $130.00 per cwt, were $2.00 more than the previous month and $20.00 higher than February 2004.

  The Florida milk price estimate for February was $16.00 per cwt, 10 and 20 cents more than last month and last year respectively. The commercial broiler price at 46.0 cents per pound was unchanged from last month but 3.0 cents less than February 2004. Table eggs at 36.0 cents per dozen were four cents below the previous month and 45.0 cents less than a year earlier.

  The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in February, at 113, based on 1990-92=100, is 2 points (1.8 percent) above the January Index. The Crop Index is up 5 points (5.0 percent) while the Livestock Index is down 1 point (0.8 percent). Producers received higher prices for tomatoes, oranges, broccoli, and celery. Lower prices were received for corn, dairy, hogs, and soybeans. The seasonal change in the mix of commodities farmers sell, based on the past 3-year average, also affects the price Index. Increased marketings of dairy, cattle, broilers, and strawberries offset decreased marketings of corn, soybeans, tobacco, and wheat.

  This preliminary All Farm Products Index is down 3 points (2.6 percent) from February 2004. The Food Commodities Index, at 117, is 2 points (1.7 percent) above last month but unchanged from February 2004.

  The February Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 134 percent of the 1990-92 average. The Index is unchanged from January but 3 points (2.3 percent) above February 2004. Lower prices in February for self-propelled machinery, feed grains, and LP gas were offset by higher prices for feed concentrates, complete feeds, feed supplements, and other machinery.

Index Summary Table
Index 1990-92=100	2004		2005
	Jan	Feb	Jan	Feb
Prices Received	112	116	111	113
Prices Paid	130	131	134	134
Ratio 1/	86	89	83	84
1/ Prices Received/Prices Paid.

Average price received by farmers 1/
Commodity	Unit	Florida			United States
		February 2004	January 2004	February 2005	February 2004	January 2004	February 2005
Meat animals:
Hogs	$ per cwt.	33.00	48.00	45.00	42.60	53.20	50.40
Cows	$ per cwt.	44.60	50.70	53.30	46.00	50.50	52.80
Steers & heifers	$ per cwt.	88.70	96.60	98.10	82.30	94.40	93.80
Calves	$ per cwt.	110.00	128.00	130.00	111.00	125.00	128.00
Milk: 2/
Sold to plants, all	$ per cwt.	15.80	15.90	16.00	13.60	15.90	15.40
Poultry:
Com'l broilers	Cents per lb.	49.0	46.0	46.0	47.0	43.0	43.0
Table eggs	Cents per doz.	81.0	40.0	36.0	74.5	37.3	35.8
Citrus, on tree:
Oranges	$ per box	2.10	2.27	2.83	3.02	2.99	3.59
Grapefruit	$ per box	2.84	12.95	11.88	2.80	12.52	11.46
Tangerines	$ per box	6.69	15.61	12.73	8.47	15.96	14.07
Field crops:
Potatoes	$ per cwt	**	**	**	5.87	5.59	5.44
Hay, baled	$ per ton	**	**	**	81.20	84.20	84.70
Tobacco, Type 11-37	$ per lb.	**	**	**	2.175	1.970	1.945
Peanuts	$ per lb.	**	**	**	0.189	0.189	0.189
Corn*	$ per bu.				2.61	2.12	2.02
Oats*	$ per bu.				1.58	1.64	1.58
Cotton*	Cents per lb.				61.9	39.6	38.1
Sorghum*	$ per cwt				4.76	2.95	2.98
Soybeans*	$ per bu.				8.28	5.57	5.39
Wheat, Winter*	$ per bu.				3.67	3.27	3.24
1/ Eggs, broilers and hay prices are midmonth estimates. Prices for the latest month for grains and soybeans are midmonth estimates. Prices for most meat animals are first half of month and other estimates are for the entire month. 2/ Before deductions for hauling and government withholding, and includes quantity and other premiums, but excludes hauling subsidies. * Only marketing year average prices are estimated for Florida, except oats and sorghum which are not estimated. ** Not estimated this month.

  The February Index is 106, up 5.0 percent from January but 12 percent below February 2004. Index increases from January for fruits and nuts and commercial vegetables more than offset price decreases for potatoes and dry beans, food grains, cotton, feed grains and hay, oil-bearing crops, and tobacco.

Food Grains: The February Index, at 109, is down 3.5 percent from the previous month and 12 percent below February 2004. The February all wheat price, at $3.38 per bushel, is down 4 cents from the January price and 39 cents below February 2004. The February rice price, at $6.83 per cwt, is down 33 cents from the January price and $1.40 below a year ago.

Feed Grains & Hay: The February Index is 93, down 2.1 percent from last month and 18 percent below February 2004. The corn price, at $2.02 per bushel, is down 10 cents from January and 59 cents below February 2004. The all hay price, at $84.70 per ton, is up 50 cents from last month and $3.50 above February 2004.

Oil-Bearing Crops: The February Index, at 98, is down 2.0 percent from the January Index and 33 percent below February 2004. The soybean price, at $5.39 per bushel, decreased 18 cents from January and is $2.89 below February 2004.

Cotton: The February Index, at 63, is down 3.1 percent from a month ago and 38 percent below February 2004. The cotton price, at 38.1 cents per pound, is down 1.5 cents from January and 23.8 cents below a year ago.

Potatoes & Dry Beans: The February Index, at 101, is 3.8 percent below last month but 1 percent above February 2004. The all potato price, at $5.44 per cwt, is down 15 cents from the previous month and 43 cents below last February. The dry edible bean price, at $28.30 per cwt, is 90 cents above last month and $10.80 above a year ago. Fruits & Nuts: The February Index, at 122, is 17 percent above the previous month and 23 percent above February 2004. Price increases during February for oranges more than offset price decreases for strawberries, grapefruit, and apples.

Commercial Vegetables: The February Index, at 113, is up 14 percent from last month but 27 percent below February 2004. Price increases for tomatoes, broccoli, and celery more than offset price decreases for lettuce and onions.