mi-press-releases

News Release
NR-12-27
May 1, 2012

U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Michigan Field Office
Michigan Department of Agriculture
Post Office Box 30239
Lansing, MI  48909-6248

Phone:      (517) 324-5300
Facsimile:  (517) 324-5299
E-mail:     nass-mi@nass.usda.gov
Web site:   www.nass.usda.gov

Jay V. Johnson, Director

April Agricultural Prices

Prices received by Michigan farmers for the full month of March 2012 and mid-
month prices as of April 15, 2012, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan 
Field Office, are listed in the table below. According to Jay Johnson, 
Director, USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office, Michigan highlights were: corn 
$6.15 per bushel, down $0.28 from March and down $0.45 from last year; 
soybeans $13.80 per bushel, up $0.90 from last month; milk $17.50 per cwt, 
down $0.40 from last month, and down $3.10 from last year.

U.S. preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in 
April, at 177 percent, based on 1990-1992=100, decreased 7 points (3.8 
percent) from March. The Crop Index is down 5 points (2.4 percent) and the 
Livestock Index decreased 7 points (4.4 percent). Producers received lower 
prices for broilers, corn, cattle, and eggs and higher prices for soybeans, 
onions, hay, and oranges. In addition to prices, the overall index is also 
affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities 
producers sell. Increased monthly movement of cattle, strawberries, milk, and 
broilers offset the decreased marketing of soybeans, corn, wheat, and cotton. 
The preliminary All Farm Products Index is up 1 point (0.6 percent) from 
April 2011. The Food Commodities Index, at 166, decreased 5 points (2.9 
percent) from last month but is unchanged from April 2011.

The April Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, 
and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 21 percent of the 1990 1992 average. The index 
is unchanged from March but 10 points above (4.9 percent) April 2011. Higher 
prices in April for complete feeds, concentrates, hay & forages, and 
supplements offset lower prices for feeder cattle, feeder pigs, feed grains, 
and LP gas.

                 Prices received by farmers, April 2012                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :     :       Michigan        :     United States     
                  :     :-----------------------:-----------------------
     Commodity    :Unit :  Apr  :  Mar  :  Apr  :  Apr  :  Mar  :  Apr  
                  :     :2011 1/:2012 1/:2012 2/:2011 1/:2012 1/:2012 2/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :     :                    Dollars                    
                  :     :                                               
Beans, dry edible : Cwt : 39.50   50.10     (D)   31.80   47.10   47.90 
Corn              : Bu  :  6.60    6.43    6.15    6.36    6.35    6.14 
Hay, all          : Ton : 99.00  100.00  109.00  143.00  181.00  190.00 
Oats              : Bu  :  3.80    3.79    3.80    3.54    3.79    3.60 
Potatoes          : Cwt : 13.10   13.30   13.80   11.17    9.98   10.57 
Soybeans          : Bu  : 12.70   12.90   13.80   13.10   13.00   13.80 
Wheat, winter     : Bu  :  7.04    6.58    6.50    7.37    6.68    6.31 
                  :     :                                               
Milk, all         : Cwt : 20.60   17.90   17.50   19.60   17.20   16.90 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)  Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual firms             
1/   Entire month weighted average price.                               
2/   Mid-month price.