February Agricultural Prices Received

Released: February 29, 2008 For more information contact us at 1-800-835-2612.

January 2008 full-month crop prices were mixed when compared with December 2007. Montana's winter wheat price increased $0.40 to $6.65 per bushel, spring wheat rose $0.71 to $8.00 per bushel, but durum wheat was down $0.50 to $10.10 per bushel. Feed barley prices rose $0.04 from the previous month to $4.77 per bushel, but malt barley prices decreased $0.93 to $4.22 per bushel. The mid-February price for alfalfa hay rose $1.00 to $78.00 per ton from January and all other hay jumped $12.00 to $82.00 per ton. Mid-February grain prices were mostly higher than the previous month with winter wheat at $9.25 per bushel, durum wheat was $14.80 per bushel, spring wheat was $12.30 per bushel, feed barley was $4.07 per bushel, and malt barley was $3.55 per bushel. Livestock prices for the full month of January were mixed when compared with December 2007. Steer and heifer prices decreased $9.20 to $108.00 per cwt, cows rose $2.80 per cwt to $45.50, beef cattle rose $0.80 to $89.20 per cwt, but the price for calves was down $5.00 to $116.00 per cwt. Sheep prices rose $5.90 to $28.70 per cwt, but lambs decreased $1.00 to $103.00 per cwt. All milk prices decreased $1.20 from last month to $20.70 per cwt. Livestock prices for mid February were mostly higher with steer and heifer prices at $99.20 per cwt, cows were $51.60 per cwt, beef cattle were $91.60, calves were $119.00 per cwt, and all milk prices were $21.30 per cwt. Nationally, prices for January and changes from December were as follows: winter wheat was $7.78 per bushel, up $0.12, spring wheat was $7.99 per bushel, up $0.53, durum wheat was $13.20 per bushel, up $1.60, all barley was $4.34 per bushel, down $0.17, oats were $2.96 per bushel, up $0.27, steers and heifers were $93.40, down $1.70 per cwt, cows were $46.30 per cwt, up $1.40, calves were $117.00 per cwt, down $1.00, sheep were $31.90 per cwt, up $2.20, lambs were $97.50 per cwt, down $1.00, and all milk was $20.50 per cwt, down $1.00. The U.S. mid-February winter wheat price was $9.22 per bushel, spring wheat was $11.90 per bushel, durum wheat was $16.40 per bushel, malt barley was $3.97 per bushel, feed barley was $4.29 per bushel, and oats were $2.97 per bushel. Steers and heifers were $93.20 per cwt, cows were $49.70 per cwt, calves were $118.00 per cwt, all hogs were $41.90 per cwt, all eggs were $1.31 per dozen, and all milk was $19.30 per cwt. The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in February, at 145 percent, based on 1990-92=100, was unchanged from January. The Crop Index is up 1 point (0.6 percent) and the Livestock Index increased 1 point (0.8 percent). Producers received higher commodity prices for wheat, soybeans, corn, and hogs and lower prices were received for milk, lettuce, broccoli, and tomatoes. The overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Increased monthly marketings of milk, cattle, broilers, and eggs offset decreased marketings of corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton.

MONTANA AVERAGE FARM PRICES RECEIVED BASE MONTH: January 2008 U N I T     Monthly Average Change From Mid-Month Avg. MONTANA U.S. Prev Mo Prev Yr Montana U.S. Jan 2007 Dec 2007 Jan 2008 Jan 2008 Dec 2007 Jan 2007 Feb 15 2008 Feb 15 2008 Winter Wheat Durum Wheat Spring Wheat Wheat, All Barley Feed Barley Malt Barley Oats 1/ Bu Bu Bu Bu Bu Bu Bu Bu 4.52 4.73 4.61 4.58 3.15 2.94 3.19 2.84 6.25 10.60 7.29 6.94 5.01 4.73 5.15 na 6.65 10.10 8.00 7.20 4.50 4.77 4.22 3.06 7.78 13.20 7.99 7.93 4.34 4.85 4.11 2.96 0.40 -0.50 0.71 0.26 -0.51 0.04 -0.93 na 2.13 5.37 3.39 2.62 1.35 1.83 1.03 na 9.25 14.80 12.30 10.50 3.82 4.07 3.55 na 9.22 16.40 11.90 10.40 4.06 4.29 3.97 2.97 Alfalfa Hay All Other Hay All Hay Baled Ton Ton Ton 78.00 67.00 76.00 76.00 71.00 75.00 77.00 70.00 76.00 135.00 118.00 129.00 1.00 -1.00 1.00 -1.00 3.00 nc 78.00 82.00 78.00 138.00 122.00 133.00 Steer & Heifers Cows Beef Cattle 2/ Calves Sheep 3/ Lambs 3/ All Milk Cwt Cwt Cwt Cwt Cwt Cwt Cwt 93.80 44.80 85.50 113.00 35.50 97.60 14.40 108.00 42.70 88.40 121.00 22.80 104.00 21.90 98.80 45.50 89.20 116.00 28.70 103.00 20.70 93.40 46.30 87.30 117.00 31.90 97.50 20.50 -9.20 2.80 0.80 -5.00 5.90 -1.00 -1.20 5.00 0.70 3.70 3.00 -6.80 5.40 6.30 99.20 51.60 91.6 119.00 na na 21.30 93.20 49.70 87.80 118.00 na na 19.30 1/ Insufficient sales to establish a price. 2/ Composite of steers, heifers, and cows. 3/ Mid-month prices for sheep and lambs discontinued January 1996.

Top of Page