May Agricultural Prices Received
Released: May 30, 2008
For more information contact: Christel Pachl at 1-800-835-2612.
 
Montana's April 2008 full month crop prices were higher when compared with March 2008, according to USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Field Office. Winter wheat was $8.49 per bushel, up $0.23 from March, spring wheat was $9.69 per bushel, up $0.85, durum wheat was $15.80 per bushel, up $1.40, setting a new record high, feed barley was $4.55 per bushel, up $0.06, and malt barley was $4.72 per bushel, up $0.57.

The mid May price for alfalfa hay rose $10.00 to $99.00 per ton and all other hay increased $18.00 to $102.00 per ton. Mid May grain prices were mixed when compared with April. The winter wheat price was $8.30 per bushel, spring wheat was $10.50 per bushel, durum wheat was $12.40 per bushel, malt barley was $6.00 per bushel, and feed barley was $3.80 per bushel.

Livestock prices for the full month of April were mixed when compared with the previous month. Steer and heifer prices were $99.50 per cwt, up $2.70, cows were $50.90 per cwt, down $0.30, calves dropped $7.00 to $113.00 per cwt, sheep were $24.50 per cwt, up $5.00, lambs were $101.00 per cwt, up $1.80 and milk was $18.20 per cwt, down $1.20. Mid month May steer and heifers were $100.00 per cwt, cows were $54.80 per cwt, calves were $114.00 per cwt, and milk was $18.70 per cwt.

Nationally, prices for May and changes from April were as follows: winter wheat was $9.61 per bushel, down $0.39; spring wheat was $10.50 per bushel, down $0.50; durum wheat was $13.80 per bushel, down $1.60; the all barley price was $4.54 per bushel, up $0.37; steer and heifer prices were $91.60 per cwt, down $1.10; and calf prices were down $3.00 to $116.00 per cwt.

The U.S. mid May winter wheat price was $7.76 per bushel, spring wheat was $10.20 per bushel, durum wheat was $12.10 per bushel, all wheat was $8.80 per bushel, malt barley was $5.06 per bushel, feed barley was $3.98 per bushel, and all barley was $4.76 per bushel. Steer and heifer prices were $95.40 per cwt, cows were $53.10 per cwt, calves were $116.00 per cwt, all hogs were $44.10 per cwt, and all eggs were $0.88 per dozen.

The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in May, at 150 percent, based on 1990-92=100, increased 5 points (3.4 percent) from April. The Crop Index is up 4 points (2.4 percent) and the Livestock Index increased 5 points (3.9 percent).
 
MONTANA AVERAGE FARM PRICES RECEIVED

BASE MONTH:
April 2008		 U
N
I
T		     Monthly Average Change From Mid-Month Avg.
MONTANA U.S. Prev Mo Prev Yr Montana U.S.
Apr
2007		 Mar
2008		 Apr
2008		 Apr
2008		 Mar
2008		 Apr
2007		 May 15
2008		 May 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. 		4.79
5.57
4.82
4.87
3.28
2.91
3.35
2.32
 8.26
14.40
8.84
8.73
4.23
4.49
4.15
na
 8.49
15.80
9.69
9.26
4.65
4.55
4.72
3.74
9.61
13.80
10.50
10.00
4.54
4.65
4.48
3.48
 0.23
1.40
0.85
0.53
0.42
0.06
0.57
na
 3.70
10.23
4.87
4.39
1.37
1.64
1.37
na
 8.30
12.40
10.50
9.55
5.14
3.80
6.00
na
 7.76
12.10
10.20
8.80
4.76
3.98
5.06
3.46
Alfalfa Hay
All Other Hay
All Hay Baled 		Ton
Ton
Ton 		93.00
95.00
93.00
89.00
79.00
88.00
 89.00
84.00
88.00
 157.00
140.00
152.00
 0.00
5.00
0.00
 -4.00
-11.00
-5.00
 99.00
102.00
99.00
 177.00
134.00
166.00
Steer & Heifers
Cows
Beef Cattle 2/
Calves
Sheep 3/
Lambs 3/
All Milk		 Cwt.
Cwt.
Cwt.
Cwt.
Cwt.
Cwt.
Cwt.		 102.00
49.90
87.40
121.00
28.20
96.00
15.50
 96.80
51.20
91.30
120.00
19.50
99.20
19.40
 99.50
50.90
88.30
113.00
24.50
101.00
18.20
 91.60
50.50
86.60
116.00
28.80
99.40
18.00
 2.70
-0.30
-3.00
-7.00
5.00
1.80
-1.20
 -2.50
1.00
0.90
-8.00
-3.70
5.00
2.70
 100.00
54.80
86.00
114.00
na
na
18.70
 95.40
53.10
90.50
116.00
na
na
18.20
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.
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