ne-agri-facts Released: 06/02/2006 Issue 11/2006 NEBRASKA AGRI-FACTS USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Nebraska Field Office 100 Centennial Mall North, Suite 298, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508 Phone: 402-437-5541 E-mail: nass-ne@nass.usda.gov Internet: www.nass.usda.gov Mark Harris, Director Dean Groskurth, Deputy Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Nebraska Farmers, Ranchers and Agribusinesses: The following narrative and tables are from recently published reports by USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Board. These data are direct results of information provided by Nebraska producers and agribusinesses to the surveys conducted each month by this office. Thank you for your response to these surveys. Mark Harris Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prices Received By Farmers The preliminary United States All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in May, at 114, based on 1990-92=100, increased 1 point (0.9 percent) from April. The Crop Index is up 3 points (2.4 percent) but the Livestock Index decreased 1 point (1.0 percent). Producers received higher prices for lettuce, hogs, onions, and grapefruit. Lower prices were received for cattle, asparagus, tomatoes and eggs. The overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Increased average marketings of grapes, sweet corn, cantaloupe, and broilers offset decreased marketings of cattle, milk, calves, and apples. The preliminary All Farm Products Index is down 5 points (4.2 percent) from May 2005. The Food Commodities Index, at 115, increased 1 point (0.9 percent) from last month but decreased 7 points (5.7 percent) from May 2005. Prices Received: By Commodity, Nebraska and United States, Preliminary May 2006 with Comparisons Nebraska United States May April May 15, May April May 15, % of Parity Commodity Unit 2005 1/ 2006 1/ 2006 2005 1/ 2006 1/ 2006 Parity Price 2/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Dollars ------- ----- Dollars -------- -%- -Dollars- Wheat, All Bushel 3.20 4.01 4.25 3.31 3.81 4.07 39 10.40 Corn Bushel 1.93 2.00 2.05 1.98 2.11 2.17 28 7.76 Oats Bushel 1.66 1.88 1.80 1.64 1.75 1.76 41 4.31 Grain Sorghum Cwt 3.14 3.59 3.65 3.05 3.70 3.84 32 12.00 Soybeans Bushel 6.17 5.34 5.50 6.21 5.52 5.62 33 17.20 Hay, All, Baled Ton 48.00 57.00 59.00 107.00 106.00 114.00 Alfalfa, Baled Ton 48.00 58.00 60.00 116.00 110.00 118.00 Other, Baled Ton 46.00 51.00 52.00 75.40 93.20 96.80 Dry Edible Beans Cwt 23.10 17.10 17.00 31.10 19.00 22.80 42 54.80 Hogs Cwt 55.90 42.80 47.70 54.90 41.30 47.20 40 117.00 Barrows & Gilts Cwt 56.30 43.00 48.00 55.50 41.80 47.90 Sows Cwt 40.50 30.50 31.00 42.60 28.80 29.40 Beef Cattle Cwt 94.20 89.10 83.90 92.10 84.80 81.80 43 192.00 Steers & Heifers Cwt 95.20 90.40 85.00 96.10 89.30 85.80 Cows Cwt 62.70 48.20 48.20 58.30 48.50 48.00 Calves Cwt 148.00 134.00 128.00 143.00 135.00 132.00 49 267.00 Sheep Cwt 37.90 34.00 43.70 34.90 95.40 Lambs Cwt 113.00 91.40 114.00 86.80 232.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Entire month average except hay. 2/ Parity price based on data for May 2006. Source: USDA NASS Agricultural Prices May 31, 2006 Meat Animals Production, Disposition, and Income -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Production, Disposition, and Income: Cattle and Calves, Nebraska and United States, 2004-2005 Inventory, Supply, and Disposition 1/ : Production and Income Nebraska United States : Nebraska United States Item 2004 2005 2004 2005 : Item 2004 2005 2004 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousand Head : Inventory, : Production 4/ January 1 6,250.0 6,350.0 94,888.0 95,438.0 : Million lbs 4,392.3 4,509.8 41,497.2 41,578.3 Calf Crop 1,800.0 1,800.0 37,505.4 37,780.1 : Marketings 5/ Inshipments 4,000.0 4,050.0 21,398.7 20,841.2 : Million lbs 6,972.6 6,979.4 54,046.0 53,068.8 Marketings 2/ : Price per cwt. Cattle 5,453.0 5,393.0 45,049.2 43,798.0 : Cattle $ 88.70 92.30 85.80 89.70 Calves 85.0 85.0 9,116.3 8,918.3 : Calves $ 129.00 142.00 119.00 135.00 Farm slaughter 3/ 2.0 2.0 185.4 189.3 : Value of Production Deaths : Million $ 3,605.5 3,836.2 34,830.9 36,739.4 Cattle 85.0 95.0 1,710.8 1,717.7 : Cash Receipts 6/ Calves 75.0 75.0 2,292.4 2,334.5 : Million $ 6,196.9 6,458.3 47,507.0 49,208.7 Inventory, : Gross Income 7/ End of Year 6,350.0 6,500.0 95,438.0 97,101.5 : Million $ 6,208.3 6,470.1 47,934.7 49,668.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Production, Disposition, and Income: Hogs and Pigs, Nebraska and United States, 2004-2005 Inventory, Supply, and Disposition 1/ : Production and Income Nebraska United States : Nebraska United States Item 2004 2005 2004 2005 : Item 2004 2005 2004 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousand Head : Inventory, December 1 : Production 4/ Previous Year 2,900.0 2,850.0 60,443.7 60,974.5 : Million lbs 1,374.0 1,367.8 26,689.3 27,489.3 : Marketings 5/ Pig Crop (Dec - Nov) 6,204.0 6,327.0 102,780.5 103,858.1 : Million lbs 1,421.5 1,398.9 27,745.0 28,462.4 Inshipments 1,000.0 750.0 32,888.4 33,416.2 : Average Price : per cwt. $ 50.80 51.80 49.30 50.20 Marketings 2/ 7,008.0 6,846.0 127,562.9 129,056.0 : Value of Production Farm slaughter 3/ 1.0 1.0 113.7 108.6 : Million $ 8/ 716.6 730.0 13,072.0 13,643.6 Deaths 245.0 230.0 7,461.7 7,757.4 : Cash Receipts 6/ 8/ : Million $ 762.0 768.3 14,332.7 15,037.1 Inventory : Gross Income 7/ December 1 2,850.0 2,850.0 60,974.5 61,326.9 : Million $ 763.3 769.7 14,369.2 15,072.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Production, Disposition, and Income: Sheep and Lambs, Nebraska and United States, 2004-2005 Inventory, Supply, and Disposition 1/ : Production and Income Nebraska United States : Nebraska United States Item 2004 2005 2004 2005 : Item 2004 2005 2004 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousand Head : Inventory : Production 4/ January 1 9/ 102.0 97.0 6,105.0 6,135.0 : Million lbs 9.7 10.1 464.0 475.5 Lamb Crop 84.0 88.0 4,096.0 4,125.0 : Marketings 5/ Inshipments 47.0 51.0 1,477.6 1,511.1 : Million lbs 14.1 13.3 570.5 571.2 Marketings 2/ : Price per cwt. Sheep 27.0 20.0 695.0 670.7 : Sheep $ 37.60 43.70 38.80 45.10 Lambs 94.6 95.6 4,183.5 4,205.7 : Lambs $ 98.30 104.00 101.00 110.00 Farm slaughter 3/ 0.4 0.4 64.8 65.0 : Value of Production Deaths : Million $ 8.5 9.4 411.3 456.0 Sheep 4.0 4.0 215.3 216.0 : Cash Receipts 6/ Lambs 10.0 10.0 385.0 383.7 : Million $ 11.5 12.1 518.8 569.9 Inventory : Gross Income 7/ End of Year 9/ 97.0 106.0 6,135.0 6,230.0 : Million $ 11.7 12.2 530.6 582.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Balance sheet estimates. 2/ Includes custom slaughter for use on farms where produced and State outshipments, but excludes interfarm sales within the State. 3/ Excludes custom slaughter for farmers at commercial establishments. 4/ Adjustments made for changes in inventory and for inshipments. 5/ Excludes custom slaughter for use on farms where produced and interfarm sales within the State. 6/ Receipts from marketings and sale of farm slaughter. 7/ Difference between gross income and cash receipts equals value of home consumption. 8/ Includes allowance for higher average price of State inshipments and outshipments of feeder pigs. 9/ Includes new crop lambs. Source: USDA NASS Meat Animals Production, Disposition, and Income 2005 Summary, April 2006 Poultry: Layers and Eggs, Nebraska and United States, April 2005 with Comparisons Item 2005 2006 2006/2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Millions Percent Number of Layers Nebraska 12.0 11.8 98 United States 343.6 348.5 101 Table Eggs Produced Nebraska 263 257 98 United States 6,311 6,475 103 Chickens Hatched, April United States Egg-type 38.0 34.6 91 Broiler 792.2 787.1 99 Hatched thru April Egg-type 152.5 142.6 94 Broiler 3,138.3 3,141.4 100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: USDA NASS Chicken and Eggs, May 22, 2006 Livestock Slaughter: By Commodity, Nebraska and United States, April 2006 with Comparisons April 2006 Percent of Item Total 1/ April March 2005 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------Nebraska---------- 1,000 Head Cattle, head 548.0 101 98 Hogs, head 548.8 91 90 Red Meat, mil. lbs. 541.5 101 94 -------United States------- Cattle, head 2,607.4 102 91 Calves, head 47.5 77 80 Hogs, head 7,955.6 94 86 Sheep & Lambs, head 248.5 113 100 Red Meat, mil, lbs. 3,614.4 100 88 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Excludes animals slaughtered on farms. Source: USDA NASS Livestock Slaughter, May 19, 2006 Farm Labor: Number and Wage Rates for Type of Workers and All Hired Workers, Selected Regions and United States, April 10-16, 2005 & April 9-15, 2006 1/ -------------------Wage Rates------------------------- --------------Type of work------------- Number All Hired Field & Workers Workers Field Livestock Livestock Region 2/ 2005 2006 2005 2006 2005 2006 2005 2006 2005 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousands Dollars per Hour Lake 55 57 9.95 10.30 8.99 9.32 10.05 9.94 9.45 9.63 Cornbelt I 41 45 9.51 10.49 8.84 10.18 9.17 9.52 8.91 10.00 Cornbelt II 27 27 9.38 10.12 8.85 8.45 9.27 10.38 9.06 9.46 Northern Plains 27 27 9.70 9.84 9.33 9.67 9.69 8.64 9.46 9.25 Southern Plains 55 55 9.28 9.37 8.13 8.24 9.15 9.06 8.53 8.64 Mountain I 24 23 8.43 9.22 7.89 9.20 8.49 8.57 8.23 8.81 Mountain II 20 19 8.50 9.08 7.70 8.39 8.41 8.98 8.02 8.65 United States 753 718 9.35 9.79 8.56 8.96 9.14 9.30 8.72 9.07 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Excludes agricultural service workers. 2/ Regions consist of the following: Lake: Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin; Cornbelt I: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio; Cornbelt II: Iowa, Missouri; Northern Plains: Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota; Southern Plains: Oklahoma, Texas; Mountain I: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming; Mountain II: Colorado, Nevada, Utah. Source: USDA NASS Farm Labor, May 19, 2006 All Hired Workers: Wage Rates, by Economic Class of Farm by Region and 48 States, April 9-15, 2006 1/ Region 2/ Less than $50,000- $100,000- $250,000- $500,000- 1,000,000+ All $50,000 $99,999 $249,999 $499,999 $999,999 Farms ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dollars per Hour Northeast 10.61 9.46 7.90 9.89 9.36 11.61 10.60 Appalachian 7.84 9.65 7.32 8.13 9.48 10.16 9.20 Southeast 7.31 7.35 7.77 9.38 9.87 9.34 9.19 Lake 7.77 11.88 11.52 3/ 9.72 10.26 10.30 Cornbelt 10.70 9.36 7.02 9.28 9.15 10.04 10.36 Delta 8.08 8.68 8.71 7.95 8.86 7.74 8.00 No. Plains 9.63 3/ 8.86 8.54 9.60 10.79 9.84 So. Plains 8.12 9.62 8.99 11.49 7.89 9.83 9.37 Mountain 7.84 8.96 9.14 7.30 9.95 9.74 9.16 Pacific 11.15 10.18 9.67 10.53 10.04 10.12 10.16 48 States 8.83 9.78 8.56 9.71 9.59 10.08 9.77 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Excludes agricultural service workers. 2/ Regions consist of: Northeast: CT, DE, MD, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT. Appalachian: KY, NC, TN, VA, WV. Southeast: AL, FL, GA, SC. Lake: MI, MN, WI. Cornbelt: IA, IL, IN, MO, OH. Delta: AR, LA, MS. Northern Plains: KS, NE, ND, SD. Southern Plains: OK, TX. Mountain: AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY. Pacific: CA, OR, WA. 48 States: All States, excluding AK and HI. 3/ Insufficient data. Source: USDA NASS Farm Labor, May 19, 2006 Price Reactions After USDA Crop Reports ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Corn USDA Report Day After Report Week After Report and Price reaction Number Average Number Average of Reports Price Change Reports Price Change ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number Cents Per Bu Number Cents Per Bu Crop Production 1985-2005 Price Increases 40 4.8 52 7.2 No Price Change (NC) 16 NC 1 NC Price Decreases 49 -5.2 52 -10.0 Total 105 105 Grain Stocks 1984-2005 Price Increases 38 5.1 42 8.6 No Price Change (NC) 7 NC 5 NC Price Decreases 44 -4.5 42 -8.7 Total 89 89 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: USDA NASS Price Reactions After USDA Crop Reports, March 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ USDA-NASS Acreage & Hog Surveys Acreage and hog inventories, as well as almost all other statistics from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), are based on responses from commodity producers. These reports are the factual information all market participants use to make informed decisions in the buying/selling process. The table above shows the corn price reaction after the Crop Production and Grain Stocks reports are released. This table confirms that prices remain unchanged or rise as often as they decline after the USDA-NASS reports. The real value in these reports is the concrete information the market has to work with, not rumors or speculation. The greatest benefit of these reports is reduced volatility in the market for both seller and buyer. This reduced volatility, as a result of the factual supply information, can translate into higher market prices for sellers since the buyers risks are reduced. Only you, as a producer, can ensure that the reports are as accurate as possible by participating in the surveys conducted by USDA-NASS. If called or visited, please take a few minutes to respond. Mark Harris Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------