News Release

SIOUX FALLS, February 28, 2005 _ Preliminary February prices were up from last year for all livestock, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Office. Preliminary prices for most crops were down from last year, with the exception of sunflower and oats.

The preliminary February all beef cattle price, at $97.40, was up $1.50 from last month and up $17.40 from last year. Steers and heifers, at $103.00, were down $2.00 from January but up $16.40 from February of last year. Calves, at $131.00, were unchanged from last month but up $20.00 from February 2004.

The preliminary February all hog price, at $51.20, was down $2.90 from last month but $7.00 above from last year. Barrows and gilts were down $3.70 from last month but up $5.80 last year, while sows were up 30 cents from January and up $12.90 from February 2004.

The preliminary all wheat price for February, at $3.27, was down 9 cents from last month and down 54 cents from last year. The winter wheat price, at $3.05, was down 19 cents from last month and down 59 cents from last February. The spring wheat price, at $3.49, was 1 cent higher than last month but 37 cents lower than last year. The February soybean price, at $5.19, was 17 cents lower than last month and $2.89 lower than last year. The corn price, at $1.66, was down 9 cents from last month and down 83 cents from last year. The preliminary all sunflower price, at $13.90, was up 50 cents from last month and up $1.80 from last year.

The all hay price for February, at $60.00 per ton, was down $3.00 from January and was down $2.00 from last year. The alfalfa price, at $62.00 per ton, was down $3.00 from last month and down $2.00 from last year. The other hay price, at $48.00, was down $3.00 from last month but unchanged from February 2004.

 PRICES RECEIVED BY SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS

COMMODITY           UNIT     February    January    February 
                              2004 1/    2005 1/     2005 2/
                             - - - - - - DOLLARS - - - - - -
Corn                 Bu.       2.49       1.75        1.66
Soybeans             Bu.       8.08       5.36        5.19
Sunflowers           Cwt.     12.10      13.40       13.90
Wheat, All           Bu.       3.81       3.36        3.27
 Winter              Bu.       3.64       3.24        3.05
 Other Spring        Bu.       3.86       3.48        3.49
Barley, All          Bu.       2.26         NA          NA
 Malt                Bu.       2.26         NA          NA
Oats                 Bu.       1.53       1.68        1.61
Hay, All             Ton      62.00      63.00       60.00
 Alfalfa             Ton      64.00      65.00       62.00
 Other               Ton      48.00      51.00       48.00
Cattle, All Beef 3/  Cwt.     80.00      95.90       97.40
 Cows                Cwt.     47.50      51.50       51.80
 Steers & Heifers    Cwt.     86.60     105.00      103.00
Calves 4/            Cwt.    111.00     131.00      131.00
Hogs, All            Cwt.     44.20      54.10       51.20
 Barrows & Gilts     Cwt.     46.20      55.70       52.00
 Sows                Cwt.     31.10      43.70       44.00
Lambs                Cwt.    117.00     125.00          NA
Sheep                Cwt.     44.00      58.60          NA

1/ Entire month.  2/ Mid-month.  3/ Over 500 lbs.  4/ Under 
500 lbs.  NA = Not Available.