sd-crop-livestock PRICES RECEIVED News Release March 31, 2005 MOST CROP PRICES DOWN, WHILE ALL LIVESTOCK PRICES UP FROM LAST YEAR SIOUX FALLS, March 31, 2005 Preliminary March prices for most crops are down from last year, while all livestock prices for cattle and hogs are up from a year ago, according to USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Office. The preliminary all wheat price for March, at $3.51, was up 4 cents from last month but down 28 cents from last year. The winter wheat price, at $3.29, was up 10 cents from last month but down 31 cents from last March. The spring wheat price, at $3.67, was unchanged from last month but 23 cents lower than last year. The March soybean price, at $6.08, was 64 cents higher than last month but $3.06 lower than last year. The corn price, at $1.82, was up 6 cents from last month but down 84 cents from last year. The preliminary all sunflower price, at $14.20, was down 40 cents from last month but up $1.80 from last year. The preliminary March all hog price, at $52.80, was up $1.10 from last month and $4.80 above from last year. Barrows and gilts were up $1.50 from last month and up $4.80 from last year, while sows were down $2.30 from February but up $5.10 from March 2004. The preliminary March all beef cattle price, at $97.60, was up $2.00 from last month and up $17.60 from last year. Steers and heifers, at $102.00, were up $1.00 from February and up $12.10 from March of last year. Calves, at $136.00, were up $4.00 from last month and up $18.00 from March 2004. The all hay price for March, at $61.00 per ton, was up $1.00 from February but was down $1.00 from last year. The alfalfa price, at $63.00 per ton, was up $1.00 from last month but down $1.00 from last year. The other hay price, at $49.00, was up $1.00 from last month and up $1.00 from March 2004. Prices Received by South Dakota Farmers --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity :Unit: March : February : March : : 2004 1/ : 2005 1/ : 2005 2/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Dollars : : Corn :Bu. : 2.66 1.76 1.82 Soybeans :Bu. : 9.14 5.44 6.08 Sunflower :Cwt.: 12.40 14.60 14.20 Wheat, All :Bu. : 3.79 3.47 3.51 Winter :Bu. : 3.60 3.19 3.29 Other Spring :Bu. : 3.90 3.67 3.67 Barley, All :Bu. : 2.27 1.96 2.05 Feed :Bu. : 1.75 1.70 NA Malt :Bu. : 2.28 1.97 2.05 Oats :Bu. : 1.53 1.69 1.62 Hay, All :Ton : 62.00 60.00 61.00 Alfalfa :Ton : 64.00 62.00 63.00 Other :Ton : 48.00 48.00 49.00 Cattle, All Beef 3/ :Cwt.: 85.80 95.60 97.60 Cows :Cwt.: 49.00 52.30 57.50 Steers & Heifers :Cwt.: 89.90 101.00 102.00 Calves 4/ :Cwt.: 118.00 132.00 136.00 Hogs, All :Cwt.: 48.00 51.70 52.80 Barrows & Gilts :Cwt.: 49.20 52.50 54.00 Sows :Cwt.: 36.90 44.30 42.00 Lambs :Cwt.: 115.00 131.00 NA Sheep :Cwt.: 34.40 53.90 NA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Entire month. 2/ Mid-month. 3/ Over 500 lbs. 4/ Under 500 lbs. NA = Not Available The complete report can be accessed at www.usda.gov/nass/ or call Carter Anderson or Steve Noyes at 605-323-6500