SD-CROP-LIVESTOCK NEWS RELEASE United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service South Dakota Field Office - Sioux Falls, SD Media contact: South Dakota Office, 605/323-6500 Email: nass-sd@nass.usda.gov FEBRUARY PRICES RECEIVED MIXED SIOUX FALLS, February 28, 2006 -- Preliminary February prices were up from January for winter wheat, corn, and oats, according to the South Dakota Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Preliminary prices for barrows and gilts were up, while all beef cattle and calves were down. The preliminary all wheat price for February, at $3.69, was down 3 cents from last month but up 22 cents from last year. The winter wheat price, at $3.58, was up 2 cents from last month and up 39 cents from last February. The spring wheat price, at $3.81, was 4 cents lower than last month but 14 cents higher than last year. The February soybean price, at $5.28, was 22 cents lower than last month and 16 cents lower than last year. The corn price, at $1.80, was up 4 cents from last month and up 4 cents from last year. The preliminary all sunflower price, at $10.90, was down 60 cents from last month and down $3.60 from last year. The preliminary February all hog price, at $41.90, was up $1.10 from last month but $9.80 below last year. Barrows and gilts, at $43.20, were up $1.00 from last month but down $9.30 from last year, while sows, at $30.10, were down $1.20 from January and down $14.20 from February 2005. The preliminary February all beef cattle price, at $99.90, was down $3.10 from last month but up $4.30 from last year. Steers and heifers, at $106.00, were down $8.00 from January but up $5.00 from February of last year. Calves, at $142.00, were down $4.00 from last month but up $10.00 from February 2005. The all hay price for February, at $65.00 per ton, was up $2.00 from January and up $5.00 from last year. The alfalfa price, at $68.00 per ton, was up $3.00 from last month and up $6.00 from last year. The other hay price, at $55.00, was up $4.00 from last month and up $7.00 from February 2005. Prices Received by South Dakota Farmers --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity :Unit: February : January : February : : 2005 1/ : 2006 1/ : 2006 2/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Dollars : : Corn :Bu. : 1.76 1.76 1.80 Soybeans :Bu. : 5.44 5.50 5.28 Sunflower :Cwt.: 14.50 11.50 10.90 Wheat, All :Bu. : 3.47 3.72 3.69 Winter :Bu. : 3.19 3.56 3.58 Other Spring :Bu. : 3.67 3.85 3.81 Barley, All :Bu. : 1.96 NA NA Feed :Bu. : 1.70 NA NA Malt :Bu. : 1.97 NA NA Oats :Bu. : 1.69 1.64 1.80 Hay, All :Ton : 60.00 63.00 65.00 Alfalfa :Ton : 62.00 65.00 68.00 Other :Ton : 48.00 51.00 55.00 Cattle, All Beef 3/ :Cwt.: 95.60 103.00 99.90 Cows :Cwt.: 52.30 48.60 50.90 Steers & Heifers :Cwt.: 101.00 114.00 106.00 Calves 4/ :Cwt.: 132.00 146.00 142.00 Hogs, All :Cwt.: 51.70 40.80 41.90 Barrows & Gilts :Cwt.: 52.50 42.20 43.20 Sows :Cwt.: 44.30 31.30 30.10 Lambs :Cwt.: 131.00 103.00 NA Sheep :Cwt.: 53.90 48.40 NA --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Entire month. 2/ Mid-month. 3/ Over 500 lbs. 4/ Under 500 lbs. NA = Not Available Access this complete report at: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/price/pap-bb/2006/agpr0206.pdf