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USDA: ag prices up in December

The USDA says producers made and paid more in December 2018 than in November. The index of prices received was up 1.8%, with a 4.2% increase in the crop index cancelling out a 0.4% decline in livestock. Prices were higher for cattle, corn, soybeans, and broilers, and lower for hogs, milk, oranges, and lemons. Monthly marketings were up for milk, broilers, oranges, and cotton, and down for corn, soybeans, calves, and grapes.

The USDA’s dairy prices index for December 2018 was down 3.5% from November and 4.7% from December 2017. The all milk price of $16.40 per hundredweight fell $.60 on the month and $0.80 on the year.

The index of prices paid was 0.2% higher, with increased costs for feeder pigs, complete feeds, hay, forages, and feed grains cancelling out decreases in feeder cattle, diesel, gasoline, and LP gas.

Year to year, the index of prices received was 2.4% lower, with a 3.4% gain in crops against a 7.6% drop for livestock, while the index of prices paid was 1.7% higher.

Monthly ag prices for January are out February 28th.