March 5, 2007

Corn, soybean prices continue to rise in US' Wisconsin state
 

February marks the sixth consecutive month of increasing corn prices in Wisconsin as the state's agriculture department reported price farmers received for their corn was up by 20 cents from last month or US$3.30 as of mid-February. This is the highest corn price the state's farmers have seen in over 10 years as the US average price was US$3.32, posting a 27 cent increase from January.

Wisconsin soybean prices jumped 65 cents to an average US$6.75 per bushel in mid-February. The U.S. price for soybeans was US$6.83 per bushel, a 45 cent increase from January.

Oats in Wisconsin sold for US$1.90 in mid-February, 2 cents per bushel below January's average price. At the national level oats held steady at an average US$2.19 per bushel.

Wisconsin's alfalfa hay sold for an average US$60.00 per tonne in mid-February, a US$5.00 increase from January. Nationally, alfalfa hay prices increased an average of US$2.00 to US$117.00 per tonne.

The Wisconsin all-potato price increased 20 cents per hundredweight (cwt.) in mid-February to US$7.80. The US average price increased 22 cents from January to US$7.28 per cwt. Prices for cows, steers and heifers, and beef cattle in Wisconsin all rose in early February. As of the middle of the month, the average cow price was up US$4.50 per cwt. to US$48.90. Steers and heifers sold for an average US$82.90 per cwt., a US$2.00 increase from January. Beef cattle prices rose to an average US$63.20 per cwt., up US$3.50 from the previous month.

At the U.S. level, cow prices were up US$2.10 to US$46.50 per cwt. Steer and heifer prices increased 90 cents to US$90.70 per cwt., and beef cattle prices rose US$1.50 per cwt. to an average US$85.80. In Wisconsin calf prices were down US$5.00 per cwt. in mid- February from the previous month. They sold for an average US$140.00 per cwt. Nationally, average calf prices were unchanged at US$115.00 per cwt.