USA: Farm prices to have improved slightly in November 2005

The Index of Prices Received for All Farm Products in North Dakota for November stood at 118 percent of the 1990-1992 base, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service's North Dakota Field Office. This represents a two percent increase from last month, but a drop of six percent from last year, according to the Farm and Ranch report of December 8.

The October Index of Prices Received for all Farm Products, recalculated with full month prices was 120 percent of the base, down five percent from last year, but up three percent from September 2005. The All Crops Index stood at 116 percent, up one percent from last month but down seven percent from the previous year, while the All Livestock Index of 137 percent was 12 percent higher than last month and up five percent from this time in 2004.

Specific preliminary commodity prices for November were down slightly in most cases. Feed barley backed off nine cents to $1.35, while malting barley was up 14 cents to $2.30. At $1.70, corn was down 6 cents and soybeans fell 18 cents to $5.40 a bushel.

On a national basis, the All Farm Products Index was 113 percent up from last month's figure of 111 but down from November 2004's level of 115. The Crops Price Index stood at 104 percent, up one point from last month but nine points lower than last year's figure of 112. The Livestock Price Index dropped one percent from last month' figure of 122 but was two points higher than last year's rating.

09 December, 2005