The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in October, at 145 percent, based on 1990-92=100, decreased 9 points (5.8 percent) from September. The Crop Index is down 17 points (9.8 percent) and the Livestock Index decreased 5 points (3.8 percent). Producers received lower prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, and cattle and higher prices for sweet corn, broccoli, lettuce, and eggs. In addition to prices, the overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Increased monthly marketings of soybeans, corn, cottonseed, and cotton offset decreased marketings of milk, wheat, sweet corn, and grapes.

The preliminary All Farm Products Index is up 4 points (2.8 percent) from October 2007. The Food Commodities Index, at 144, decreased 8 points (5.3 percent) from last month but was unchanged from October 2007.

Prices Paid Index Down 3 Points

The October Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 188 percent of the 1990-92 average. The index is down 3 points (1.6 percent) from September but 25 points (15 percent) above October 2007. Lower prices in October for diesel fuel, feed grains, feeder cattle, and LP gas more than offset higher prices for potash & phosphate materials, feed concentrates, mixed fertilizers, and other machinery.

Prices Received by Farmers

ALL CROPS: The October index is 157, down 9.8 percent from September but 5.4 percent above October 2007. Index decreases for feed grains & hay, food grains, oil-bearing crops, and potatoes & dry beans more than offset the index increase for commercial vegetables.

Food Grains: The October index, at 205, is 18 percent below the previous month and 14 percent below a year ago. The October all wheat price, at $5.79 per bushel, is down $1.64 from September and $1.86 below October 2007.

Feed Grains & Hay: The October index is 177, down 19 percent from last month but 20 percent above a year ago. The corn price, at $3.99 per bushel, is down $1.03 from last month but 70 cents above October 2007. The all hay price, at $157 per ton, is down $4.00 from September but up $29.00 from last October. Sorghum grain, at $5.75 per cwt, is $2.46 below September and 43 cents below October last year.

Cotton: The October index, at 100, is down 1.0 percent from September but 8.7 percent above last year. The October price, at 60.8 cents per pound, is down 0.3 cent from the previous month but 5.3 cents above last October.

Oil-Bearing Crops: The October index, at 153, is down 14 percent from September but 6.3 percent higher than October 2007. The soybean price, at $8.66 per bushel, decreased $2.04 from September but is 30 cents above October 2007.

Fruits & Nuts: The October index, at 164, is down 2.4 percent from September and 4.7 percent lower than a year ago. Price decreases for apples, grapes, and oranges more than offset price increases for grapefruit, pears, and strawberries.

Commercial Vegetables: The October index, at 181, is up 5.8 percent from last month but 7.7 percent below October 2007. Price increases during October for broccoli, lettuce, sweet corn, and onions more than offset price declines for snap beans, tomatoes, and carrots.

Potatoes & Dry Beans: The October index, at 142, is down 11 percent from last month but 37 percent above October 2007. The all potato price, at $7.86 per cwt, is down 93 cents from September but up $2.18 from last October. The all dry bean price, at $33.80 per cwt, is down $3.00 from the previous month but $7.90 above October 2007.

LIVESTOCK & PRODUCTS: The October index, at 128, is 3.8 percent below last month and 2.3 percent less than October 2007. Compared with a year ago, prices are lower for milk, cattle, and calves. Prices for broilers, hogs, eggs, and turkeys are up from last year.

Meat Animals: The October index, at 118, is down 4.8 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. The October hog price, at $50.70 per cwt, is down $2.00 from September but $8.30 higher than a year ago. The October beef cattle price of $88.60 per cwt is down $5.80 from last month and $2.30 lower than October 2007.

Dairy Products: The October index, at 135, is down 2.9 percent from a month ago and 18 percent lower than October last year. The October all milk price of $17.60 per cwt is down 60 cents from last month and $3.80 from October 2007. The fluid grade milk price declined 50 cents and the manufacturing grade milk price is 10 cents below the previous month.

Poultry & Eggs: The October index, at 149, is unchanged from September but 11 percent above a year ago. The October market egg price, at 88.9 cents per dozen, increased 3.3 cents from September and is 8.4 cents above October 2007. The October broiler price, at 45.0 cents per pound, is unchanged from September but 5.0 cents above a year ago. The October turkey price, at 64.6 cents per pound, is down 1.9 cents from the previous month but up 3.1 cents from a year earlier.