Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wisconsin Commodity Price Changes Mixed in May

Wisconsin Ag News Headlines

Wisconsin Commodity Price Changes Mixed in May
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 06/03/2008

Wisconsin farmers saw increases in the prices they received for soybeans, oats, milk, steers and heifers, and cows in May. Prices for calves, corn, potatoes and hay were expected to decline.

As of mid-May, corn prices for the month are expected to average nine cents below April at $5.00 per bushel; however this is $1.50 above May 2007. Nationally, corn prices are expected to be $5.12 in May.

Wisconsin soybeans were estimated to sell for an average of $11.90 per bushel, 90 cents higher than April and $4.83 above last May. Nationally, soybeans were forecasted to average $12.30 per bushel in May. Oat prices continued increasing as well, bringing $3.60 in May, two cents above last month and $1.37 higher than last year. Nationwide, oats sold for $3.46 in May.

Alfalfa hay sold for $115.00 per ton, and other hay types sold for $80.00, both seeing $5.00 per ton decreases from April. Wisconsin potatoes sold for $9.30 per hundredweight, 10 cents below last month.

Wheat, barley, and hog prices are not published separately for Wisconsin, but nationally winter wheat sold for $7.76, an increase of $2.99 from last year. U.S. barley sold for $4.76 in May, $1.64 above last year. Hog prices averaged $54.10 per cwt., $1.00 above April 2007.

Wisconsin steer and heifer prices averaged $83.80 per cwt. in May, 80 cents above April. Cow prices increased $3.60 per cwt. to $53.80. Calf prices were down, averaging $12.00 per cwt. less than last month at $138.00.

At the U.S. level, steer and heifer prices are $2.70 less than a year ago at $95.40 per cwt. Cow prices, at an average of $53.10, were $1.40 above April of last year. Calf prices were down $8.00 to $116.00 per cwt.

Other Wisconsin Headlines