The USDA’s Prices Received Index for April fell by 3.6 percent compared to March but remained 12 percent higher year-over-year. The livestock production index saw an eight percent decline from March but was up 18 percent from a year ago.
The crop production index rose 4.9 percent month over month but slipped 1.1 percent compared to April of last year. Farmers experienced lower prices for commodities like eggs, milk, lettuce, and hogs, while prices for cattle, broilers, strawberries, and calves increased.
According to the USDA report, “In April, there was decreased marketing of corn, cattle, soybeans, and hay, and increased monthly movement for strawberries, milk, broilers, and market eggs.”
Meanwhile, the Prices Paid Index in April climbed 0.5 percent from March and rose 5.8 percent year-over-year. Producers paid more for items such as feeder cattle, milk cows, nitrogen, and hay, while seeing lower costs for feeder pigs, wages, and complete feeds.
