Farm product prices on the rise

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

The StatsCan farm product price index (FPPI) report released today indicates prices farmers received for their crops increased more than 19 per cent in December 2007 compared to December 2006. Grains and oilseeds crop prices were largely responsible for this increase.

Farm returns from livestock and animal products, however, were 3.4 per cent below their December 2006 level, marking the seventh consecutive year-to-year decline for these commodities.

Rising prices for supply-managed dairy and poultry moderated a steeper drop in cattle, calf and hog prices.

The FPPI (1997 = 100) stood at 106.3 in December, up from a revised November index of 104.0.

The index did show an increase of 3.8 per cent in livestock and animal products over the previous month’s pricing with hog prices increasing 12 per cent after three consecutive months of double-digit decreases.

Nevertheless, December’s cattle and calf prices remained at their lowest level since November 2004, while hog prices were at their lowest level since January 1999. BF