Farm Gate Prices Down In October

Defra's agricultural price index for all outputs fell by 1.27% in October. Inputs also fell by 1.39%. Prices were generally lower than the same time last year with outputs prices falling 9.7% and inputs prices falling 2.1%.

The price index for all crop products fell by 2.7%, fresh fruit fell by 1.36% and fresh vegetables fell by 5.11%. Maincrop potatoes fell by 11.2% and overall potatoes were down 13.5%.

Prices for animal feed fell in October with straight feed down 3.3% and compound feed down 0.1%.

API Down Due To Fall In Crop Prices

The agricultural price index for July 2014 for all outputs fell by 4.5% and for all inputs by 0.6%. The fall in the monthly price index for outputs was due mainly to the index for crops falling by 6.2% while the index for animals and animal products remained the same.

The prices are lower than the same time last year with the prices for all outputs down 9.3% and the prices for all inputs down 4.6%.

Farm Gate Prices Down In May

The agricultural price index for all outputs fell by 0.8% and the API for inputs fell by 1.4% in May 2014 according to a statistical bulletin from Defra. The prices are lower than the same time last year. The API for all outputs is 8.3% lower and the API for all inputs is 3.4% lower than last year.

All crop prices are down on last year at this time. The biggest differences in output prices are with potatoes (46%), fresh fruit (27%), cereals (18%) and fresh vegetables (18%). On the inputs side, energy and lubricant prices are down for the fourth month in a row. Prices fell by 0.3% in May and are 1% lower than a year ago. Animal feed is down 1.9% on the monthly comparison and 31% down on last year. Fertiliser prices are 2.9% lower in May and 9.1% lower than the same time last year.

API Prices Lower Than Last Year

The agricultural price index (API) for all outputs increased by 0.8% while the API for all inputs decreased by 0.4% in April. Prices overall are lower than last year. At the same time last year the price index was 7% higher than this yea for output while inputs were 4.2% higher.

On the outputs side all price indices for crops this year are lower mainly due to a supply shortage due to the poor harvest of 2012. Energy prices fell again. Feed prices increased by 0.7% over the month but are still 11% lower than last year. Fertiliser prices also fell by 2.2% in April but are still 9.1% lower than last year.

Agricultural Prices Down In March And Year

Prices for all outputs rose by 0.6% and the prices of all inputs was unchanged for March 2014. Prices are lower than the same last year. The price for all outputs was 6.9% lower than the same time year. The price for all inputs was 4.5% lower than the same time last year.

Crop prices are down slightly compared with last year. The poor harvest may have been to blame. Some crop prices are significantly down on last year: potatoes down 38%, fresh fruit down 23%, oilseed rape down 22% and cereals down 22%.

Strong demand for top quality fresh fruit led to a price rise of 7.7% in March. Cereals prices increased by 1.2% due to concerns over the future supply of cereals due to the political situation in the Crimea. An increase in global demand for oilseed rape and decrease in supply led to a price rise of 2.3% in March.

Sheep and lamb prices increased by 9.3% in March as supplies decreased pushing up prices. Lower levels of production of mutton and lamb than last year, down 1.8%, resulted in prices 8.7% higher than last year.

On the inputs side, energy and lubricant prices were 2.5% lower in March and 4% lower than last year. Feed prices increased by 0.5% but remain 12% down on last year. Straights rose by 2% due to increased cereal prices while compounds stayed the same.

The price of fertiliser rose by 0.4% in March but is still 8.2% lower than last year. Prices remain steady because most of the spring fertiliser market was already ordered.

API Indices Down On Last Year

The all outputs price index fell by 0.1% in February 2014 and is now 7.1% lower than the same time last year. All inputs price index increased 0.8% in February 2014 and is 4.3% lower than last February.

Sheep and lamb prices rose 5% in February and are 20% higher than last February. Demand at home and abroad and a weaker pound are making exports more competitive on the continent. Fresh fruit prices fell to 27% lower than last February and by 2.2% this February because of high prices due to short supplies after last years poor harvest.

Vegetable prices fell by 5.3% and are 8% down on last year. Cabbages, lettuce and carrots reported a significant fall in prices. The exception was cauliflowers which reported a 32% increase in price during February due to limited supplies which saw price rises.

Fertiliser prices rose 2.4% and are 7% lower than last year. Phosphates and potash prices are improving and nitrogen prices are increasing.

Milk Prices Contribute To Rise In API

The overall agricultural output price index increased by 2.3% in November, the first time it has risen since May 2013. Even though the API output price index rose this November from 118.1 to 120.7 it is still 2.4% lower than November last year. The API for all inputs fell by 0.2% from 112.9 to 112.7 and is 2.1% lower than last year.

The continued increase in milk prices was one of the main contributors to the rise in output prices. Both milk and milk products were still in global demand for the sixth month in a row. Prices are up 15% on last year. Cattle prices are continuing to fall after the high prices seen in the summer.

Input prices haven't changed much. Fertiliser prices are 18% lower than last year but expected shipments of straight nitrogen fertiliser from North Africa were delayed due to regional problems resulting in a slight rise in price.

Agriculture Sees Fall in API in August

The agricultural prices index published by Defra for all outputs fell by 2.5% in August but remains 0.6% higher than last year. The API for all inputs fell by 0.5% but is still 1% higher than last year.

All of the output price categories fell with the exception of milk. Cereals fell 9.7% and are 13% lower than last year, oilseed rape fell 8% and is 15% down on last year, potatoes are 8.8% lower than last year and vegetable prices are down 5.1% and 6% on last year. Livestock prices are 4% down in August but are still 5% higher than last year. Milk has seen a 2.2% increase in price in August and are 20% higher than last year.

On the input side animal feed has fallen in price by 7.2% reflecting falling prices in cereal and industrial crops. Motor fuel price increases of 2.7% have put them 2.3% up on last year.

Agricultural Prices Fall But Still Above Last Year

Farm gate prices fell by 6.2% in July but they remain 4.9% above last year's prices. Input prices also fell by 1.1% in July but they are also above last year's prices by 2.9%.

Output prices fell across the board in July except for forage crops. Cereals fell 8.3% due to a fall in demand as traders expect global production to rise, but prices are still 0.4% higher than last year. Global supply is also keeping the price of oilseed rape down. OSR prices fell 13% in July and are 11% down on last year.

Potato prices fell 46% on the month due to early potato prices which fell 8% as the season ended. Vegetables fell 13% and are 11% down on last year. Cauliflowers fell 57%. Increased supply, warm weather and low demand combined to bring the prices down.

Livestock prices were better as animal and animal products prices increased 0.2% on the month and 11% on the year. The rise was mainly due to a 1.9% increase in the price of milk which is 19% higher than last year.

Feed prices have seen a gradual fall of 2.4% over the last few months but they are still 12% above this time last year. Feed cereals saw the biggest fall in price with an 8.6% fall.

Agricultural Prices Up On Same Month Last Year

The agricultural price index for all outputs fell by 1.1% in June but on the annual comparison prices remain 10% higher than the same time last year. Input prices were 0.8% up in June and remain 5.4% up on the same month last year.

Early potato prices are up on last year and there was a slight increase on vegetable prices. Animal and animal produce prices increased 2.6% and are 8.7% higher than the same time last year.

Change To Defra's API Base Year

The first publication of the agricultural prices index using the new 2010 base year was published by Defra on 18 July 2013. Slight changes are expected when compared to the 2005 base year price series.

The agricultural price index for all outputs in May rose by 1% and remains 12% up on last year. The price index for all inputs fell by 1.2% in May and is 4.6% higher than last year.

All outputs prices increased 1% in May and 11.8% over the year. Crop products prices increased 1.1% on the monthly comparison and 17.7% on the annual comparison. Potato prices continue to rise due to low supply of last seasons potatoes and a late start to the harvest of new season potatoes. Fresh fruit prices fell 28% in May mainly due to a 32% fall in the price of strawberries due to an increase in supply. Vegetable prices did not change much. Tomato prices fell 20% due to increased supplies of imported tomatoes. Lettuce and onion prices increased as a result of reduced supplies. Animal and animal produce prices fell slightly by 1.1% but remain 6.4% up on the same time last year.

The prices of agricultural inputs fell 1.2% in May but remain 4.6% up over the year. Motor fuel fell by 3.5% and is therefore 6.9% lower than last year. Nitrogen prices are 14% down because of lower demand and retailers are reducing prices to increase sales. Animal feeds prices remained more or less stable (-0.4%) and 15.7% above prices last year.

Agricultural Output Prices Increase 14.5% Over The Year

The agricultural price index (API) for all outputs increased by 3.2% in March and by 14.5% on last year. The price index for all inputs fell by 0.1% in March but is up 9.7% on last year.

Crop outputs prices increased 2.8% on March and 27% on last year. Potato output prices continue to rise by another 14% in March and are more than twice the price of last year with an increase of 125%. Price rises were offset by a fall in cereals prices of 3.4% in March but over the year they are still 25% higher than last year. Animal and animal products prices increased by 4% in March and are 5.6% up on last year. Animal slaughter prices increased by 7.4% largely due to a 20% rise in sheep prices. They are however still 12% below last year's prices.

Prices for agricultural inputs have not changed much in March. The overall index changed only by a 0.1% fall. Over the year prices generally are up by 12%. The increase is due mainly to a 46% rise in the price of seeds and feed price increases of 16% both sets of prices being affected by the poor cereal harvest of 2012.

Farm Gate Prices Down In December

The prices farmers received for their products fell by 0.4% in December on November but is still 11.8% higher than last year. Farmers were also having to pay on average 3.2% more on the monthly comparison and 5.4% on the annual comparison for their goods and services. Main crop potatoes have almost doubled in price since December 2012 due to low yields and low quality. Cereal prices have grown by 10% from November and 38% on the annual comparison. Dessert apples' prices have increased by 9% on the month and 25% on the year. Sheep prices fell by 28% over the year due to higher volumes and cheap imports of sheep meat.

Agricultural Prices Down In October

In the Defra API outputs monthly series for October 2012 the total outputs index was 178.6 from 180.1 in September, a fall of 0.8% in the month but there was an increase of 8.7% over the year. In the inputs monthly series the index was 153 from 153.6 the previous month giving a -0.4% change in prices but an increase of 1.2% over the year. There was 0.7% fall in costs of goods and services currently consumed in production from 159.7 to 158.6 over the month.

The agricultural prices index (API) output prices are divided into major crops prices which increased 0.9% over the month giving an index of 201.7 (199.9=2011) and an increase of 0.9% (16.7%) and livestock and livestock products which increased to 162.3 (161.8) or 0.3% (2.5%). These prices reflect what farmers receive for their products.

Animal feed prices, which are a key indicator, showed a 6.3% change in the price of these inputs whereas prices for animal and animal products showed only a 2.5% change in the output price.

Input prices are divided into goods and services currently consumed (eg. fertiliser and seed) which had an index of 158.6 (159.7) or -0.7% (1.3%) and goods and services contributing to investment (eg. tractors and buildings) which had an index of 123.3 (123.1) an increase of 0.2% (0.6%). These are a reflection of the prices farmers have to pay for goods and services.

The outputs annual series index stood at 165.6 in 2011 (145.9 - 2010) with crop products at 152.3 (133.3) and livestock and livestock products at 154.7 (141.4). The inputs annual series stood at 151.2 in 2011 (135.6 - 2010) with goods and services currently consumed at 157.1 (139.1) and goods and services contributing to investment at 122.5 (118.9).

Agricultural Prices Increase In March

The latest national statistics produced by Defra on agricultural price indices in the UK were released recently and show that prices on the whole incrased between February and March 2012 and between 2010 and 2011. The monthly index of producer prices of agricultural products for March 2012 was 169 compared with 166.2 for February, an increase of 1.02%. The annual index for 2011 was 163.7 compared with 2010 when it was 144.9,a 1.13% increase. The monthly index of purchase prices of the means of agricultural production for March 2012 was 152 compared to February's 150.3, giving an increase of 1.01%. The annual index for 2011 was 151.2 up from 135.6 in 2010 or 1.12% increase.

Agricultural Prices Back To Normal

Agricultural producer and purchase prices were returning to normal in January after the traditional Christmas products prices seasonal peaks.

Onion prices were being affected by greater supplies and low demand and cauliflower prices have seen considerable rises caused by increased demand.

The monthly series index of producer prices of agricultiral products for the total of all products reached 162.7 in January from 162.4 in December 2011. The corresponding monthly series index of purchase prices of all means of agricultural production for January 2012 was 140.6 from 153.2 in December 2011.

Agricultural Producer Prices Up In March

In the monthly API of prices received by producers of agricultural products for March 2011 cereals went up to 251 from 247.9, industrial crops fell to 148.1 from 150.2 and fresh vegetables fell to 129.1 from 141.5. Seeds remained stable. Animal and animal products increased from 146.7 to 150.5 with animals for slaughter or export increasing from 150.4 to 156.4. The total of all products increased to 167.5 in March 2011 from 163.5 in February 2011.

Annual statistics for 2010 show cereals have increased to 171.8 from 150.1 in 2009, industrial crops to 138.8 to 132 and fresh vegetables to 131.9 from 113.9. The total of all crop products increased to 149.2 from 131.1. The total of all products index increased to 144.4 in 2010 from 136 in 2009.

Prices paid by producers for agricultural inputs in March 2011 included energy and lubricants increased in price from an index of 164.3 to 169.6, fertilizers and soil improvers increased from 223.6 to 227.9, plant protection products fell slightly from 103.7 to 103.6 and seeds remained stable. Animal feed fell from 191.6 to 188.7. Maintenance costs generally increased with repair of plant increasing to 132.1 from 131.3 and buildings from 136.7 to 137.4. Veterinary services costs remained stable at 123.9. Other goods and services fell considerably from 150.2 to the more usual 128.9. Machinery and other equipment increased slightly from 125.6 to 126.3 qand buildings from 130 to 132.5. The total for all means of agricultural production fell from 154.9 in February 2011 to 149 in March 2011.

In the annual series, the total of all means of agricultural production increased to 135.8 from 129.9. Within the total, there were increases in the prices of energy and lubricants which increased to 151.4 from 132.9 and animal feed which increased to 160.9 from 152.5. Maintenance costs increased from 121.5 to 126.9 for plant and 122 to 130.4 for buildings. Veterinary costs increased from 104.7 in 2009 to 118.8 in 2010. Machinery and equipment went from 122.1 to 125.3. Buildings increased to 126.9 from 120. There were some decreases. Fertilizers and soil improvers fell to 182.4 in 2010 from 189.8 in 2009 after the massive increases of 2008 (272.5) mainly due to price falls in compound fertilizers and the lime/chalk fertilizers and plant protection products fell across the board from 107.7 to 105.1.

Agricultural Prices

The agricultural prices index shows that in February 2011 producer prices for cereals went up to 247.9 from 239.9. Industrial crops also increased from 144.1 in January to 150.2 in February. The index for the total of all products increased from 159.4 to 163.5. The annual series for cereals shows an increase of 21.7 from 150.1 in 2009 to 171.8 in 2010 and from 132 to 138.8 for industrial crops (potatoes, sugar beet and oilseed rape) over the same period. Fesh vegetabes in creased from 113.9 to 131.9. The index for all crop products increased from 131.1 to 149.2. The index for animals and animal products increased from 139.4 to 141.1. The total of all products in 2010 was 144.4 compared to 136 in 2009.

The means of production also generally increased to in the month February 2011. Energy and lubricants increased slightly from 163.7 to 164.3, fertilisaers and soil improvers increased from 219.1 to 223.6 and plant protection products increased slightly from 103.3 to 103.7. The prices of seed remained unchanged. Animal feedingstuffs increased slightly from 191.2 to 191.6. There were increases in the prices involved in the maintenance and repair of plant and buildings but the proces of veterinary services remained the same. Machinery and other equipment increased by 0.1 to 125.6 buildings remained unchanged. The total for all means of agricultural production increased from 150.2 to 154.9.

Over the year 2009-2010 seed prices, fertiliser and soil improvement product prices, plant protection products prices fell slightly but energy and lubricants rose significantly from 132.9 to 151.4. Animal feedingstuffs prices also increased from 152.5 to 160.9. Prices for maintenance and repair of buildings increased and veterinary services rose from 104.7 in 2009 to 118.8 in 2010. Machinery prices increased as did the cost of buildings. All means increased from 129.9 to 135.8.

Increase In Agricultural Prices

Defra has released the Agricultural Prices Index series for August 2010. The API all products price index for prices received by producers for agricultural products increased from 137.6 in July to 142.0 in August. Cereals prices increased overall from an index of 144.6 to 176.6 with wheat, barley and oats all going up, industrial crops also increased from 157.9 to 163.8 with potato and oilseed rape prices increasing and sugar beet unchanged. Fresh fruit prices also increased but the prices index for fresh vegetables fell from 124.9 to 116.9. The overall crops products index increased from 138.8 to 146.3 but seed and other crop products remained the same. Calf prices fell but cows and bulls increased and cattle increased helping the animal and animal products index increase slightly from 136.6 to 138.2.

Prices paid by producers for agricultural inputs have also increased slightly from an index of 139.7 in July to 141.7 in August 2010. Seed prices and spray prices stayed the same over the month but fertiliser prices increased slightly from 245.1 in July to 248.6 in August. Energy prices increased slightly from 148.1 to 148.5. The cost of animal feedingstuffs increased from an index of 159.9 in July to 164.6 in August 2010 with significant increases in the prices of feed wheat and feed barley. The prices of goods and services of plant and buildings and veterinary services increased slightly overall. There was a slight increase in the price of machinery and equipment and farm buildings prices were unchanged. The index for all means of agricultural production increased by two points from 139.7 to 141.7.