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.

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 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.

Agricultural Prices Good For Producers In October

The agricultural prices indices statistical relaease from Defra for October 2010 shows prices received by producers for agricultural products increased slightly in October 2010 and purchase prices paid by producers for agricultural products excluding subsidies decreased slightly.

The prices indices for prices received by producers for cereals increased to 218.8 in October 2010 from 197.1 in September 2010. Industrial crops prices increased to 139.7 from 138.3. Fresh vegetables increased in price from 121.3 to 130.9. and the total index number for crop products was 166.2 up from 157.6 in September. Animals and animal products indices total was 139.7 from 139.2 in September 2010. The overall total was 150.6 up from 148.0.

Prices indices for prices paid by producers for agriculural products included seeds at 117.0 from 99.6, energy and lubricants 151.2 from 147.4, fertilizers and soil improvers decreased to 198.4 from 230.4. Plant protection products price index increased to 106.0 from 105.7. Animal feedingstuffs indices totalled 166.1 up from 163.3. The plant maintenance and repair index remained unchanged at 128.1. The maintenance and repair of buildings index increased slightly to 133.1 from 133.0. Veterinary services increased slightly from 132.8 to 132.9. Machinery and other equipment went up to 126.9 from 126.6. The total index for all goods and services contributing to investment decreased to 120.1 from 120.4. All means of agricultural production decreased from 140.7 to 136.9 in Octber 2010.