Prices farmers received for their crops rose...

Prices farmers received for their crops rose 3.1% last month, the biggest monthly increase in six months, with lettuce prices nearly tripling, tomato prices doubling and oranges significantly higher. Corn and soybean prices rose to the highest levels since June. The gains pushed prices 5.6% higher than a year ago--bad news for shoppers but welcome relief for growers. On the other hand, hog prices, which earlier had led farm price hikes, fell $8.10 per 100 pounds for the largest one-month drop in 12 years, the Agriculture Department said.