Farm Prices Fall 6.1% in December

The index of prices received by farmers for their crops and livestock dropped 6.1% in December compared with a year ago, the Agriculture Department said.

Falling prices for soybeans, cattle and cotton more than outweighed higher returns for milk, chicken, oranges and lettuce, the department said in a monthly report.

The All Farm Products Index, which reflects average mid-month prices for a seasonal mix of commodities, fell six points in December to 93.

Compared with November, the index was unchanged. In September, prices fell 9.3% from a year earlier.