WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The preliminary national average price received by farmers for all wheat in March was $7.66 per bushel, down 31¢ from $7.97 in February but up 46¢ from $7.20 in March 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest Agricultural Prices Report.

The average price paid for winter wheat in March was $7.47 per bushel, down 40¢ from $7.87 in February 2013 but up 77¢ from $6.70 in March 2012. The average price paid for durum was $8.05 per bushel, down 14¢ from $8.19 in February and down 34¢ from $8.39 in March 2012. Spring wheat other than durum averaged $7.86 per bushel, down 24¢ from $8.10 in February and down 18¢ from $8.04 in March 2012.

The average price paid for all rice was $15.30 a cwt, up 50¢ from $14.80 in February and up $1.20 from $14.10 in March 2012.

The March index of prices received by farmers for food grains was 246 compared with the 1990-92 base of 100, down 2% from 252 in February but up 7% from 229 in March 2012.

The March index of feed grains was 307, up 2% from 301 in February and up 13% from 271 in March 2012.

The average price paid to farmers for corn was $7.18 per bushel, up 14¢ from $7.04 in February and up 83¢ from $6.35 in March 2012. Farmers received an average of $12.30 a cwt for grain sorghum in March, up 20¢ from $12.10 in February and up $1.40 from $10.90 in March 2012. The average price paid for oats in March was $4.09 a bushel, up 4¢ from $4.05 in February and up 32¢ from $3.77 in March 2012.

The index of March prices received for oilseeds was 252, down 1% from 255 in February but up 8% from 233 in March 2012. Farmers received an average of $14.50 a bushel for soybeans in March, down 10¢ from $14.60 in February but up $1.50 from $13 in March 2012.