Commodity Prices Show Both Promise and Frustration

The monthly look at commodity prices in June is out and it shows that some growers will have some reason to smile.

Hay is up more than 20 dollars per ton from June of 2016 in Washington, but it’s down nearly $30 in Oregon. The milk price is up across the Northwest. And spring wheat has held steady or increased and topping $5 per bushel in Washington and Oregon.

On the flip side, winter wheat prices dropped significantly from a year ago, potato prices dropped 55 cents per hundredweight in Oregon and 15 cents in Washington. Barley growers also got more than 60 cents less per bushel than they did a year ago.

The trends in the Northwest mostly matched up with what was happening nationwide.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.