WASHINGTON — The preliminary national average price received by farmers for all wheat in January was $5.90 per bu, down 7c from $5.97 in December and down $2.06 from the January 2008 average of $7.96, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its latest

The national average price received for winter wheat in January was $5.29 a bu, down 12c from $5.41 in December and down $2.46 from $7.75 in January 2008.

The average price paid for durum was $7.86 a bu, down 49c from $8.35 a bu in December and down $5.24 from $13.10 in January 2008.

The average price received for rough rice was $17 a cwt, down 50c from $17.50 in December but up $4.60 from $12.40 the previous year.

The preliminary index of prices received for food grains was 209 compared with the 1990-92 base of 100, down 1% from the revised December index of 210 and 16% below the January 2008 index of 248.

The January index for feed grains was 180, equal to the revised December level but 4% above 173 in January 2008. The average price paid to farmers for corn in January was $4.15 per bu, up 5c from $4.10 in December and up 17c from $3.98 in January 2008. Farmers received an average of $5.29 per cwt for grain sorghum in January, up 16c from $5.13 in December but down $2.11 from $7.40 in January 2008. The average price paid for oats in January was $2.30 a bu, down 80c from $3.10 in December and down 58c from $2.88 in January 2008.

The U.S.D.A. index for January prices received for oil-bearing crops was 178, up 4% from a revised 172 in December and equal to the January 2008 level. The national average price paid to farmers for soybeans was $9.92 per bu, up 68c from $9.24 in December but down 3c from $9.95 in January 2008.

The January index for dairy products was 106, down 11% from a revised 119 in December and down 33% from 157 in January 2008. The average price paid for manufacturing grade milk in January was $12.80 per cwt, down $2.70 from $15.50 in December and down $6.80 from $19.60 in January 2008.

The egg and poultry index was 149 in January, up 1% from 148 in December and January 2008. The average price paid to farmers for all eggs was $1.03 per dozen, up 3c from $1 in December but down 26c from $1.29 in January 2008.