WASHINGTON — The preliminary national average price received by farmers for all wheat in March was $5.85 per bu, up 6c from $5.79 in February but down $4.65 from the March 2008 average of $10.50, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its latest

The national average price received for winter wheat in March was $5.27 a bu, up 1c from February but down $4.69 from $9.96 in March 2008.

The average price paid for durum was $7.05 a bu, down 48c from $7.53 in February and down $8.35 from $15.40 in March 2008.

The price of spring wheat other than durum averaged $6.51 a bu in March, down 11c from $6.62 in February and down $4.39 from $10.90 in March 2008.

The average price received for rough rice was $15.50 a cwt, down 10c from $15.60 in February but up $1.90 from $13.60 in March 2008.

The preliminary index of prices received for food grains was 204 compared with the 1990-92 base of 100, up 0.5% from a revised February index of 203 but 33% below the March 2008 index of 306.

The March index for feed grains was 172, up 1.2% from a revised 170 in February but 14% below 200 in March 2008. The average price paid to farmers for corn in March was $3.96 per bu, up 9c from $3.87 in February but down 74c from $4.70 in March 2008. Farmers received an average of $5.54 per cwt for grain sorghum in March, up 49c from $5.05 in February but down $3.50 from $9.04 in March 2008. The average price paid for oats in March was $2.11 a bu, down 65c from $2.76 in February and down $1.32 from $3.43 in March 2008.

The U.S.D.A. index of March prices received for oil-bearing crops was 164, down 5.2% from 173 in February and down 20% from 205 in March 2008. The national average price paid to farmers for soybeans was $9.13 per bu, down 42c from $9.55 in February and down $2.27 from $11.40 in March 2008.

The March index for dairy products was 88, down 1.1% from a revised 89 in February and down 37% from 139 in March 2008. The average price paid for manufacturing grade milk in March was $10.90 per cwt, up 40c from $10.50 in February but down $7.40 from $18.30 in March 2008.

The egg and poultry index was 137, down 2.8% from 141 in February and down 14% from 159 in March 2008. The average price paid to farmers for all eggs was 82c per dozen, up 1c from February but down 56c from $1.38 in March 2008.