WASHINGTON — The preliminary national average price received by farmers for all wheat in December was $4.81 per bu, up 2c from November but down $1.14 from $5.95 in December 2008, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its latest Agriculture Prices report.

The average price paid for winter wheat in December was $4.49 a bu, down 11c from $4.60 in November and down 91c from $5.40 in December 2008.

The average price paid for durum was $4.87 a bu, up 25c from $4.62 in November but down $3.53 from $8.40 in December 2008. Spring wheat other than durum averaged $5.17 a bu in December, down 2c from November and down $1.72 from $6.89 in December 2008.

The average price paid for rough rice was $14.20, up 40c from $13.80 in November but down $4.40 from $18.60 in December 2008.

The December index of prices received for food grains was 169 compared with the 1990-92 base of 100, down slightly from a revised 170 in November and down 20% from 212 in December 2008.

The December index for feed grains was 155, down 1% from 157 the previous month and down 13% from 179 in December 2008. The average price received for corn in December was $3.59 a bu, down 6c from November and down 52c from $4.11 in December 2008. Farmers received an average of $5.86 a cwt for grain sorghum in December, up 19c from $5.67 in November and up 73c from $5.13 in December 2008. The average price paid for oats in December was $2.07 a bu, up 5c from November but down $1.05 from $3.12 in December of the previous year.

The U.S.D.A. index of December prices received for oil-bearing crops was 175, up 6% from 165 in November and up 2% from 172 in December 2008. The national average price paid to farmers for soybeans was $9.96 a bu, up 43c from $9.53 in November and up 72c from $9.24 in December 2008.

The December index for dairy products was 125, up 7% from a revised 117 in November and 5% higher than 119 in December 2008. The average price paid for manufacturing grade milk in December was $16.10 a cwt, up $1.10 from $15 in November and up 50c from $15.60 in December 2008.

The egg and poultry index was 138, up slightly from 137 in November but 7% below 148 in December 2008. The average price paid to farmers for all eggs was $1.05 a dozen, up 4c from November and up 5c from $1 December 2008.