WASHINGTON — The preliminary national average price received by farmers for all wheat in March was $7.24 per bu, up 14c from $7.10 in February but down 31c from $7.44 in March 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said its latest Agricultural Prices report.

The average price paid for winter wheat in March was $6.65 per bu, down 2c from $6.67 in February and down 37c from $7.02 in March 2011. The average price paid for durum was $9.21, up 26c from $8.95 in February and up $1.12 from $8.09 a year earlier. Spring wheat other than durum averaged $8.14 a bu, up 13c from $8.01 in February and up 7c from $8.07 in March 2011.

The average price paid for rough rice was $14.10 a cwt, up 30c from February and up $1.10 from $13 year earlier.

The March index of prices received by farmers for food grains was 230 compared with the 1990-92 base of 100, up 2% from 226 the previous month but down 1% from 233 in March 2011.

The March index of feed grains was 276, up 3% from 268 in February and up 20% from 230 in March 2011. The average price paid to farmers for corn was $6.48 a bu, up 20c from $6.28 in February and up 95c from $5.53 in March 2011. Farmers received an average of $11.30 a cwt for grain sorghum in March, up 50c from February and up 70c from $10.60 a cwt a year ago. The average price paid for oats in March was $3.58 a bu, up 12c from $3.46 in February and up 30c from $3.28 in March 2011.

The index of March prices received for oilseeds was 235, up 7% from 220 in February and up 3% from 228 in March 2011. Farmers received an average of $13.10 a bu for soybeans in March, up 90c from $12.20 in February and up 40c from $12.70 in March 2011.

The March index for dairy products was 133, down 2% from 136 in February and down 15% from 156 in March 2011. The average price for all milk in March was $17.40 a cwt, down 30c from $17.70 in February and down $3 from $20.40 in March 2011.

The March poultry and egg index was 174, up 8% from 161 in February and up 16% from 150 in March 2011. The average price paid to farmer for all eggs in March was 89c, up 5c from February and up 13c from 76c in March 2011.