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WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The preliminary national average price received by farmers for all wheat in March was $7.63 per bushel, up 20¢ from $7.43 in February, mainly the result of a surge in spring wheat prices, and up $2.93 from $4.70 in March 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest Agricultural Prices report.

The average price paid for winter wheat in March was $6.82 a bushel, down 21¢ from $7.03 in February 2011 but up $2.37 from $4.45 in March 2010. The average price paid for durum was $8.58 a bushel, up 15¢ from $8.43 in February and up $4.01 from $4.57 in March 2010. Spring wheat other than durum averaged $8.61 per bushel, up 91¢ from $7.70 in February and up $3.57 from $5.04 in March 2010.

The average price paid for rough rice in March was $13.90 a cwt, up 70¢ from $13.20 in February but down 40¢ from $14.30 a year earlier.

The March index of prices received for food grains was 239 compared with the 1990-92 base of 100, up 3.5% from 231 the previous month and up 40% from 171 in March 2010.

The March index for feed grains was 227, down 2% from 232 in February but up 48% from 153 in March 2010. The average price paid to farmers for corn was $5.46 a bushel, down 18¢ from $5.64 in February but up $1.91 from $3.55 in March 2010. Farmers received an average of $10.10 a cwt for grain sorghum in March, down 80¢ from $10.90 in February but up $4.42 from $5.68 in March 2010. The average price paid for oats in March was $3.12 a bushel, down 15¢ from $3.27 in February 2011 but up 83¢ from $2.29 in March 2010.

The index of March prices received for oilseeds was 218, down 4% from 228 in February but up 31% from 167 in March 2010. Farmers received an average of $12.10 a bushel for soybeans in March, down 60¢ from $12.70 in February but up $2.71 from $9.39 in March 2010.