FARM FUEL PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE

The Farm Input Price Survey reports that the price of farm fuel continued to rise in March, while the price of some livestock products decreased.

According to the survey, the price paid for bulk gasoline rose by 6.1 per cent over February prices, while the cost of pump gasoline decreased by 2.0 per cent. The price of bulk diesel fuel remained relatively stable, rising by 0.9 per cent.

Price variability for fuel products was fairly high during March, ranging from 16 to 29 per cent. Prices for bulk diesel, pump gasoline and bulk gasoline reported in March were higher by 29.1 per cent, 22.5 per cent and 36.9 per cent respectively, than prices reported one year ago.

Prices for livestock products fell over the past month. Cobalt salt blocks realized a substantial price decrease of 6.8 per cent compared to February 2003, a drop of 4.6 per cent from one year ago. The cost of one-to-one minerals fell by 4.9 per cent from February 2003 prices, but increased by 7.4 per cent from prices reported in March 2002.

Price variability for livestock products in March ranged from 17 per cent for one-to-one minerals to 52 per cent for cobalt salt blocks.

The Farm Input Price Survey Report is produced monthly by Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization to provide producers with current information about prices paid for key crop and livestock production inputs.

The data used in the report is collected from a network of Saskatchewan farmers located throughout the province, with survey data gathered directly from producers' transactions. The monthly Farm Input Price Report is available on the Web at www.agr.gov.sk.ca/statistics/surveys.asp.

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For More Information, Contact:

Laurel Pilsner Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306)787-0574