That isn't true of meat. Retail beef prices will be higher this year because of a combination of reduced supplies and the continued demand for the high quality beef cuts, USDA economist Annette Clauson said. U.S. Commodities Inc. There's no reason to see we're not going to continue that direction. Prices for broiler chickens, eggs and milk all are expected to be higher as well. It would be the smallest crop in 23 years.
Winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested the next spring.
Farmers have been planting more soybeans, partly to take advantage of favorable federal subsidies. The projected price declines likely will increase pressure on Congress to approve a fourth straight year of supplemental farm assistance. Farmers have been cutting back on wheat plantings for several years and switching to more lucrative crops such as soybeans. This year, much of the nation's winter wheat crop is in relatively poor condition. Oklahoma, which has been especially hard hit by drought, is expected to produce just 97.2 million bushels of wheat this year, down from 142.8 million in 2000.