Lower beef prices cut survey total News-Chronicle Declines in beef prices linked in part to a mad cow disease outbreak in Washington helped lower prices in the monthly Farm Bureau Federation Market Basket Survey. The list of 40 items declined 75 cents from December to January as three beef items - a pound of ground beef, round steak and chuck roast - declined a total of 26 cents during the month. Retail beef prices had hit record highs in December. Pork prices were mixed, with ham up 7 cents a pound but pork chops down 14 cents a pound. Chicken and bologna prices also dropped. Butter prices were up from $2.42 to $2.61 a pound but other dairy prices were down slightly. The total for the 40-item survey was $76.09, down from $76.84 in December. The same items cost $72.70 in January 2003.