Tyron Spearman takes a look at the highlights from the USDA Net Farm Income report which has recently been released.
Inflation Up, Food Prices Unchanged
Overall inflation over the last 12 months increased 2.1 percent, but food prices remain unchanged. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers was up .3 percent in December, with gasoline prices up three percent. But the food-at-home index fell 0.2 percent, its eighth consecutive decrease that reflects an overall 0.2 percent decrease over the …
Ag Producer Sentiment Improves in December
Producer sentiments took a post-election jump in the month of December. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer December reading of 132 marked the second straight monthly increase. That’s also the highest level since the survey began in October of 2015. The December mark was 16 points above the November mark and 40 points higher than October. Producers seemed optimistic …
Is 2017 A Turnaround Year For Farmers?
At least one company is predicting 2017 to be something of a turnaround year for farmers. A recent Ag Web Dot Com article said 2017 could see a “global supply pullback” that may give farmers some relief from lower commodity prices. MetLife Agricultural Finance says, “We expect a recovery in 2017 as global consumption rises and corn and soybean supplies …
Debt-To-Asset Ratios Projected to Climb 13%
Economists are watching the farm economy numbers closely. An Ag Web Dot Com article says they’re watching for signs as to the current downturn in the ag economy driving it into a similar spiral seen in the 1980s.