The August Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 13 points from July to a reading of 100, echoing levels seen from fall 2015 to winter 2016 during the early stages of a significant downturn in the U.S. farm economy. The Index of Current Conditions dropped 17 points to 83, while the Index of Future Expectations decreased by 11 points to 108. …
Slight Improvement in Farmer Sentiment
Farmer sentiment did see a slight improvement in July as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose 8 points to 113. The Index of Current Conditions was up 10 points to 100, and the Index of Future Expectations was 7 points higher than a month earlier. The July survey showed that high input costs remained the biggest concern for 34% of …
Farmer Sentiment Drifts Lower
In June, farmer sentiment drifted lower as high input costs, the risk of lower prices for their products, and rising interest rates continue to weigh on farmers. According to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, last month’s reading of 105 was 3 points lower than in May. The overall decline in sentiment was due to a 5-point drop in the …
Farmer Sentiment Recovers in May
According to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, U.S. farmers’ outlook improved in May as the index rose to 108, marking a 9-point increase from April. The Index of Future Expectations rose 11 points to 117 and the Current Conditions Index was up 6 points. This survey was conducted from May 13-17, 2024. The rise in crop prices played a …
Ag Economy Barometer Mostly Unchanged from April
The April Ag Economy Barometer was 178, virtually unchanged from a month earlier. Last month, the index stood at 177, and just five points below its all-time high of 183 set back in October. Compared to March, however, there was a small change in producers’ perspective on the ag economy as they became more optimistic about the future, while their …
Farmer Sentiment Improves in January
Farmers had more optimism about the agriculture economy in January than they had in previous months. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have concerns. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer says one of their biggest worries is farmland values. The January reading of 143 was a 16-point jump over December. The survey was the first opportunity to measure how …