Farmer sentiment drifted lower in December as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 9 points to a reading of 136. The decline was driven by producers’ weaker perspective on current conditions in U.S. agriculture and their farms, with the Index of Current Conditions falling 13 points to 100. Although the Current Conditions Index declined this month, it remains 24 points above its low in September and 5 points higher than in October. The Index of Future Expectations also fell 8 points to 153, remaining 59 points above its September low and 29 points higher than the October reading. This month’s survey was conducted from Dec. 2-6, 2024.

The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. The full report is available at https://purdue.edu/agbarometer.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.

Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast181.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/5L6ypx9J8J0 to subscribe and watch.

This special edition of the Purdue Commercial AgCast features Matt Erickson, policy specialist at Farm Credit Services of America, and Chad Fiechter, research director at Purdue's Center for Commercial Agriculture. They discuss their upcoming presentations at the Purdue Top Farmer Conference on January 10th. Erickson highlights the economic and policy issues under the new administration, including the impact of inflation, tariffs, and the farm bill. Fiechter introduces a new AI-powered app designed to help farmers easily calculate financial ratios using tax and balance sheet data. 

Meet Matt and Chad and the rest of the speaker lineup for the Purdue Top Farmer Conference on January 10, 2025 at the Beck Agricultural Center in West Lafayette, Indiana. As one of the most successful and longest-running management programs designed specifically for farmers, Purdue’s Top Farmer Conference brings together some of the nation’s top experts to help you navigate the challenges of today’s agricultural economy. More details, the conference agenda and registration information are at http://purdue.ag/topfarmer.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture, https://purdue.edu/commercialag/.

Socials: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg, https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg 

If you are enjoying the podcast, tweet us using #AgCast.

Farmer sentiment jumped again in November, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbing 30 points to a reading of 145. This marked the highest level of farmer optimism since May 2021. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the November 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted Nov. 11-15, 2024, the week following the U.S. presidential election. Both of the barometer's sub-indices increased in November. The Future Expectations Index saw the largest jump, rising 37 points to 161, while the Current Conditions Index increased 18 points to 113. The November sentiment boost reflects growing optimism about a more favorable regulatory and tax environment for agriculture following the U.S. election. 

The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. The full report is available at https://purdue.edu/agbarometer.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.

Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast179.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/PlvesDCoYj8 to subscribe and watch.

Farmer sentiment saw an unexpected surge in October ahead of the upcoming U.S. election, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the October 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted from Oct. 14-18, 2024. The Barometer Index rose 27 points to 115, with increases in both the Current Condition Index and the Future Expectation Index. Key insights include farmers' improved optimism about 2025 despite high input costs and lower crop prices. Specific survey responses on financial conditions, investment plans, and farmland value expectations are discussed, alongside their potential influences, such as the upcoming election and policy concerns.

The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. The full report is available at https://purdue.edu/agbarometer.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.

Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast178.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/EV_0yPgTRnY to subscribe and watch.

Join Purdue ag economists Michael Langemeier, Todd Kuethe, and James Mintert as they discuss farmland rental agreements, with a focus on flexible cash rent leases versus traditional cash rental and crop share arrangements. They combine their comparison of  cropland flex leases to cash rental agreements with insights from the 2024 Purdue Farmland and Cash Rental Rate Survey. The discussion covers cash rental trends in west central Indiana, the economic factors influencing changes in rental rates, and the relationship between net returns to land and cash rental rates. They also discuss the benefits and challenges associated with flex leases, emphasizing the importance of clear agreements. The episode also provides an update on Indiana farmland values and points listeners to the array of farmland leasing resources available on the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture's website.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast177.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/87bpXxTwm58 to subscribe and watch.

For additional resources and publications on leasing, visit: https://purdue.ag/leasingland. The full August Purdue Agricultural Economics Report with 2024 survey results for farmland values and cash rental rates can be found by visiting: https://purdue.ag/paer.

To learn more about Indiana's 2024 farmland values, listen episode 173 for an in-depth understanding of trends, market dynamics, and future expectations for farmland values with professors Kuethe, Langemeier and Mintert: https://purdue.ag/agcast173 And learn more about Indiana's 2024 farmland cash rental rates by listening to episode 174: https://purdue.ag/agcast174

Socials: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg, https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg 

If you are enjoying the podcast, tweet us using #AgCast.

In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Chad Fiechter hosts Michael O'Donnell, a regional manager at Belltown Farms, who focusing on converting conventional farms to organic. The discussion highlights Belltown's operations across multiple states, emphasizing organic grain production. The conversation covers the strategies and challenges of transitioning conventional farms to organic production, the state of organic grain markets, and the impact of consumer trends on organic agriculture. Michael shares insights on crop rotations, equipment, personnel, and market demands, emphasizing the shift towards domestic organic grain production. The episode concludes with optimism for the future of organic farming and Michael's dedication to promoting sustainable agriculture.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. The transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast176.

Socials: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg, https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg 

If you are enjoying the podcast, tweet us using #AgCast.

In September, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded its lowest readings since March 2016. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the September 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted from Sept. 9-13, 2024. This month, the Ag Economy Barometer fell 12 points to 88, marking significant concerns among producers, especially crop farmers. The discussion highlights shifts in sentiment, the impact of input costs, declining income expectations and profitability, and a detailed look at farmland values and cover crop usage. Understand the current state and future expectations of the U.S. agricultural economy.

The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. The full report is available at https://purdue.ag/barometer108.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.

Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast175.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/JEONO4VdIuQ to subscribe and watch.

Join Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe, Michael Langemeier and James Mintert as they discuss farmland cash rental rates on this, the second episode of two episodes reviewing the 2024 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey results. Each June, Purdue's department of agricultural economics surveys knowledgeable professionals regarding Indiana's farmland and cash rental market. The trio of ag economists review survey results and long-term trends in Indiana cash rental rates, including an examination of regional variation in rates within Indiana. The discussion concludes by examining the relationship between cash rental rates and estimated net returns to land as well as the long-term farmland price to cash rent ratio.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast174.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/Kyt3uyqQeWY to subscribe and watch.

For the full August Purdue Agricultural Economics Report, visit: https://purdue.ag/paer.

To learn more about Indiana's 2024 farmland values, listen to the first podcast in this series (episode 173) for an in-depth understanding of trends, market dynamics, and future expectations for farmland values with professors Kuethe, Langemeier and Mintert.

Socials: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg, https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg 

If you are enjoying the podcast, tweet us using #AgCast.

Join Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe, Michael Langemeier and James Mintert as they discuss Indiana farmland values on this, the first of two episodes reviewing the 2024 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey results. Each June, the department of agricultural economics surveys knowledgeable professionals regarding Indiana's farmland and cash rental market. The 2024 survey results confirmed that the average value for Indiana farmland hit a new record high this summer. A number of forces, such as high interest rates and lower farm incomes, are placing downward pressure on prices, but the limited supply of land is keeping prices firm. The episode shares insights from the Farm Sector Balance Sheet, USDA data collection methods, regional variations in land values, and the influences of factors such as interest rates and development pressures on farmland prices. Gain an in-depth understanding of trends, market dynamics, and future expectations for farmland values.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast173.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/pMzDTXAJhFA to subscribe and watch.

For the full August Purdue Agricultural Economics Report, visit: https://purdue.ag/paer.

A second podcast on Indiana's 2024 farmland cash rental rates will be released later this month with discussion on cash rent with professors Kuethe, Langemeier and Mintert.

Socials: https://twitter.com/PUCommercialAg, https://www.facebook.com/PUCommercialAg 

If you are enjoying the podcast, tweet us using #AgCast.

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 also dropped 17 points to 83, while the Index of Future Expectations decreased by 11 points to 108. Weakening farm income prospects weighed on farmers’ sentiment as the outlook for a bountiful fall harvest was more than offset by declining crop prices. This month’s survey was conducted from Aug. 12-16, 2024.

The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the August 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey. The full report is available at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.