This is the kind of research that comes along only once every five years, but it gives all of us unique insights into the goals and concerns of our nation’s large-scale producers.
Data from Purdue’s Large Commercial Producer Project is going to be featured at 2017 National Conference for Food and Agribusiness on Nov. 7 and 8 at its West Lafayette, Indiana, campus. The Large Commercial Producer Project, which is conducted every four years, provides insights on the preferences of large-scale producers when interacting with agricultural salespeople, retailers, lenders, and manufacturers. The project’s producer survey focuses on corn/soybean, wheat/barley, cotton, fruit/nut/vegetables, dairy, hog, and cattle producers across the United States.
The survey was first conducted in 1998, and topics have consistently focused on loyalty to input brands and retailers, among other things. A new element this year is a section on procurement. One question asked producers to identify how analytical they are when making purchasing decisions. Fifty-two percent said they are analytical decision-makers, while 12 percent said they make decisions intuitively.
“Large commercial producers’ purchasing behaviors have become more strategic than transactional,” said Michael Gunderson, associate center director and associate professor of agricultural economics. “They want to ensure that the critical farm inputs they need are available long-term at competitive prices.”
If you’re interested in attending the National Conference for Food and Agribusiness, which brings together professionals from across the agri-food industry, you can register here. Early bird registration is $1,195 per person through Aug. 31. Regular registration is $1,395 per person. Group rates are available.
