Improved farmer sentiments from December carried into January based on the latest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index. The index rose again in January to a reading of 130, four points above its 2022 year-end index value, 34 percent above 2022’s lowest point last June.

Stronger ’22 income predictions have led to improved producer sentiment in Dec. moving the Perdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer up 24 points at year end.

The November mid-term election outcomes did little to swing farmer sentiment according to this month’s Perdue Ag Economy Barometer.

Farmer outlook feel in October according to Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer with the sentiment index weakening to a reading of 102.

The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index declined 5 points to 112 from September which was 5 points lower than a month earlier. Weaker sentiment regarding current conditions was the primary driver of this month’s decline in the barometer — Current Conditions Index declined to 109, 9 points lower than in August.

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer farmer sentiment index rose 14 points in August to a reading 117. The rise in the overall measure of agricultural producer sentiment was driven by increases in both the Index of Current Conditions, which rose nine points to 118 and the Index of Future Expectations, which climbed 16 points to 116. 

Farmer sentiment has improved marginally alongside current conditions and future expectations. However, these indexes are all still 23-24 percent lower than a year ago. Among the top concerns for producers are higher input prices, lower crop pricing, interest rates, and availability of units.

Agricultural producers are struggling with increasing concerns about future success as input costs continue to rise. Some farmers are expressing fears of input costs rising as much as 40% over 2021 and 20% or more heading into 2023. In May, the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell below 100 for the first time since […]

The Ag Economy Barometer improved in April, up 8 points to a reading of 121; however, it remains 32 percent below its reading from the same time last year.