James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer moved higher again in February. At 140 points, producer sentiment, which is based on monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the country, reached its second-highest level in more than two years of data collection. Sentiment is also higher for the…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier   After trending lower in late 2017, the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer turned higher in January. The monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the U.S. indicated that the measure of producer sentiment climbed to 135 points at the beginning of 2018, up 9 points from…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier   The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer drifted lower to a reading of 126 in December, the second month in a row that the barometer has declined. The Ag Economy Barometer is based on monthly survey responses provided by 400 agricultural producers from across the U.S. December’s barometer…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier   The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 7 points in November, signaling a slump in U.S. agricultural producers’ confidence compared to a month earlier. At a reading of 128, the measure of producer optimism in November was the second weakest observed during 2017 and stood just 4…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier   The latest measure of agricultural producer sentiment improved slightly during October to 135, its third-highest level since data collection began two years ago (Figure 1). Although stronger than a month earlier, the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer remained within the trading range it has been in since…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier   The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer September reading of 132 was unchanged compared to August. The monthly measure of agricultural producer sentiment – which is based on a monthly survey of 400 U.S. producers of corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and hogs – has…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer drifted lower in August to 132 points, down seven points from a month earlier, but still markedly stronger than a year ago when the index was just 95. The barometer, a sentiment index based on a monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers…

The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer turned higher in July, following several months of stagnation. The index of agricultural producer sentiment, which is based on a monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the country, reached 139 in July – its highest level since January 2017 and its second-highest level since data collection began…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier The Purdue/CME Group’s June survey of 400 U.S. agricultural producers indicates producers feel their farm operations’ financial positions are stronger now than a year ago (Figure 1). This shift in producers’ perspective is one reason why the Ag Economy Barometer’s June reading of 131 was virtually unchanged from…

Jim Mintert, David Widmar, Michael Langemeier Agricultural producers’ sentiment was unchanged in May from a month earlier. The latest reading of the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer – which is based on a monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the country – was 130 (Figure 1). The producer sentiment index has hovered near…