About the Ag Economy Barometer

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 in October 2015 (Figure 1). Sentiment this summer among the nation’s agricultural producers is markedly more positive than during summer 2016, when barometer values ranged from the mid-90s to the low 100s. Continuing a trend that’s been underway for several months, the increase in the…

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 a month earlier (Figure 2). The Ag Economy Barometer, a producer-based sentiment index, has held steady for three months in a row and remains well above levels recorded prior to November 2016. The shift in producers’ perspectives regarding their financial positions is part of a…

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 130 for five of the last six months and remains considerably stronger than both last fall and a year ago.     While the broad measure of agricultural producer sentiment was unchanged in May compared to April, the Ag Economy Barometer’s two sub-indices diverged in…