Crop Basis Levels Finish Weaker Than Recent Years

September 6, 2024

Looking back on last year, the importance of understanding how basis affects your marketing plan is evident. Basis levels for corn and soybeans peaked at different times during the 2023-2024 marketing year. Preparing for the Fall 2024 harvest, basis levels continue to be below the three-year trend. To check your up-to-date local basis levels throughout harvest this fall, visit Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture Crop Basis Tool.

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Trends in Corn Plant Populations

September 5, 2024

Explore key trends in corn plant populations across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, revealing a steady 1 percent annual increase from 1996 to 2023. With Illinois leading the charge, corn populations rose significantly from 24,200 to 32,400 plants per acre, influencing both seed costs and farm budgets. Discover how understanding the interplay between seed prices and plant population can enhance your farm’s productivity and budgeting strategies.

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Weakening Farm Income Prospects Weigh On Farmer Sentiment

September 3, 2024

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. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the August 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey on this Purdue Commercial AgCast episode.

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Understanding Generational Differences Within A Family Business

August 9, 2024

Maria Marshall and Renee Wiatt join host Brady Brewer in this episode to discuss how the many generations of family engaged in a family business interact with one another. One of the challenges in a family business is understanding the differences in generational perspectives on the business and possible succession. This AgCast episode reviews results from a recent survey conducted across the Midwest which examines generational differences within farm families seeking to transition their businesses to the next generation.

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July Crop Basis Movement Varies Significantly by Region as Marketing Year Nears End

August 8, 2024

Through July, we have seen a wide variation in the movement of both corn and soybean basis across Indiana. In East Central Indiana, corn basis has stayed within a $0.04/bu. range over the last four weeks and is currently $0.01/bu. lower than during the first week of July.

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Comparing Net Returns for Alternative Leasing Arrangements

August 7, 2024

Obtaining control of land through leasing has a long history in the United States. Leases on agricultural land are strongly influenced by local custom and tradition. However, in most areas, landowners and operators can choose from several types of lease arrangements. Flexible cash lease arrangements provide a base cash rent plus a bonus which typically represents a share of gross revenue in excess of a certain base value or threshold.

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Farmer Sentiment Improves Despite Financial Performance Concerns

August 6, 2024

All three broad-based measures of farmer sentiment improved in July as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose 8 points to 113, the Index of Current Conditions increased by 10 points to 100, and the Index of Future Expectations at 119 was 7 points higher than a month earlier. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the July 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey on this Purdue Commercial AgCast episode.

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Agricultural Jobs & Labor Update

August 2, 2024

Labor availability and labor retention are big issues in the U.S. economy and that’s especially true for agribusiness firms and for commercial scale farm operations. According to the latest Purdue Agricultural Job Market Report, job postings are up by 50%. More employers are seeking entry-level candidates with higher levels of education. Additionally, it has become more common for employers to include salary information in their job postings as a way to encourage applications. In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, host Brady Brewer joins Josh Strine, a Ph.D. student in Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics, to discuss the Purdue Ag Jobs Dashboard.

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Conventional & Organic Enterprise Net Returns, FINBIN data from 2019 to 2023

July 12, 2024

This article summarizes net returns for conventional and organic crop enterprises using FINBIN data from 2019 to 2023. Organic corn and soybean enterprises had lower crop yields, higher crop prices and gross revenue, and higher net returns. However, there was a much wider difference in enterprise net returns among organic corn and soybean enterprises than there was among conventional corn and soybean enterprises.

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Corn & Soybean Basis Strengthen Through June & July

July 12, 2024

Depending on where you are located, Indiana corn and soybean basis have seen large swings in the last six weeks. For example, SE Indiana corn basis was -$0.13/bu. in the first week of June but was $0.03/bu. on July 10th. Unlike history suggests, the movement has generally been a strengthening in basis for both corn and soybeans.

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(Part 2) Indiana Farmland Cash Rental Rates 2023 Update, AgCast 142 video podcast thumbnail
(Part 1) Indiana Farmland Values 2023 Update, AgCast 141 video podcast thumbnail
Purdue Indiana Farmland Values & Cash Rental Rates Survey Report, Purdue Agricultural Economics Report: August 2023
2023 Farm Custom Rates for Indiana
Crop Insurance 2023 Decision text with James Mintert and Michael Langemeier's photos in front of a corn field at sunset used as thumbnail image for video of Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast episode

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