2020-12 PAER: Agricultural Outlook for 2021

December 9, 2020

Welcome to our annual outlook issue of the Purdue Ag Econ Report (PAER), where take a look back over the previous year and also a look ahead at the economic conditions we can expect for the agricultural sector for 2021.

This past year was filled with a lot of uncertainty in the agricultural markets. A lingering trade war, weather issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic, impacted prices and brought change to all parts of the agricultural value chain. These issues continue to impact the markets now and likely into 2021.

In the following PAER articles, Agricultural Economics Faculty at Purdue University provide insight on the critical issues facing farmers and the agricultural value chain in 2021.

 

Brady Brewer

Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics

Purdue Ag Econ Report Contributor & Editor

Articles in this Publication:

Farmland Values and Cash Rent

Trade Policy Outlook: What should we expect from a Biden Administration?

2021 Agricultural Credit Outlook

An uncertain horizon for farm policy

The Dairy Marketplace: Reflections on 2020 and factors to watch in 2021

Retail Food Price Outlook

2021 Purdue Crop Cost and Return Guide

Providing Some Perspective on the Corn and Soybean Markets

The General Economic Outlook

Latest Articles:

The April 2026 CPI and PPI Reports: The Food Price Pipeline Is Opening Purchasing Power Under Pressure for Second Consecutive Month

May 18, 2026

The conflict’s direct impact on farm profitability in the 2026 crop year is likely to be modest and uneven. A more significant farm-level reckoning is coming in 2027 if Strait of Hormuz restrictions persist into the fall 2026 input purchasing and spring 2027 planting cycles.

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Food Prices – 2026

May 15, 2026

Hubbell and Balagtas examine data from 2025 and explain the factors that drove changes to food prices. Looking forward, they discuss projections for food prices in 2026 and the policies and events that will affect them.

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Do Federal Medicaid Outlays Cause Redistribution Across U.S. Counties? Evidence from the ACA

May 15, 2026

Medicaid expansion represents a major injection of federal dollars into local economies. This new brief from Montenovo highlights research on the role of ACA expansion in directing federal funds toward high-need, low-income U.S. counties.

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