Home - Center for Commercial Agriculture

Managing Strategic Risks Series - Thumbnail feature image_youtube

2025 Purdue Top Farmer Conference

January 13, 2025

The Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture welcomed over 270 farmers and agribusiness professionals to the 2025 Purdue Top Farmer Conference on Friday, January 10th. The annual farm management conference provided a great networking opportunity for top producers and industry professionals. View photos from the event now.

Farmer Sentiment Drifts Lower While Producers Remain Optimistic About The Future

January 7, 2025

Farmer sentiment drifted lower in December as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 9 points to a reading of 136. The decline was driven by producers’ weaker perspective on current conditions in U.S. agriculture and their farms, with the Index of Current Conditions falling 13 points to 100. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the December 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted Dec. 2-6, 2024.

Benchmarking Crop Machinery Cost and Investment

December 20, 2024

The continued increase in size of tractors, combines, and other machinery has enabled farms to operate more acres and reduce labor use per acre. However, this increase in machinery size also makes it increasingly important to evaluate the efficient use of machinery.

Indiana basis strengthening slows to end 2024

December 20, 2024

It has been six weeks since the November Crop Basis Update was released. In that window, harvest has wrapped up across Indiana, and corn and soybean basis levels have been relatively stable compared to September and October. In all parts of the state, crop basis levels were higher on December 18th than they were on November 6th. This includes basis levels for Ohio River delivery points, ethanol plants, and soybean processors.

Ag Innovation & Policy Direction: A Preview of Upcoming Purdue Top Farmer Conference

December 11, 2024

In this special edition of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Matt Erickson, policy specialist at Farm Credit Services of America, and Chad Fiechter, research director at Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture, join James Mintert to discuss their upcoming presentations at the Purdue Top Farmer Conference on January 10th. Erickson highlights the economic and policy issues under the new administration, including the impact of inflation, tariffs, and the farm bill. Fiechter introduces a new AI-powered app designed to help farmers easily calculate financial ratios using tax and balance sheet data.

Prospects for Swine Feed Costs in 2025

December 10, 2024

Interested in recent trends in feed costs for farrow-to-finish and swine finishing enterprises, and projections for 2025? Average feed costs in 2024 were substantially lower than feed costs in 2022 and 2023. Moreover, a further reduction in feed costs is expected for the upcoming year.

Farmer Sentiment Following the U.S. Election Reaches Highest Levels Since May 2021

December 3, 2024

Farmer sentiment jumped again in November, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbing 30 points to a reading of 145. This marked the highest level of farmer optimism since May 2021. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the November 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted Nov. 11-15, 2024, the week following the U.S. presidential election.

Crop Budget Spreadsheet

November 12, 2024

This spreadsheet can be used along with the Purdue Crop Cost & Return Guide to examine gross revenue, costs, and earnings for crop enterprises. The user can evaluate up to three full-season crops, and the wheat double-crop soybean system. Updated February 2025.

Long-Term Trends in Pigs per Litter

November 12, 2024

Pigs per litter has increased at a rate of 0.107 pigs per year since 1994. Another way of stating the same thing, the annual growth rate of pigs per litter in the U.S. was 1.1 percent from 1994 to 2023. Continued improvements in production performance will help ensure the U.S. swine industry remains competitive.

Indiana Corn and Soybean Basis Rally Heading into November

November 8, 2024

In the month leading up to the most recent crop basis update, distinct trends in the Northern and Southern parts of Indiana were observable. Over the past three weeks, there has been a consistent basis strengthening across Indiana for both corn and soybeans. In every part of the state, corn and soybean basis were greater on November 6th than on October 10th. In most cases, this has meant that basis levels have exceeded the three-year average for the first time this year.