Quick Video Insights
Purdue Commercial AgBriefs
Make confident decisions, manage risk, and strengthen your farm business with our short weekly videos.
Episode 5
Corn and soybean basis trends are diverging across the Eastern Corn Belt. Corn basis has weakened relative to historical patterns, while soybean basis is tracking closer to seasonal averages. Josh Strine discusses regional production differences and highlights the importance of monitoring local basis levels heading into April with recent volatility.
Episode 4
Livestock producers reported sentiment nearly 40 points higher than crop producers in the February Ag Economy Barometer, reflecting stronger current margins in the livestock sector. Yet despite this divide, both groups share similar long-term strategies—about half plan to expand their operations over the next five years and many expect to bring another family member into the business. Michael Langemeier discusses what the latest survey reveals about producer confidence, investment plans, and long-term farm growth.
Episode 3
Michael Langemeier reviews the February 2026 Ag Economy Barometer (AEB) results and explains what they reveal about farm financial stress, expectations for the years ahead, and capital investment plans. Farmer sentiment continues to weaken as producers face high input costs, lower crop prices, and growing uncertainty about the future. Watch to evaluate your risk, adjust strategies, and plan for the future.
Episode 2
Joana Colussi compares soybean production costs and profitability between Iowa and Mato Grosso, using agri-benchmark data from 2020 to 2024. Brazil has gained a significant cost advantage in global soybean production in recent years. Watch to see what these structural differences mean for U.S. soybean producers.
Episode 1
Farm financial stress is increasing at the margin — and it shows up first in operating loans, working capital, and liquidity, not bankruptcies. Michael Langemeier breaks down new Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer data to identify early warning signs of financial pressure on farms and what those signals mean for farm management decisions.