October 6, 2020

Ag Barometer Rises as Crop Prices Rally and USDA Announces CFAP 2

Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier review the results and give some insight into the September 2020 Ag Economy Barometer survey, a nationwide monthly survey of 400 ag producers. U.S. agricultural producers became more optimistic again in September as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed to 156, the highest reading for the index since the pandemic began last winter and 12 points higher than one-month earlier. The full report is available at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer.

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sentiment

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James Mintert

Michael Langemeier

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Livestock Sector Optimism Fuels a Modest Rise in Farmer Sentiment in October

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U.S. farmer sentiment edged slightly higher in October, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rising 3 points to a reading of 129. Farmers’ appraisals of current conditions highlight a “tale of two economies”: Livestock producers remain highly optimistic about their farm conditions, partly supported by record-high profitability in the beef sector, while crop producers report a more pessimistic view of the current situation on their farms due to low profit margins across major crop enterprises. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier review the results from the September Ag Economy Barometer and give their insights into farmer sentiment and the farm economy.

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