January 5, 2021

Farmer Sentiment Rises As Income Prospects Improve, Concerns About Key Policy Issues Remain

Farmer sentiment improved modestly in December as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose to a reading of 174, up 7 points from November. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices, the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations, were higher in December than in November although the current conditions improvement was three-times the size of the future expectations increase. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier review the results and give some insight into the December 2020 Ag Economy Barometer survey, a nationwide monthly survey of 400 ag producers, on this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast. The full report is available at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer.

TAGS:

sentiment

TEAM LINKS:

James Mintert

Michael Langemeier

RELATED RESOURCES

Farmers Say Current Conditions on U.S. Farms Are Weakening

October 7, 2025

Farmer sentiment held steady in September, as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose just 1 point to a reading of 126. However, there was a shift in producers’ perceptions of current conditions and their expectations for the future. 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.

Crop vs. Livestock Sentiment: Perspectives from the Ag Economy Barometer

October 6, 2025

Given the large difference in prices received and projected net return prospects, it is not surprising to find a large difference in producer sentiment between crop and livestock producers in the August 2025 Ag Economy Barometer survey. In addition to differences in producer sentiment, larger percentages of crop producers expected to have larger operating loans in 2026, listed unpaid operator debt from the prior year as a reason for those larger loans, and were financially stressed.

Farmer Sentiment Weakens as Producer Confidence in Future Wanes

September 2, 2025

Farmer sentiment dipped again in August as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index fell 10 points to 125. Producers were markedly less optimistic about the future in August as the Index of Future Expectations dropped 16 points to 123. This was the lowest reading for the future index since last September. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share insights into the results of the August 2025 survey, conducted from August 11-15, in this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast.