Ag Economy Barometer Remains Strong; Producers Concerned About Possible Changes in Estate Tax Policy

The April reading of the Ag Economy Barometer was 178, virtually unchanged from a month earlier when the index stood at 177 and just 5 points below its all-time high of 183, which was set back in October. Compared to March, however, there was a small change in producers’ perspective on the ag economy as they became more optimistic about the future, while their appraisal of the current situation waned. This month’s survey was conducted from April 19-23, 2021. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier review the results and give some insight into the April 2021 Ag Economy Barometer survey, a nationwide monthly survey of 400 ag producers, on this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast.