Ag Economy Barometer falls for second month; rising input costs causing concern for farmers

For the second month in a row, the Ag Economy Barometer declined sharply, falling to a reading of 137, which was 21 points below a month earlier, and the weakest ag producer sentiment reading since July 2020. Producers in June were less optimistic about both current conditions on their farming operations as well as their expectations for the future. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier review the results and give some insight into the June 2021 Ag Economy Barometer survey, a nationwide monthly survey of 400 ag producers. This month’s survey was conducted from June 21-25, 2021.