April 4, 2023

Commodity Price Outlook and Interest Rate Concerns Cloud Farmer Sentiment

Purdue ag economist James Mintert and Michael Langemeier break down the March Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer and share some insights into farmer sentiment. The Ag Economy Barometer fell 8 points to a reading of 117. Both the Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations declined 8 points in March leaving the Current Conditions Index at 126 and the Future Expectations Index at 113. This month’s survey was conducted from March 13-17, 2023.

The full report is available at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer

 

 

TAGS:

TEAM LINKS:

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

UPCOMING EVENTS

We are taking a short break, but please plan to join us at one of our future programs that is a little farther in the future.