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How Farmer Sentiment Compares in the United States and Argentina

Farmers in the United States and Argentina are facing many of the same pressures, but their outlook for the future is strikingly different. A new comparison of the two countries’ producer sentiment surveys finds a particularly wide gap in expectations for the crop sector and points to differences in farm income, policy and financial conditions that may help explain why.

Corn Basis vs. Soybean Basis: A Very Different August

Corn basis weakened across much of the Eastern Corn Belt in August, but soybean basis told a very different story. What changed heading into September?

Josh Strine breaks down the latest corn and soybean basis movement and highlights the markets that moved the most.

August brings late-summer weakening while Iowa soybean basis surges

Corn basis has weakened across much of the Eastern Corn Belt since late July, while soybean basis has taken a very different path. The biggest surprise? Iowa, where soybean basis strengthened sharply despite seasonal trends that pointed toward weakening.

Do Cover Crops Pay?

Michael Langemeier gave a webinar entitled “Does Cover Crops Pay?” as part of Soil Health Nexus Digital Café on August 19, 2026.

Why High Cattle Prices Don’t Guarantee Profits

Fed cattle prices are near record highs, but cattle finishing margins could remain under pressure through the rest of 2026 and into 2027. Michael Langemeier explains what’s driving the squeeze, from feeder cattle prices and feeding costs to historically high breakeven prices.

Comparison of Long-Run Rates of Return for Crop and Livestock Farms

Have crop farms or livestock farms generated better long-run returns? Michael Langemeier compares rates of return for beef, dairy, diversified, and crop farms from 2007–2025, revealing why recent livestock price strength hasn’t translated into a clear long-run advantage.

Does New Planter Technology Pay? What a Purdue Field Trial Found

Does upgrading to the latest planter technology actually improve a farm’s bottom line? A Purdue field trial comparing modern and 30-year-old planter technology found no measurable difference in corn yield but the economic value of newer technology may extend well beyond yield.

Which Farmland Lease Is Best? Fixed Cash Rent, Crop Share or Flexible Rent

The lease structure you choose can change your farm’s risk, cash flow and upside—even when long-run returns look surprisingly similar. So which farmland lease makes the most sense for you? This Purdue Commercial AgBrief compares fixed cash rent, crop share and flexible cash rent and shows how each performs under different market conditions.

Crop and Livestock Producers: Different Sentiment, Similar Concerns and Challenges

The latest Ag Economy Barometer shows livestock producers remain more optimistic than crop farmers, but both groups agree that marketing, input costs, and commodity prices are their biggest challenges.

Why Farmer Sentiment Improved in July

The latest Ag Economy Barometer shows farmer sentiment rebounding after three consecutive months of decline. In this month’s discussion, Purdue agricultural economists Michael Langemeier and Joana Colussi go beyond the survey results to explain what producers are thinking about the farm economy and the risks shaping their outlook.

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