Top Farmer Conference: January 10, 2025

As one of the most successful and longest-running management programs specifically crafted for farmers, the Purdue Top Farmer Conference is a one-day event for agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals looking to navigate the complexities of today's agricultural landscape. Participants will have the opportunity to network with peers and hear from farm management experts and agricultural economists from Purdue, Farm Credit Services of America, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Acres, a land value data analytics company.

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Crops

Corn Was King: The Transition to Soy in U.S. Production Agriculture

Margaret Lippsmeyer presented during agri benchmark’s 2024 annual conference in mid June, which was hosted by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture in Valladolid, Spain. An increase in soybean acreage may come from either (a) shifting away from continuous corn rotations to corn-soy and (b) shifting corn-soy rotations toward corn-soy-soy. Based on agri benchmark data, Margaret showed that option (a) would require an increase in soybean prices of 6% and option (b) of 8% to make these rotations preferable over existing ones.

Stay Tuned for Possible Basis Swings This Summer

Since early May, Indiana corn basis has flattened or improved modestly, depending on the location. Corn basis levels throughout Indiana remain well below their three-year average.

Corn & Soybean Basis Continue to Strengthen Despite Being Significantly Weaker than Historical Basis Levels

In recent weeks, corn basis has continued to strengthen steadily at many locations across the eastern Corn Belt. For example, corn basis in central Indiana for the second week of May was $0.22/bu. under July ’24 corn futures. This is $0.13/bu. stronger than the first week of March.

Corn & Soybean Basis Steady to Slightly Stronger Across the Eastern Corn Belt

In recent weeks, corn basis has been steady to slightly stronger across much of the eastern Corn Belt. For example, corn basis in central Indiana for the second week of April was $0.18/bu. under May ’24 corn futures.

International Benchmarks for Wheat Production (2024)

Examining the competitiveness of wheat production in different regions of the world is often difficult due to lack of comparable data and agreement regarding what needs to be measured. To be useful, international data needs to be expressed in common production units and converted to a common currency.

Corn and Soybean Basis Continue to Steadily Strengthen at Most Eastern Corn Belt Locations

In recent weeks, many eastern Corn Belt locations have seen steady to slightly stronger corn and soybean basis levels. For example, corn basis in central Indiana for the first week of March was $0.24/bu. under May ’24 corn futures. This is $0.05/bu. stronger than the first week of February, but still about $0.18/bu. weaker than the historical 3-year average corn basis for the region.

International Benchmarks for Soybean Production (2024)

Examine the competitiveness of soybean production for important international soybean regions using 2018 to 2022 data from the agri benchmark network.

Making Your 2024 Crop Insurance Decision

Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture’s ag economists Michael Langemeier and James Mintert and Brad Lubben, policy specialist and extension associate professor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, walk participants through key considerations for their 2024 insurance options.

PLC or ARC: Making Your 2024 Farm Bill Program Price Protection Decision

Brad Lubben, policy specialist and extension associate professor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier for a discussion on key 2024 farm program details. They highlight differences between the PLC and ARC programs for the 2024 crop year and how benefits from the two programs are likely to differ. After listening to the podcast you’ll be ready to make your 2024 farm program choice.

The Outlook for Corn & Soybeans

Host Brady Brewer provides a recap of Dr. Chad Hart’s presentation on the 2024 agricultural crop market outlook at the Purdue Top Farmer Conference on the latest episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast. Dr. Hart, a professor and crop marketing specialist at Iowa State University, explores the shift to “normalcy” for crop prices and farm incomes in 2024.

Center for Commercial Agriculture