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General Farm Management & Strategy

Why Are Farmers Less Confident Despite Higher Crop Prices?

Farmer sentiment fell in September, but the latest Ag Economy Barometer results point to more than a simple decline in confidence. Michael Langemeier and Joana Colussi discuss what’s driving the change and what farmers’ responses reveal about farm margins, input costs, farmland values and the outlook for agriculture.

Farmer Sentiment Falls as Input Costs Squeeze Farm Margins

Farmer sentiment fell in September as concerns about input costs increased. This AgBrief provides a quick look at the latest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer results.

Farmer Sentiment Drops as Concerns About Input Costs Increase

Farmer sentiment fell in September as concerns about input costs reached a record high. The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell from 135 to 123, while long-term farmland value expectations reached a new high.

Is Planting Technology Actually Valuable?

Does newer planter technology automatically translate into higher corn yields? A Purdue trial compared a 30-year-old planter with a modern planter to see what the technology difference actually meant for yield and farm economics.

Farmer Perceptions of AI Benefits in the United States and Argentina

Farmers in the United States and Argentina see different benefits from artificial intelligence and data-driven tools. A comparison of recent producer surveys highlights differences in perceptions of production, labor, risk management, and the practical value of AI on the farm.

Can AI Actually Help Me Make Smarter Farm Decisions?

What happens when a farm manager gives AI years of real production and financial data and asks it to challenge the assumptions behind major decisions? Joe Dykhuis joins the Purdue Commercial AgCast to share what AI found, what surprised him, and where he sees it fitting into farm management.

What’s Really Behind the Rise in Farmer Optimism?

Farmer sentiment rose again in August. But what’s really behind the improvement? Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier take a closer look at the August Purdue Univeristy-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer and discuss what they think is driving the changes in farmer sentiment. The Ag Economy Barometer rose from 126 in July to 135 in August, with most of the improvement coming from farmers’ expectations for the future. But producers remain cautious about current conditions and capital investments. Michael and Joana discuss what may be behind that disconnect, including the outlook for corn prices, farmland values, farm financial conditions and producers’ willingness to invest.

Farmers Feel Better About the Future. So Why Aren’t They Investing?

Farmers are feeling better about their financial future, but that optimism hasn’t translated into stronger plans for machinery and building investments. The August Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose to 135, and for the first time since June 2025, more farmers said they expect their financial situation to improve over the next year than said they expect it to worsen. But there’s a catch. The Farm Financial Performance Index has climbed from 90 at the beginning of the year to 103 in August, while the Farm Capital Investment Index fell to 45. So what’s keeping farmers cautious?

Farmer Sentiment Rises Again in August as Future Expectations Improve

Farmer sentiment improved again in August, but the details behind the increase are more interesting than the headline. The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 9 points to 135, marking its second consecutive monthly increase. The key driver was future expectations.

From the Farm to Purdue: What Josh Strine Wants to Understand About Farm Decisions

If you’ve followed Purdue’s Crop Basis Tool or the Center’s monthly basis updates, you’ve probably already heard from Josh Strine. After completing his PhD at Purdue, Josh is staying with the Center for Commercial Agriculture as a postdoc, where he’ll continue working on extension tools and research involving farm markets, technology and agricultural finance. In this episode, Josh talks about his path from growing up on a corn and soybean farm in central Ohio to agricultural economics and Purdue. He also explains what he hopes to explore next.

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