Trends in seed costs are driven by both changes in seed prices and changes in corn plant populations. This article examines trends in corn plant populations in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. In addition, this article examines the proportion of seed costs per acre that are explained by changes in seed prices and plant populations.

Given that the U.S. stocks to use ratio is currently only 9.2 percent and continued questions related to U.S. corn acreage in 2021, there is tremendous uncertainty regarding corn prices for the rest of this year. To address this uncertainty, this article examines the impact of relatively high corn prices on feeding cost of gain for cattle finishing.

The April reading of the Ag Economy Barometer was 178, virtually unchanged from a month earlier when the index stood at 177 and just 5 points below its all-time high of 183, which was set back in October. Compared to March, however, there was a small change in producers’ perspective on the ag economy as they became more optimistic about the future, while their appraisal of the current situation waned.

Planning for the unexpected helps the farm business continue and thrive when life throws a curve. Dr. Maria Marshall and Renee Wiatt join Dr. Brady Brewer to discuss what is in a contingency plan, risks that a contingency plan can cover, and why having one is needed for a successful farm transition.

The rates reported in this publication were compiled from questionnaires received from farmers, farm owners, farm custom operators, and professional farm managers in Indiana. Purdue Extension educators and specialists developed the questionnaire. Purdue Educators distributed the questionnaires at meetings and events statewide during the last month of 2020 and the first three months of 2021.

Recorded April 12 | Purdue ag economists review USDA's April Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) reports.

The Ag Economy Barometer rose in March to 177, the highest reading for the barometer since the record high reading of 184 in October. Strong ag commodity prices and improved farm financial conditions continue to support the Ag Economy Barometer readings as we head into spring.

Purdue ag economists James Mintert, Nathanael Thompson, and Michael Langemeier focus on the corn and soybean outlook in light of USDA's March Prospective Plantings and Grain Stocks reports.

Purdue University agricultural economist Brady Brewer is joined by Purdue agricultural economist Nate Delay to discuss the value of your farm data in this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast. They discuss the types of farm data, the trust in sharing your data, and what price you'd put on that data.

Who can join the farm? And how? What terms are set on compensation if equity and contributions aren't equal? In this episode, our eighth in our Farm Transition Planning series, Purdue ag economists Brady Brewer and Michael Langemeier discuss agreements that are important in a farm business with Purdue Farm Transition team member Ed Farris. They talk operating agreements and common provisions, as well as buy/sell agreements.

It comes as no surprise that feed costs on hog operations have risen sharply since last summer. May 2021 Chicago Board of Trade corn futures prices hit their summer low settlement price last August at $3.46. In early March, May 2021 corn futures were trading near $5.40, an increase of over 50 percent in just…

Recorded March 10 | Purdue ag economists reviewed USDA's March Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) reports and provided implications for the upcoming crop year.