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General Farm Management & Strategy
Each year, numerous emerging technologies claim to boost your production, reduce input usage, or streamline your farm’s operations. However, the effectiveness of these technologies varies across different farms. Purdue ag economists James Mintert, Michael Langemeier, and Chad Fiechter examined how technology affects long-term farm growth and profitability, and share insights from farm financial records and farmer surveys during their 2025 Commodity Classic Learning Center Session on March 4, 2025. Watch the recording now!
Read MoreContingency plans related to how to respond to changes in projected cash flows are important. Given the expected drop in crop prices this fall and wide variability in expected prices, it would be prudent for a farm to examine the sensitivity of their cash flow and repayment capacity to changes in crop prices. Using a case farm in southwest Indiana, Michael illustrates how contingency plans could be used.
Read MoreU.S. farmer sentiment continued its upward trend in February, as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 11 points from the previous month to a reading of 152. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the February 2025 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted from February 10-14, in this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast.
Read MoreMichael Langemeier presented at the Ag Women Engage Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana on February 13, 2025, on flexible cash rent leases.
Read MoreU.S. farmers retained their post-election optimistic outlook at the start of the new year as the January Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index rose 5 points above a month earlier to a reading of 141. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the January 2025 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted from January 13-17, in this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast.
Read MoreThe Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture welcomed over 270 farmers and agribusiness professionals to the 2025 Purdue Top Farmer Conference on Friday, January 10th. The annual farm management conference provided a great networking opportunity for top producers and industry professionals. View photos from the event now.
Read MoreFarmer sentiment drifted lower in December as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 9 points to a reading of 136. The decline was driven by producers’ weaker perspective on current conditions in U.S. agriculture and their farms, with the Index of Current Conditions falling 13 points to 100. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the December 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted Dec. 2-6, 2024.
Read MoreThe continued increase in size of tractors, combines, and other machinery has enabled farms to operate more acres and reduce labor use per acre. However, this increase in machinery size also makes it increasingly important to evaluate the efficient use of machinery.
Read MoreIn this special edition of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Matt Erickson, policy specialist at Farm Credit Services of America, and Chad Fiechter, research director at Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture, join James Mintert to discuss their upcoming presentations at the Purdue Top Farmer Conference on January 10th. Erickson highlights the economic and policy issues under the new administration, including the impact of inflation, tariffs, and the farm bill. Fiechter introduces a new AI-powered app designed to help farmers easily calculate financial ratios using tax and balance sheet data.
Read MoreFarmer sentiment jumped again in November, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbing 30 points to a reading of 145. This marked the highest level of farmer optimism since May 2021. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the November 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted Nov. 11-15, 2024, the week following the U.S. presidential election.
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