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General Farm Management & Strategy

Cover Crop Net Returns and Soil Health Improvements

Cover crops offer measurable soil health benefits, but their financial impact varies depending on yield performance and input cost savings. This article uses scenario analysis to examine how producers can evaluate conservation practices alongside profitability and other farm goals.

Beyond the Headlines: May Ag Economy Barometer Insights & Implications

The May 2026 Ag Economy Barometer showed farmer sentiment weakened for the second consecutive month, but the headline only tells part of the story. Rising input costs, uncertainty about farm profitability, and concerns about the broader economic environment continue to weigh on producer outlooks. In this extended discussion, Michael Langemeier and Joana Colussi share what the survey results may mean for farm profitability, investment decisions, farmland values, labor challenges and producer views on AI (artificial intelligence) in agriculture, and the direction of the U.S. economy.

Input Costs Remain Farmers’ Top Concern | May 2026 Ag Economy Barometer

Farmer sentiment slipped again in the latest Purdue University–CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, with producers continuing to point to one dominant issue shaping their outlook. High input costs remain the #1 concern—and they’re influencing everything from investment decisions to expectations for 2026.

Farmer Sentiment Slips Again as High Input Costs Remain Top Concern

Farmer sentiment dropped again in May as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined from 121 points in April to 119. The Current Conditions Index fell by 8 points, while the Future Expectations Index increased by 1 point. The percentage of respondents who listed high input costs as their biggest concern was 51% in May, reaching a new high.

Explaining Differences in Farm Growth Expectations

New research from Purdue’s Ag Economy Barometer shows major differences between farms expecting to grow and those planning to stay the same size. The findings reveal how sentiment, financial outlook, risk tolerance, and investment expectations shape future expansion decisions.

Cutting Herbicide Costs? Here’s the Risk Farmers Miss

Herbicide program costs across Indiana vary widely due to differences in geography, weed pressure, and resistance management. In this Purdue Commercial AgBrief, Madisen Carns and Chad Fiechter explain how farmers are adapting weed control strategies across northern, central, and southern Indiana. The video highlights the growing importance of residual herbicides, layered programs, and long-term resistance management in protecting profitability and reducing operational risk.

Examining Tradeoffs between Conservation and Profitability

Conservation practices can improve soil health, reduce erosion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions—but they also create important profitability tradeoffs for commercial farms. This article explores how farms can evaluate competing goals such as conservation, profitability, and risk management using scenario analysis and long-run planning tools. Comparing practices like no-till, cover crops, and adding winter wheat to rotations, the analysis highlights why some conservation practices gain wider adoption than others and why long-term benefits often matter more than short-term economics.

AgCast 218: Farmer Sentiment Is Falling Amid Higher Input Costs

Farmer sentiment declined in April—the pressure on the farm economy is intensifying. In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier break down the April 2026 Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. We go beyond the report to unpack what’s happening behind the data—why costs are rising, how it’s affecting break-even prices and investment decisions, and where ag economists see the farm economy heading into 2026/27.

Farmer Sentiment Declines | Input Costs, Risk & 2026 Outlook

Farmer sentiment rose sharply in March, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer increasing 11 points as future expectations improved. Yet nearly 70% of producers still say it’s a bad time to invest, citing ongoing pressure from high input costs and weak output prices.

Farmer Sentiment Declines in April Amid Input Costs and Availability Concerns

Farmer sentiment declined in April with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, falling from 127 in March to 121. The drop reflects weaker confidence in current conditions, declining expectations for future performance, and continued concerns about input costs, availability, and global uncertainty. The Farm Capital Investment Index also fell to its lowest level since October 2024, signaling reduced willingness to make large investments. With two-thirds of producers expecting lower farm income in 2026 and many anticipating higher corn break-even prices, the report highlights growing financial pressure across U.S. agriculture.

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General Farm Management & Strategy

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