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General Farm Management & Strategy

The 2024-25 Financial Downturn: Who is the Most Vulnerable

Midwest crop producers have experienced a significant downturn in corn, soybean, and wheat prices since the beginning of the year and farm incomes are expected to be much lower in 2024 than they have been the last three to four years. Moreover, current expectations are that prices will continue to remain at or below the cost of production for at least a couple more years. Consequently, a key question being asked is as follows: “who is the most vulnerable financially during this downturn”?

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Farmer Sentiment Reaches Lowest Levels Since 2016 as Income Expectations Weaken

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded its lowest readings since March 2016 in September. Declining income expectations pushed farmer sentiment down as the barometer fell 12 points to 88. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the September 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey on this Purdue Commercial AgCast episode.

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Connecting Soil Health to Economics: A Look at Balancing Farm Goals

Michael Langemeier presented at the Regional Conservation Finance Ag Educator Training in Arlington, WI on September 16, 2024, on connecting soil health to economics and looking at formulating and priortizing farm goals.

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The Economics of Reduced Tillage and Cover Crops: Exploring Aggregated Data

Michael Langemeier presented at the Regional Conservation Finance Ag Educator Training in Arlington, WI on September 16, 2024, on the economics of reduced tillage and cover crops.

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Weakening Farm Income Prospects Weigh On Farmer Sentiment

The August Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 13 points from July to a reading of 100, echoing levels seen from fall 2015 to winter 2016 during the early stages of a significant downturn in the U.S. farm economy. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the August 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey on this Purdue Commercial AgCast episode.

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Understanding Generational Differences Within A Family Business

Maria Marshall and Renee Wiatt join host Brady Brewer in this episode to discuss how the many generations of family engaged in a family business interact with one another. One of the challenges in a family business is understanding the differences in generational perspectives on the business and possible succession. This AgCast episode reviews results from a recent survey conducted across the Midwest which examines generational differences within farm families seeking to transition their businesses to the next generation.

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Comparing Net Returns for Alternative Leasing Arrangements

Obtaining control of land through leasing has a long history in the United States. Leases on agricultural land are strongly influenced by local custom and tradition. However, in most areas, landowners and operators can choose from several types of lease arrangements. Flexible cash lease arrangements provide a base cash rent plus a bonus which typically represents a share of gross revenue in excess of a certain base value or threshold.

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Farmer Sentiment Improves Despite Financial Performance Concerns

All three broad-based measures of farmer sentiment improved in July as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose 8 points to 113, the Index of Current Conditions increased by 10 points to 100, and the Index of Future Expectations at 119 was 7 points higher than a month earlier. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the July 2024 Ag Economy Barometer survey on this Purdue Commercial AgCast episode.

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Conventional & Organic Enterprise Net Returns, FINBIN data from 2019 to 2023

This article summarizes net returns for conventional and organic crop enterprises using FINBIN data from 2019 to 2023. Organic corn and soybean enterprises had lower crop yields, higher crop prices and gross revenue, and higher net returns. However, there was a much wider difference in enterprise net returns among organic corn and soybean enterprises than there was among conventional corn and soybean enterprises.

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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.

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