Purdue Ag Economy Barometer
‘Trump bump’ melts as farmer optimism wanes
Farmers are increasingly pessimistic about financial conditions in coming months, with Purdue’s Ag Economy Barometer dropping by nearly 18 percent since last January.
Farmer optimism is waning for U.S. economic growth
Only four in 10 of the farmers polled for Purdue's Ag Economy Barometer say they expect the U.S. economy to grow in the year ahead, down sharply from the post-election euphoria that drove the monthly barometer to a record high in January. "Additionally, uncertainty regarding the future of agricultural trade, which an overwhelming majority of producers regard as important, could also be a concern for farmers when they consider future prospects," said the Purdue economists who run the barometer.
Farmers optimistic at planting time though dubious about crop prices
Purdue’s monthly survey of producers reported a small uptick in farmer confidence with the arrival of the spring planting season despite an undercurrent of pessimism about what corn and soybean prices will be at harvest time.
Farmer optimism fades in step with expectations for the future
For the second month in a row, the Ag Economy Barometer declined, this time by 10 points, says Purdue University, based on a survey of 400 producers. Optimism zoomed with President Trump's election but has been on the decline since peaking at its highest-ever level in January.
‘Trump bump’ in farmer confidence deflates a bit
Producers are worried about economic conditions in the farm sector and forecasts of a continued slump in farm income are eroding their confidence about the future, say Purdue University economists. The Purdue Ag Economy Barometer fell by 19 points during February, taking some air out of the "Trump bump" in farmer confidence that began in November and lifted producer sentiment to a record high in January.
Farmers’ inflation fears fade
Seven out of 10 farmers expect a U.S. inflation rate below 4 percent this year, a sharp turn in sentiment from the start of 2023, when half of producers expected inflation to exceed 6 percent, said a Purdue University poll released on Tuesday. The most recent Consumer Price Index report pegged inflation at 3.1 percent.