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Low crop prices, policy concerns weigh on farmer sentiment

An ag economist says producers remain concerned about the future of the farm economy, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

Michael Langemeier, director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture, says the index of current conditions fell to its lowest level since December 2024. 

“In mid-June, we were facing some very low crop prices,” he says. “I think that contributed to both the drop in the Ag Economy Barometer and the relatively low index for current conditions. Producers are not really confident about the policy environment in the next five years.”

He tells Brownfield more than 40 percent of this month’s survey respondents say high input costs continue to limit their profitability, but, “I think there’s some positive things happening right now that may boost sentiment at least in the short term. I don’t think it’s going to zoom up by any means, but I think it is possible to climb a little bit in the next month or two.”

The Barometer is a nationwide measure of the health of the U.S. agricultural economy and surveys 400 agricultural producers on economic sentiment each month.

AUDIO: Michael Langemeier, Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture