AgCast by Purdue Commercial Agriculture

Join us in this episode as we dive into the latest USDA farm income forecast released in August 2023. Discover the factors behind a notable 23% drop in net farm income and gain insights into the impact on various commodities, from corn and soybeans to wheat, and even cow-calf operations. Stay informed about how the impact of rising inflation and increased farm input prices are influencing breakeve...

Producer sentiment was notably lower in August, as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index dipped 8 points to a reading of 115. This month’s decline was fueled by producers’ weaker perception of current conditions both on their farms and in U.S. agriculture. The Current Conditions Index fell 13 points to a reading of 108. The Future Expectations Index also declined, down 5 point...

Discover how interest rates impact farming decisions, machinery choices, and the value of farmland. In this ag credit update podcast, Purdue ag economists Brady Brewer and Michael Langemeier discuss recent inflation trends, interest rate trajectories, loan markets and the ripple effects at the farm. Projections from producers on the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer don't lin...

Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe, James Mintert and Michael Langemeier discuss cash rental rates for Indiana farmland in this, the second of two episodes discussing the 2023 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey results. Each June, the department of agricultural economics surveys knowledgeable professionals regarding Indiana's farmland and cash rental market. The 2023 survey results confirm...

Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe, James Mintert and Michael Langemeier discuss Indiana farmland values on this, the first of two episodes discussing the 2023 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey results. Each June, the department of agricultural economics surveys knowledgeable professionals regarding Indiana's farmland and cash rental market. The 2023 survey results confirm that the averag...

Agricultural producer sentiment improved slightly in July as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose two points above its June reading to an index value of 123. This month's Ag Economy Barometer survey was conducted from July 10-14, 2023.  The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. Purdu...

Farmer Sentiment rebounded on more optimistic view of future in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 17 points to a reading of 121. This month’s survey was conducted from June 12-16, 2023. The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michae...

Greg and Jacob Rowland discuss their family's farm operation near Campbellsburg, Indiana with Purdue's James Mintert. Rowland Farms has been in operation since the late 1930's and will be featured as part of the Purdue Farm Management Tour on July 11, 2023 in Washington county, Indiana. Greg and Jenny Rowland took over the operation in 1989 and for well over a decade have focused on improving soil...

Megan Vanliew and Jacquelyn Jansinski, daughters of Tom & Ruth Hackman, discuss their roles on the Hackman family's farm near Vallonia, Indiana with James Mintert. Hackman Family Farm Market is a diversified farm operation and will be featured as part of the Purdue Farm Management Tour on July 11, 2023. The Hackmans have augmented their row-crop operation with produce including sweet corn, waterme...

Soybean futures volatility increased sharply this week as futures prices responded to concerns about dry weather possibly impacting crop yields. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Nathanael Thompson discussed the updated soybean outlook on the latest Purdue Commercial AgCast video podcast. The Center's team reviewed this week's soybean crop condition ratings and possible implications for 2023...

Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Nathanael Thompson discussed the updated corn outlook following USDA's June World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report on the latest Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. The latest corn crop condition ratings were discussed along with implications for 2023 U.S. corn yield, production and carryover stocks. Corn export prospects were also featured with a...

Producer sentiment fell to its weakest reading since July 2022, as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index declined 19 points to a reading of 104 in May. This month’s survey was conducted from May 15-19, 2023. The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. Purdue ag economists James Mintert...

Farmer sentiment improved modestly in April as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reversed a two-month decline up 6 points to a reading of 123. This month’s survey was conducted from April 10-14, 2023. The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Mich...

Purdue ag economists Nathanael Thompson and James Mintert explore what's been taking place in the Eastern Corn Belt on corn basis, the May/July CBT corn spread, as well as the July/September CBT corn spread, and later discuss how you might pursue some marketing strategies for the remainder of the '22 crop that you might have in storage.  Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercia...

Farmer sentiment weakened again in March as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 8 points to a reading of 117. Both the Index of Current Conditions and Index of Future Expectations declined 8 points in March leaving the Current Conditions Index at 126 and the Future Expectations Index at 113. Weaker prices for key commodities including wheat, corn, and soybeans from mid-Februa...

On March 31st USDA released the Prospective Plantings and the March Grain Stocks reports, providing the first estimate of spring 2023 corn and soybean planting intentions. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier reviewed the information contained in both reports and discussed implications for the corn and soybean outlook in 2023. Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for...

The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index dipped 5 points in February to a reading of 125. Farmers’ perspectives regarding both current conditions on their farms and their expectations for the future both weakened. This month’s survey revealed that producers’ confidence in the future growth of U.S. agricultural exports continues to weaken. In addition, although both land value exp...

Farming is never the same from year to year - sometimes prices are good, net farm income is high, and other times margins are tight. Planning ahead, or contingency planning for financial hardship is important for any farm operation. In this final episode in the Farm Risk Management series, Purdue's Michael Langemeier and Ed Farris join Brady Brewer to discuss financial risk management. How to eval...

This episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast is a great opportunity for producers to review their crop insurance choices for the upcoming season. Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture's ag economists Michael Langemeier and James Mintert walk participants through key considerations for their 2023 insurance options. In particular, they discuss a handy thumb rule to use when considering...

Product, price, place, and promotion are important in marketing to current and potential buyers. In this episode, a continuation of the Farm Risk Management series, Ariana Torres, Renee Wiatt, and Jenna Nees join Brady Brewer to discuss contingency planning for marketing risk management.  This series is based on the Six Pillars of Farm Risk Management course, funded by the North Central Extension...

Farms and agribusinesses are confronted by many different types of risk in today's market, including social media. In this third episode in the Farm Risk Management series, Purdue University's Jenna Nees, Renee Wiatt and Ariana Torres join Brady Brewer to discuss social media's impact on businesses and how to build a contingency plan to protect your farm. This series is based on the Six Pillars of...

Purdue agricultural economists Nathanael Thompson, Michael Langemeier, and James Mintert discussed the corn and soybean outlook following USDA's February World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and provided implications for crop marketing strategies on February 10, 2023. Monthly Outlook provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Slides and the transcri...

Why should you think like a Chief Financial Officer (CFO)? Every farm needs someone to fulfill the CFO role, with or without the title of CFO. Sometimes the role of an accountant and CFO are confused. A CFO uses accounting information to help project what's going to happen on a farm, going well beyond the accounting function. Most farms already have a balance sheet in addition to cash income and e...

The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index  rose again in January, to a reading of 130, 4 points above its 2022 year-end index value. The January survey results also pushed the index 34% above its 2022 low point which occurred last June. The barometer’s modest rise in January was primarily attributable to better expectations for the future as the Future Expectations Index rose 5 po...

Basis is an important component for crop producers to consider when marketing grain because it is used to convert the futures price to a local cash equivalent. Futures prices and basis follow different seasonal patterns so the ability to manage futures price risk and basis risk independently creates an opportunity to improve returns. Join Purdue ag economists and co-creators of the Purdue Crop Bas...