AgCast by Purdue Commercial Agriculture

Adding to our series about Farm Transition Planning, in this third episode, we discuss how to evaluate if the farm can add an employee. As a farm expands, it is important to evaluate the feasibility of adding an operator and/or hired employees as well as the feasibility of purchasing or renting additional land, and machinery and equipment. Purdue agricultural economists Michael Langemeier and Brad...

Purdue University agricultural economists Todd Kuethe, James Mintert, and Michael Langemeier breakdown the results from the Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey conducted in June 2020 and compared that with USDA’s recent Land Values report. The annual Purdue Farmland Value and Cash Rent Survey is conducted by the department of agricultural economics and produced through the cooperation of...

Farmer sentiment in July was virtually unchanged from a month earlier as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose just one point to a reading of 118. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier review the results from the July 2020 Ag Economy Barometer survey, a nationwide monthly survey of 400 ag producers. The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer small...

Following our episode about Farm Transition Planning, we now take a closer look at some of the key areas of forming and executing a farm succession plan. To kick this series off, Purdue Agricultural Economists Michael Langemeier and Brady Brewer cover the topic of transitioning management of a farm from one generation to the next. From goals and objectives, strategy considerations, to how best to...

Purdue agricultural economists Michael Langemeier and James Mintert provide an updated corn and soybean outlook featuring information from USDA’s July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and updated crop condition information. Also included are estimated 2019 and 2020 ARC-County and PLC payments, 2020 corn and soybean profitability estimates and some insights into marketi...

On this episode, Purdue ag economist Nathan Thompson joins Jim Mintert to discuss corn and soybean basis in the Eastern Corn Belt. Learn about the Crop Basis Tool, which is updated weekly, to forecast basis and provides regional corn and soybean basis information for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. They conclude with a look ahead to 2020 corn and soybean basis and provide marketing suggestio...

Farmer sentiment improved for the second month in a row, rebounding from sharp declines that took place in both March and April. Purdue ag economist James Mintert reviews the results from the June 2020 Ag Economy Barometer, a nationwide monthly survey of 400 ag producers. The improvement in farmer sentiment left the Ag Economy Barometer 7 percent below one year earlier, while the Index of Future E...

Utilizing cover crop treatments can have significant agronomic benefits for a farm. However, implementing this technology introduces additional costs. On this episode, Purdue agricultural economists Brady Brewer and Ph. D. student, Megan Hughes, evaluate the relationship between applied nitrogen and corn yield, and how this relationship is impacted by introducing three different species of cover c...

Maria Marshall, professor and director of Purdue's Institute for Family Business, joins Brady Brewer to discuss farm succession planning. They answer why it's important to start planning both a management and an ownership transfer ahead of time, who to have on your team of advisors, and the things you can do to start to prepare. The resources discussed in this episode can be found at the Purdue In...

There is a lot of talk about “big data” in agriculture these days. The farm of the future is said to use multispectral imagery, soil and micro-climate sensors, equipment telematics data, and GPS to drive yield-enhancing decisions. Purdue ag economists, Nate Delay joins Brady Brewer to discuss how farms actually collect, manage, and analyze data during today's episode. Find more information on farm...

Purdue agricultural economists Michael Langemeier and James Mintert provide an updated ag outlook, which includes information from USDA’s June World Ag Supply & Demand (WASDE) report along with updated profitability estimates for corn and soybeans. The podcast also addressed questions regarding eligibility for and assistance provided by USDA's CFAP program.

Farmer sentiment improved slightly in May after falling sharply in both March and April. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier review the results from the May 2020 Ag Economy Barometer survey, a nationwide monthly survey of 400 ag producers. The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reading in May was 103; the 7 points improvement from April left the gauge of farmer...

Beginning May 26th, USDA's Farm Service Agency is accepting applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) from producers who have suffered losses. Indiana FSA Director Steve Brown and staff join Jim Mintert for a discussion on eligibility requirements, payment rates and application details of the 2020 CFAP program. Find more information on this program at https://purdue.ag/CFAP.

Purdue agricultural economists Brady Brewer and Todd Kuethe discuss the farmland market during today's episode. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented year 2020 is presenting, Todd talks about what has been happening in farmland pricing, sales, policy, and interest rates. He discusses where he thinks the market is headed and may look like over the next 3-5 years.  Find more information o...

Purdue agricultural economists Michael Langemeier and James Mintert provide updated information from USDA’s May World Ag Supply & Demand Estimates (WASDE) release along with updated profitability estimates for corn and soybeans as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

As cash flows from the farm operation become tighter due to COVID-19 and weaker commodity prices, it is necessary to find other funds to help pay for asset purchases or delay asset purchases, and to repay debt. On this episode, Purdue agricultural economists Michael Langemeier and Brady Brewer discuss contingency planning, a course of action designed to help a business determine how to respond to...

COVID-19 has sent shock waves throughout the world, challenging every aspect of life. During this time of great tragedy and uncertainty, the concepts of communication, distance, work, food, and even shopping are suddenly being redefined. Purdue ag economists Allan Gray and Brady Brewer examine many aspects of agricultural business from the design of supply chains to impacts on consumer buying beha...

Agricultural finance topics such as farm income, equity, debt, federal reserve policy, bank positioning, and credit analysis are covered. Purdue ag economists Jason Henderson and Brady Brewer discuss the current agricultural finance conditions affecting farms and agricultural lenders.

Coronavirus concerns, commodity price declines, and supply-chain disruptions sink producer sentiment to a three-year low. Purdue ag economists Michael Langemeier and James Mintert discuss the April Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The Ag Economy Barometer is based on responses from 400 U.S. agricultural producers and this month’s survey was conducted from April 19-24, 2020. Learn...

Pork and beef packing plant shutdowns along with reductions in demand from the hotel, restaurant, and institutional sector have disrupted U.S. meat and livestock markets. Purdue ag economists Jayson Lusk and James Mintert review the resulting dramatic shifts in pork and beef production along with the impact these shifts have had on U.S. wholesale beef and pork prices as well as prices for cattle a...