WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 12 points in March to a reading of 177, marking the highest reading for the barometer since October 2020. Dr. Jim Mintert with the Center for Commercial Agriculture explains that producers continued to be relatively optimistic about making farm machinery purchases and capital investments in their farming operations. In addition, farmers’ bullish views on farmland values, both in the upcoming year and in the next five years, continued in March. The view of their farms’ financial position continues to improve, which appears to be fueling some of the short-term optimism about farmland values and capital investments. Finally, a topic that producers are not optimistic about relates to the ongoing trade negotiations with China.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)