Ag Economy Barometer

Farmer sentiment remained weak in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell to a reading of 97.2 points below its May reading. 

Producers continue to view this as not being a good time to make large investments in their farm operation. One reason producers say it’s not a good time to make large investments is the problems they’ve experienced in the supply chain. For the second month in a row, fifty percent of producers in this month’s survey said that tight machinery inventories impacted their farm machinery purchase plans.

During June farmers were a bit more optimistic about current conditions as the Current Conditions Index of 99 was 5 points higher than in May. However, the small improvement in current conditions was more than offset by weaker expectations for the future, as the Index of Future Expectations declined 5 points to a reading of 96, the lowest level since October 2016. 

Rising costs and uncertainty about the future continue to be a drag on farmer sentiment. This month 51% of survey respondents said they expect their farms to be worse off financially a year from now, the most negative response received to this question since data collection began in 2015.

Link to full report: FarmEquip.org/PurdueAgJun22