Purdue Commercial AgCast

Ag Barometer Insight: March 2023 Survey Results

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-February through mid-March were a key factor behind this month’s weaker sentiment reading. The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted from March 13-17, 2023 which coincided with the demise of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

 

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.

Prospective Plantings Report Update

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 Commercial Agriculture. Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast130.

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Ag Barometer Insight: February 2023 Survey Results

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 expectation indices remain in positive territory, more producers think farmland values could weaken in the year ahead than on previous surveys. This month’s survey was conducted from February 13-17, 2023. 

The Purdue University-CME Group 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 Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the February 2023 Ag Economy Barometer survey. The full report is available at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.

Financial Risk Management & Contingency Planning

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 evaluate farm financials, update financial statements, analyze performance, and when borrowing makes sense.

This series is based on the Six Pillars of Farm Risk Management course, funded by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Find the rest of this farm risk management series and resources at https://purdue.ag/farmriskmgmt. More information on contingency planning is on the Purdue Institute for Family Business' website https://purdue.ag/fambiz.

Making Your 2023 Crop Insurance Decision

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 an increase in coverage levels for RP insurance.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/cropinsurance2023.

New! You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/y4gY4j-6ukg to subscribe and watch.

Marketing Risk Management & Contingency Planning

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 Risk Management Education Center.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Find the rest of this farm risk management series and resources at https://purdue.ag/farmriskmgmt. More information on contingency planning is on the Purdue Institute for Family Business' website https://purdue.ag/fambiz.

Social Media Risk Management & Contingency Planning

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 Farm Risk Management course, funded by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Find the rest of this farm risk management series and resources at https://purdue.ag/farmriskmgmt. More information on contingency planning is on the Purdue Institute for Family Business' website https://purdue.ag/fambiz.

February Corn & Soybean Outlook Update

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 transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/webinar021023.

Find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture, visit https://youtu.be/PpEn7yzReCY to subscribe and watch.

Thinking Like A CFO for Your Farm Operation

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 expense information that can be used for taxes. That's an accounting role. The individual on the farm with CFO responsibilities is responsible for putting together a set of financial statements and analyzing the information contained in these statements. A farm manager who thinks like a CFO can leverage balance sheet and cash flow information to develop accrual income, sources and uses of funds, and owner’s equity statements which can be used to ensure the farm is well positioned for the future. Join Purdue ag economists Michael Langemeier and James Mintert for an episode discussing why you should think like a CFO for your farm operation.

This episode begins a new series on farm financial management. The next episode will be released in a few weeks.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. Find the rest of this farm financial management series and related resources at https://purdue.ag/farmfinancialmgmt. 

New! You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture. Visit https://youtu.be/DUAD_BWp7yM to subscribe and watch.

Ag Barometer Insight: January 2023 Survey Results

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 points to 127 while the Index of Current Conditions, with a value of 136, changed little compared to December. This month’s survey was conducted from January 16-20, 2023. The full report is available at https://purdue.ag/agbarometer.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.