Farmer Optimism Dips Slightly

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer for December shows farmers’ optimism has dipped slightly but is still much higher than earlier in 2024. “Producers are definitely feeling better about the economy today or in December than they were back at the beginning of harvest,” said James Mintert, professor of agricultural economics, Purdue University. “But if you look at the data, what was really going on is people are more optimistic about the future than they are about the current situation.” The possibility of a potential trade war continues to worry farmers. “In November, 42 percent of producers said they thought a trade war was either likely or very likely. In December, that rose to 48 percent.”