Ag Economic Barometer: Despite ag trade uncertainty, farmer sentiment is strong for the year ahead

Dr. Jim Mintert of Purdue University spoke with RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander about contributing factors, producer opinions on trade policy, and the reading’s big takeaways.

Despite ag trade uncertainty, farmers still have an optimistic outlook for the year ahead, according to the latest Ag Economy Barometer, which rose five points from the previous month.

Dr. Jim Mintert of Purdue University spoke with RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander about contributing factors, producer opinions on trade policy, and the reading’s big takeaways.

Related Stories
Smaller cow numbers and a declining calf crop point to prolonged tight cattle supplies, limiting near-term herd rebuilding potential.
Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, provides new updates on winter storm impacts and the outlook for rural power reliability.
Jessi Grote from the AgriSafe Network provides winter safety guidance for rural communities still recovering from the recent winter storm.
CattleCon 2026 officially kicks off Tuesday and continues through Thursday, bringing producers together to shape the future of the U.S. cattle industry.
Traders say that shift could eventually prompt the USDA to scale back soybean export projections, noting the outlook differs greatly for other grain commodities.
The federal government’s status is far from the only factor moving the markets on Friday. Two critical reports released today on producer inflation and the status of the U.S. cattle herd are also top of mind.
The changing political climate in America is leading to a drop in migrant crossings near the U.S.-Mexico border, where ranchers like Dr. Mike Vickers say they witnessed horrors from death to child trafficking.
Record milk output looks strong today, but shrinking replacement numbers mean future supply adjustments could be faster and more volatile.
Often overlooked, cotton wholesalers act as stabilizers during market stress, translating fragmented retail demand into workable production programs for mills and manufacturers.