The latest Ag Economy Barometer has been released showing a slight drop in farmer sentiment.
Farmer sentiment fell by 9 points to 136. Despite the decline in numbers, producers still reported post-election optimism about the future.
Farmers’ long-term outlooks over the next five years were far more optimistic than their outlooks over the next twelve months.
Dr. Jim Mintert with Purdue University spoke with RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander on key factors contributing to the sentiment, international trade, and other policy shifts under the new administration.
Related Stories
USDA data indicates that 13.7 percent of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2024, the highest rate since 2014, even as most households remained food secure.
Weather, Tight Supplies, and Planning Shape Farm Decisions
Bigger cows must wean proportionally heavier calves to justify higher ownership costs.
Improving consumer confidence supports baseline food and fuel demand, but cautious spending limits upside potential for ag markets in 2026.
Read the full press release published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A look at the legislative year ahead as lawmakers return to Washington with a slate of trade concerns to tackle in 2026—from new Chinese tariffs on beef imports to the USMCA review this summer.