A recent survey from Purdue University shows farmer sentiment is slipping in rural America, and economists say today’s problems are very different than just months ago.
“Back in August, before the election, 22 percent of the respondents in the survey chose interest rate policy as one of their top concerns versus 20 percent choosing trade policy. Since the election, over 40 percent, an average of 43 percent, of the respondents to the survey have chosen trade policy as their top concern. While the percentage choosing interest rate policy as a top concern has been falling, and this month was just ten percent,” said James Mintert.
Right now, Mintert says interest rate policy is a top concern for just 10 percent of those who responded.
Texas A&M economist John Robinson says speculative buying helped push ICE cotton futures sharply higher.
Smaller exporter crops and lower global stocks could keep wheat markets sensitive to weather, trade, and shifts in demand.
National Pork Board’s Andy Tauer discusses the growing popularity of the Boston Butt Pork Burger and key topics at the USMEF Spring Conference.
Corn inspections remain strong year-to-date, while China’s soybean and sorghum movement remains important to late-season export demand.
Southern Plains wheat shippers face higher rail fuel surcharges as hard red winter wheat production falls toward a nearly 70-year low.
USDA says both crops remain ahead of the five-year average as farmers continue monitoring dry Corn Belt conditions.