Producer sentiment jumps despite decline in crop prices

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Aug 02, 2016, 09:30 ET

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. and CHICAGO, Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Agricultural producers are feeling more optimistic about the health of the agricultural economy despite declines in key commodity markets in June and early July, according to the latest survey results from the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

The July Producer Sentiment Index jumped to 112, an eight-point increase over June's 104 reading. The index is based on a monthly survey of 400 U.S. agricultural producers. It includes measures of sentiment surrounding both current conditions and future expectations.

The Producer Sentiment Index jumped to 112 in July, despite falling grain prices. (Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer/David Widmar)

The increase comes on the heels of falling crop prices and was primarily driven by optimism about the future, said Jim Mintert, the barometer's principal investigator and director of Purdue's Center for Commercial Agriculture.

"The improvement in producer sentiment occurred despite the fact that grain and oilseed prices declined sharply in late June and early July," said Mintert, who also is a professor of agricultural economics.

The Index of Future Expectations increased to 121 in July, which is well above June's 107 and is the highest reading of the index since data collection began in the fall of 2015.

But while producers were optimistic about future conditions in the agricultural sector, their feelings about current conditions declined. The July Index of Current Conditions came in at 93, a five-point drop since June.

"Although the uptick in crop prices this spring was short-lived and prices retreated in late-June and July, it appears that the price rally boosted producers' expectations about future economic conditions," Mintert said. "In other words, the spring rally didn't substantially improve producers' perspectives regarding near-term economic conditions, but it did affect how they viewed the future."

On the July survey, producers were asked about their expectations for commodity prices. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they expected higher corn prices a year from now, 20 percent said soybean prices would be higher, and 25 percent said they thought wheat prices would be higher.

In addition to their optimism about grain prices, 23 percent of producers also indicated they expect higher farmland values in a year. That's the highest percentage recorded since data collection began. Furthermore, the 25 percent expecting lower farmland values in a year is the lowest percentage recorded in the same timeframe.

To read the full July report, access additional resources and sign up to receive monthly barometer email updates, visit http://purdue.edu/agbarometer.

On Thursday (Aug. 4), Purdue agricultural economists Mike Boehlje, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier will present a quarterly webinar focused on the Ag Economy Barometer findings, including information from the thought leaders' survey. The free webinar will be at 1:30 pm EDT. Register at http://purdue.edu/agbarometer.

About the Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture

The Center for Commercial Agriculture was founded in 2011 to provide professional development and educational programs for farmers. Housed within Purdue University's Department of Agricultural Economics, the center's faculty and staff develop and execute research and educational programs that address the different needs of managing in today's business environment.

About CME Group

As the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) is where the world comes to manage risk. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products and metals. Around the world, CME Group brings buyers and sellers together through its CME Globex® electronic trading platform and its exchanges based in Chicago, New York and London. CME Group also operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers through CME Clearing and CME Clearing Europe, which offer clearing and settlement services across asset classes for exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives. CME Group's products and services ensure that businesses around the world can effectively manage risk and achieve growth.

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Related website:
Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture: https://ag.purdue.edu/commercialag/Pages/default.aspx
CME Group: http://www.cmegroup.com/

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SOURCE CME Group