Purdue Commercial AgCast
Business & Finance
About
Farm management news and advice for top agricultural producers from ag economists at Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.
Episodes
- Farmer Sentiment Is Falling Amid Higher Input Costs
The April Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer indicates a decline in farmer sentiment, driven by increasing input costs, concerns over fertilizer availability, and global uncertainty. This shift is influencing farmer investmen…
- Lessons From the Delta, Part 8: Why Ducks Are More Valuable Than Crops in the Delta
In the final episode of "Lessons From the Delta," Purdue Commercial AgCast hosts Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe discuss the intersection of rice production, water use, and wildlife conservation in eastern Arkansas. The episode examines how…
- Lessons From the Delta, Part 7: How Rice Farmers Cut $31/Acre Water Costs
In "Lessons From the Delta, Part 7," Purdue Commercial AgCast explores how Arkansas rice farmers are managing water and costs. The episode details strategies like pumping surface water instead of groundwater to save up to $31 per acre, usi…
- Farm Sentiment Is Up… So Why Are Farmers Still Worried?
The March Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer indicates an increase in farmer sentiment, influenced by higher crop prices and government payments. However, underlying economic challenges such as rising input costs, tight margi…
- Lessons From the Delta, Part 6: Farming with No Margin for Error
Terry and Trent Dabs share insights from operating a rice-based farming system in the Mississippi Delta on the Purdue Commercial AgCast. The discussion covers intensive production challenges including water management, labor, capital decis…
- Lessons From the Delta, Part 5: Farm Robotics, Labor, and the Future of Field Work
Lessons From the Delta continues — this time with an unexpected conversation about farm robotics. In Episode 5 of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe meet Sarah Hinkley, CEO and co-founder of Barn Owl Pr…
- Lessons From the Delta, Part 4: Inside the Research Center Driving U.S. Rice Production
Lessons From the Delta continues — this time with a look at the research and infrastructure behind rice production. In Episode 4 of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe visit the Northeast Rice Research a…
- Lessons From the Delta, Part 3: How Investors Are Buying Farmland
Lessons From the Delta continues — this time focusing on how farmland moves from farmers to investors and back again. In Episode 3 of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe speak with Colson Tester of AcreT…
- Producer Sentiment Stabilizes, But Future Expectations Slip | February 2026 Ag Economy Barometer
In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier break down results from the February 2026 Purdue University–CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The overall barometer rose modestly to 116, driven by improve…
- Lessons From the Delta, Part 2: Land Values, Capital Markets, and the Business of Rice
Lessons From the Delta continues — but this time, the focus shifts from fields to finance. In Episode 2 of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe sit down with Aaron Shew of Acres to explore how farmland is…
- Lessons From the Delta, Part 1: What Midwestern Farmers Can Learn From Southern Agriculture
Southern agriculture operates in a very different environment than the Midwest — different crops, different water management systems, different land structures, and different production risks. But there are powerful lessons for commercial…
- Farmer Sentiment Drops Sharply — What It Signals for Farm Finances in 2026
Farmer sentiment dropped sharply to start 2026, reflecting growing economic concerns across U.S. agriculture. But beyond the headline decline in the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, this episode focuses on what the shift signals for…
- When Will Autonomous Farm Equipment Actually Pay?
Are autonomous tractors and farm automation actually cost-effective? In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Chad Fiechter and Josh Strine discuss new research on the economics of large-scale autonomous farm machinery and what it…
- Adaptation & Strong Relationships: A Conversation with Ben Brown
Adaptability and strong relationships are becoming just as important as yields and costs in today’s farm economy—and that’s the focus of this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast. Chad Fiechter is joined by Ben Brown of the University o…
- Ag Barometer Insights: December 2025 Survey Results
Farmer sentiment dipped slightly in December, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropping 3 points to 136. The decline was attributable to a softening in producers’ long-term outlook. The Future Expectations Index fe…
- What We Heard This Year—and Where We’re Going
Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe reflect on their conversations this past year and talk about future plans. They cover past discussions with notable guests, including Nate Kauffman from the Federal Reserve, Matt Erickson from the Senate, Joe…
- Ag Barometer Insights: November 2025 Survey Results
November brought the highest farmer sentiment reading since June, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer jumping 10 points from October to 139. The increase was driven primarily by producers’ more optimistic outlook for…
- Pig Farming in Focus: A Conversation with Brian Martin
Brian Martin, a fifth-generation pig farmer from Indiana, joins hosts Todd Kuethe and Chad Fiechter in this episode of Purdue Commercial AgCast. Martin shares his extensive experience in raising swine across the country, his involvement wi…
- Ag Barometer Insights: October 2025 Survey Results
U.S. farmer sentiment edged slightly higher in October, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rising 3 points to a reading of 129. The increase was fueled primarily by a rise in the Index of Current Conditions, which cl…
- D.C. Insights: A Conversation with Joe Balagtas
Joe Balagtas, a former senior economist at the White House's Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) and professor of agricultural economics at Purdue joins colleague hosts Todd Kuethe and Chad Fiechter in this episode of the Purdue Commercial…
- Ag Barometer Insights: September 2025 Survey Results
The September 2025 Ag Economy Barometer indicates steady farmer sentiment, with a reading of 126. While the Index of Current Conditions decreased, the Index of Future Expectations saw an increase, influenced by USDA reports and expectation…
- Irrigated, Pasture & Hay Cash Rent Considerations
Jim Jansen from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Michael Langemeier discuss cash rent considerations for irrigated land, pasture, and hay leases. They cover factors affecting rent like maintenance, insurance, and land productivity, a…
- Investment Strategies in Ag: A Conversation with Joe Suttles
Joe Suttles, an ag investing consultant, joins the Purdue Commercial AgCast to discuss private equity in agriculture. He shares insights on managing investments, the complexities of agricultural businesses, and discusses trends like instit…
- 2025 Cash Rental Rates
Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe and Michael Langemeier review the 2025 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rental Rates survey, reporting a 1.5% increase in Indiana cash rents. The discussion includes historical trends, comparisons with other…
- 2025 Farmland Values & Market Trends
Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe and Michael Langemeier discuss Indiana farmland values based on the 2025 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rental Rates survey. The survey indicates continued modest increases in land prices across most of th…
- Ag Barometer Insights: August 2025 Survey Results
The August 2025 Ag Economy Barometer indicates a dip in farmer sentiment, with the Index of Future Expectations reaching its lowest point since September of the previous year. Purdue economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier analyze…
- Future of Ag Tech: A Conversation with Brant Caley
Brant Caley discusses his career in ag tech, from FFA to companies like Trimble, FBN, and Gradable. The conversation covers the evolution of farm technology, sustainable grain marketing, and the future impact of AI and LLMs in agriculture.
- Ag Barometer Insights: July 2025 Survey Results
The July 2025 Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined to 135, reflecting weakened farmer sentiment regarding both current conditions and future expectations. Economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier attribute this…
- Inside the Federal Reserve: A Conversation with Nate Kauffman
Nate Kauffman explains the Federal Reserve System
- Ag Barometer Insights: June 2025 Survey Results
The June 2025 Ag Economy Barometer shows weakened farmer sentiment, falling to 146 from 158. Purdue economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier discuss key findings from the June 9-13 survey, noting declines in future expectations and…
- Ag Barometer Insights: May 2025 Survey Results
Farmer sentiment reached a four-year high in May 2025, according to the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Purdue economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier discuss the survey's findings, including increased optimism ab…
- Farmland Investments: A Conversation with Kyle Maple and Pete Drost
Kyle Maple and Pete Drost join Purdue Commercial AgCast to discuss farmland investments. They share insights on identifying opportunities, sourcing deals, asset management, and the challenges and importance of sustainability and investor e…
- Ag Barometer Insights: April 2025 Survey Results
The April 2025 Ag Economy Barometer survey shows improved farmer sentiment and increased optimism about farm conditions. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier discuss the survey results, including livestock producer opt…
- Understanding Ag Policy: A Conversation with Matt Erickson
Matt Erickson, an agricultural policy advisor, joins Purdue Commercial AgCast to discuss his career, the farm bill preparation process, and the significance of bipartisan cooperation and grassroots involvement in agricultural policy.
- Ag Barometer Insights: March 2025 Survey Results
Weaker expectations for the future led to a decline in farmer sentiment in March as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index fell 12 points to a reading of 140, down from 152 a month earlier. Purdue ag economists James Mi…
- Ag Barometer Insights: February 2025 Survey Results
U.S. farmer sentiment continued its upward trend in February, as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 11 points from the previous month to a reading of 152. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier sha…
- Ag Barometer Insights: January 2025 Survey Results
U.S. farmers retained their post-election optimistic outlook at the start of the new year as the January Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index rose 5 points above a month earlier to a reading of 141. Purdue ag economists J…
- Ag Barometer Insights: December 2024 Survey Results
Farmer sentiment drifted lower in December as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 9 points to a reading of 136. The decline was driven by producers’ weaker perspective on current conditions in U.S. agriculture and…
- Ag Innovation & Policy Direction: A Preview of Upcoming Purdue Top Farmer Conference
This special edition of the Purdue Commercial AgCast features Matt Erickson , policy specialist at Farm Credit Services of America, and Chad Fiechter , research director at Purdue's Center for Commercial Agriculture. They discuss their upc…
- Ag Barometer Insights: November 2024 Survey Results
Farmer sentiment jumped again in November, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbing 30 points to a reading of 145. This marked the highest level of farmer optimism since May 2021. Purdue ag economists James Minter…
- Ag Barometer Insights: October 2024 Survey Results
Farmer sentiment saw an unexpected surge in October ahead of the upcoming U.S. election, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer . Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insigh…
- Flexible vs. Fixed Cash Rent Farmland Leases
Join Purdue ag economists Michael Langemeier, Todd Kuethe, and James Mintert as they discuss farmland rental agreements, with a focus on flexible cash rent leases versus traditional cash rental and crop share arrangements. They combine the…
- Exploring the Organic Grain Industry: Challenges and Opportunities
In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Chad Fiechter hosts Michael O'Donnell, a regional manager at Belltown Farms , who focusing on converting conventional farms to organic. The discussion highlights Belltown's operations across…
- Ag Barometer Insights: September 2024 Survey Results
In September, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded its lowest readings since March 2016. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share some insight into the results of the September 2024 Ag Econom…
- (Part 2) 2024 Indiana Cash Rent Trends
Join Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe, Michael Langemeier and James Mintert as they discuss farmland cash rental rates on this, the second episode of two episodes reviewing the 2024 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey results. Eac…
- (Part 1) 2024 Indiana Farmland Values & Market Trends
Join Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe, Michael Langemeier and James Mintert as they discuss Indiana farmland values on this, the first of two episodes reviewing the 2024 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey results. Each June, the…
- Ag Barometer Insights: August 2024 Survey Results
The August Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 13 points from July to a reading of 100, echoing levels seen from fall 2015 to winter 2016 during the early stages of a significant downturn in the U.S. farm economy. The…
- Understanding Generational Differences Within A Family Business
Is your farm business prepared for the future? Maria Marshall and Renee Wiatt join host Brady Brewer in this episode to discuss how the many generations of family engaged in a family business interact with one another. One of the challenge…
- Ag Barometer Insights: July 2024 Survey Results
Three broad-based measures of farmer sentiment improved in July as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index rose 8 points to 113, the Index of Current Conditions increased by 10 points to 100, and the Index of Future Expe…
- Agricultural Jobs & Labor Update
Labor availability and labor retention are big issues in the U.S. economy and that's especially true for agribusiness firms and for commercial scale farm operations. According to the latest Purdue Agricultural Job Market Report , job posti…