Ag Barometer: Producers Less Confident In Current Conditions, Optimistic For Future

The December Ag Economy Barometer shows farmers are less confident about current conditions, but are more optimistic looking into the future.

The national survey asks 400 agriculture producers a range of questions each month from financial plans to perspectives on current economic issues including the trade war with China.

Report co-author Jim Mintert says the December responses showed no overall shift in sentiment.

“But there was a shift within the index and that was really the idea that people were less confident about their current situation on their farming operation and the ag economy, but a touch more optimistic about the future,” says Mintert.

He says producers are showing confidence that a trade deal with China will come soon, but if another negotiation falls through that could affect January survey responses.

Contact Samantha at shorton@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @SamHorton5.