Agriculture producers have a more optimistic view of the future, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which rose 12 points in March to a reading of 177. This was the highest reading for the barometer since October 2020. The barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers' responses to a telephone survey.

The Index of Future Expectations snapped a four-month decline, rising 16 points to a reading of 164 in March. The Index of Current Conditions tied with its previous all-time high, rising two points to a reading of 202.

"Even with a rebound in crop production in 2021, it looks like carryover supplies of corn and soybeans will remain tight, providing producers' confidence that crop prices will remain strong this year," said James Mintert, the barometer's principal investigator and director of Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. "A rebound in the U.S. economy this summer combined with expectations for a smaller pork supply is also providing some optimism in the livestock sector."

In March, producers continued to be relatively optimistic about making farm machinery purchases and capital investments in their farming operations. The Farm Capital Investment Index held at a reading of 88, just 5 points below its all-time high of 93. Since March 2020, when farmers' confidence in the agricultural economy plummeted, the investment index has risen 63%.

Farmers' bullish views on farmland values, both in the coming year and in the next five years, continued in March. The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index rose for the fourth month in a row, up 3-points to a reading of 148, and the Long-Term Farmland Value Index, matched its previous high set back in December, up 4-points to a reading of 157. Compared to the May 2020 low-point, producers' optimism toward long-term farmland values is up 22%.

Producers' perspective on their farms' financial position also continues to improve, which appears to be fueling some of the short-term optimism about farmland values and capital investments. The Farm Financial Performance Index is based on responses to a question that asks producers, "As of today, do you expect your farm's financial performance to be better than, worse than, or about the same as last year?" In April 2020, the index hit an all-time low of 55; since that time, the index has seen a remarkable improvement, up 127% to a record high of 125 in March.

The topic that producers are not optimistic about relates to the on-going trade negotiations with China. The percentage of producers who expect the U.S. trade dispute with China to be resolved in a way that's beneficial to U.S. agriculture peaked at 81% in early 2020. Since that time, the percentage who felt that way has been in a free-fall, down just over 50 points to a reading of 31% in March. This attitude mirrors their thoughts on whether China will fulfill its Phase One trade agreement with the U.S. In October, 59% of producers said they expected China to fulfill its Phase One obligations; that fell to 40% in January, and to 35% in March.

In a follow-up to questions on previous barometer surveys regarding carbon sequestration, approximately 30-40% of farmers in our surveys, over the last three months, say they are aware of opportunities to receive payments for capturing carbon on their farms. Among the relatively small percentage of respondents who reported carbon sequestration payment rates that were offered, approximately 80% of those respondents said payment rates were $20 or less per acre.

Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report here.