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US farmer sentiment slips to 6-point low as input costs bite
A Purdue University and CME Group survey found only 12% of respondents said their farms are better off than a year ago.
US producers are continuing to worry about farm finances, with Purdue University and CME Group data showing a fresh drop in sentiment. The June Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 6 points to 113, the lowest level since January, while the Current Conditions Index dropped to an 18-month low of 102 and the Future Expectations Index slid 7 points, according to World Grain.
High input costs remained the top pressure on operations, with 47% of respondents calling them the biggest challenge. Low crop and livestock prices ranked second at 23%, and 42% said high input costs are limiting improvements in their financial position this year, World Grain reported. When asked about what is holding back financial gains, 42% pointed again to high input costs, while low output prices accounted for 17%, with the remainder split between weather risk, policy uncertainty, labor and equipment concerns, and debt or financial pressure.
The outlook for near-term improvement also weakened. Just 12% of respondents said their farms were better off financially than a year ago, and only 22% expected their operations to improve over the next 12 months. World Grain added that the Farm Capital Investment Index continued falling from the March 2026 survey to 40, its lowest level since September 2024.
World Grain also reported that this month’s survey added questions on AI and other data-driven tools in agriculture. While 23% of respondents cited increased production as the primary potential benefit, a majority, 52%, said they did not see a meaningful advantage, and about 63% said AI-generated recommendations would be sometimes difficult to follow. Purdue’s Michael Langemeier said producers are making decisions in a broader environment shaped by technology adoption, trade expectations, and the long-term land value outlook.