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James Mintert and Michael Langemeier | May 05, 2021
Suggested Event
Aug 31, 2021 to Sep 02, 2021
The Ag Economy Barometer reading was 178 in April, virtually unchanged from a month earlier when the index stood at 177 and just 5 points below its all-time high of 183, which was set back in October. Compared to March, however, there was a small change in producers’ perspective on the ag economy as they became more optimistic about the future, while their appraisal of the current situation waned.
In April, the Index of Future Expectations rose 5 points to 169, whereas the Index of Current Conditions moved down 7 points to 195. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices remain historically strong, with the Index of Current Conditions just 3% below its all-time high and the Index of Future Expectations reaching its second-highest reading since the survey’s inception in fall 2015.