Nate Kaufman, Omaha Branch Executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, joins hosts Todd Kuethe and Chad Fiechter in this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast. Kaufman explains the structure and function of the Federal Reserve System, including the roles of the Board of Governors, the 12 regional reserve banks, and their respective branch offices, and shares how monetary policy is set and the importance of regional input in policy decisions. Kaufman highlights his role in representing Nebraska and the agricultural sector, ensuring their unique economic conditions are considered in national policy discussions. The episode also touches on the use of data and industry interaction in formulating economic insights. Additionally, Kaufman shares anecdotes and practical experiences, emphasizing the Fed’s commitment to transparency and public engagement.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more farm management information and insights, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.

Farmer sentiment weakened in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell to 146, down from 158 a month earlier. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share their insight into the results of the June 2025 survey, conducted from June 9-13, in this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast. Key takeaways include a sharp decline in the Future Expectation Index, a stable Current Condition Index, a drop in the Farm Financial Performance Index, and a surprising rise in the Farm Capital Investment Index. The episode explores various factors impacting farmer sentiment, such as policy uncertainty, trade, tariffs, input costs, and labor issues.

The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. Further details on the full report is available at https://purdue.edu/agbarometer. Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast189.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/1C5-A2Z_vPg to subscribe and watch.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.

Farmer sentiment reached a four-year high in May. Purdue ag economists James Mintert and Michael Langemeier share their insight into the results of the May 2025 Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer survey, conducted from May 12-16, in this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast. The barometer rose 10 points to 158, the highest since May 2021, driven by optimism about future and current farm conditions. The Farm Financial Performance Index also saw an increase, while the Farm Capital Investment Index declined slightly. Other key points include a surprising jump in the Short-Term Farmland Value Expectation Index, shifting attitudes toward ag exports, and concerns about labor impacts due to U.S. immigration policies. Current farmer concerns remain centered on high input costs and interest rates, and there is notable interest in the passage of a new 2025 farm bill.

The Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. Further details on the full report is available at https://purdue.edu/agbarometer. Slides and the transcript from the discussion can be found at https://purdue.ag/agcast188.

You can find the FULL video episode on our YouTube channel. Visit https://youtu.be/GRm0BZYXeR0 to subscribe and watch.

Podcast provided by Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture. For more economic information and insights on the Ag Economy Barometer, visit us at http://purdue.edu/commercialag.