Farmer Sentiment Is Falling Amid Higher Input Costs

Farmer sentiment declined in April—the pressure on the farm economy is intensifying.

In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier break down the April 2026 Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Rising input costs, increasing concern about fertilizer availability, and global uncertainty tied to geopolitical conflict all contributed to a drop in sentiment.

Tighter margins, rising break-even costs, and weaker financial expectations are beginning to influence how farmers approach investment, growth, and risk management heading into 2026.

More importantly, these signals highlight how producers are shifting from cautious optimism to a more defensive posture.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What’s driving the recent decline in farmer sentiment
• How fertilizer prices and input availability are impacting decisions
• Why 2/3 of farmers expect lower income in 2026
• What rising break-even prices mean for crop profitability
• Why farmers are pulling back on machinery and capital investments
• The widening gap between crop and livestock outlooks
• How tight margins are influencing cash flow and strategy
• What’s shaping farmland value expectations
• Why confidence in the broader U.S. economy is slipping

📊 Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report: https://purdue.ag/barometer127

 

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