by Gary Truitt

(Reprinted by permission of author. See the full original commentary at Hoosier Ag Today.)

The Center for Disease Control has recently identified a long-observed, but hitherto unnamed disease, Morbus Agricola.  Commonly referred to as farmer disease, it is currently running rampant and unchecked across rural America. Those who are stricken with the disease are seldom aware they have it, but those who observe them can see the effects all too plainly. The CDC, in their analysis, detailed the symptoms and consequences.

Symptoms:

– An almost uncontrollable desire to plant something, to till soil and grow food

– A nervous restlessness only satisfied by the operation of a tractor or other large piece of equipment

– A deep affection for the care and nurturing of bovine, porcine, equine, or poultry animals

– A irrational optimism with risk-taking behavior, most notable from March to November

– Boundless energy, allowing the individual to sustain in strenuous activity for long periods of time without sleep often causing a person to work 18-24 hours

– Dissatisfaction with the status quo, a constant desire to make things work better, be more productive, and make things better than when they started

Causes: (See more at original article.)

Reprinted by permission of the Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture

In April, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded the fourth largest one-month drop since data collection began in October 2015. The barometer, which is a sentiment index based on a monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers across the U.S., declined 18 points to a reading of 115, down from 133 in March.

This month’s decline in the barometer was driven by worsening perceptions of both current economic conditions and weaker expectations for the future. The Index of Current Conditions fell 21 points to a reading of 99, and the Index of Future Expectations declined 16 points to a reading of 123.

This month producers also expressed caution about making large investments in their farming operations. In the April survey, when asked whether they feel now is a “good time” or “bad time” to make large farm investments, only 22 percent of farmers stated it was a “good time” while 74 percent stated it was a “bad time.” That combination pushed the Large Farm Investment Index down 9 points compared to March.

Producers also expressed less optimism regarding prospects for resolution of the on-going soybean trade dispute with China. On the April survey, only 28 percent of respondents felt that the dispute would be resolved before July 1, down from 45 percent in March. However, 71 percent still feel the dispute will ultimately be resolved in a way that benefits U.S. agriculture. In a separate question, when asked whether they felt that the U.S. should rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), 47 percent were favorable, 28 percent were not in favor, and 25 percent stated they were uncertain.

Since January, there has been an increase in survey respondents indicating they have concerns about commodity prices. As a result, we’ve been asking additional questions related to commodity prices in order to understand producers’ perspectives on the future direction of corn and soybean futures prices. For the past four months, those results have been compared with futures and options market-based probability estimates to determine whether there is a significant difference in sentiment between the producers and futures and options market participants. Early findings indicate producers have consistently been more pessimistic compared to those who participate directly in the futures and options markets. Moreover, producers became relatively more pessimistic over the course of the winter and early spring. This increasingly pessimistic view of corn and soybean prices may be playing a role in the reduction in barometer sentiment as well as the recent drop in both the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations.

Read the full April Ag Economy Barometer Report which is linked to the following address: https://purdue.ag/barometerreport. The report includes insights into producer’s year-over-year attitudes toward farmland values and a breakdown of the comparison between producers and futures market participants regarding the future direction of corn and soybean futures. The site also offers additional resources, such as past reports, charts and survey methodology, and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars. Each month I also provide a video overview of results from the barometer survey. That video can be viewed either directly on the Ag Economy Barometer’s website or on the Center’s YouTube channel at https://purdue.ag/barometervideo.

Illinois’ Gem City has a population of 41,000+ and is a river town, but you sure can’t call it sleepy! It is alive and well with a great deal of agriculture- based industry, and as part of the Summer Tour Group, you are going to stop in and visit for a spell !!

Thursday, August 1

Depart the base hotel, Holiday Inn, 4821 Oak Street, via motor coach and head for:

• ADM’s brand new feed processing facility….formerly owned and managed by Moorman’s, this plant just opened in April 2019. It features expanded manufacturing assets, additional warehouse space, a dedicated feed line for non-medicated products, automated packaging systems and process controls, and pressed tubs for multiple animal species. And you’re going to see it all!

• Knapheide Manufacturing Company is North America’s most popular manufacturer of truck bodies and truck beds. There are more work trucks on the road today with “Knapheide” stamped on the truck body than any other manufacturer.

• Lunch at Quincy Development Center.

• Doyle Equipment Manufacturing produces dry fertilizer blending, conveying, tending, and spreading equipment. Doyle is four-generation family-owned and operated.

• JM Huber Caves stretch from Ill. 57 east to about 14th Street and contain about 700,000 square feet of warehouse space, which is operated by a subsidiary, Underground Warehouses Inc. Several companies rent space in the caves. J. M. Huber also mines limestone in other parts of the caves.

• Spirit Knob Winery will be our hosts for an evening of fine food and wines (and other beverages) and the opportunity to tour the grounds.

Friday, August 2

• Plated breakfast at Holiday Inn.

• Illinois Director of Agriculture John Sullivan will deliver a report on the state of Illinois’ agriculture.

• Springfield Plastics will provide update on what’s happening in farm drainage industry.

• Quincy Farm Products works with food manufacturers to divert food by-products from landfills, and with ag producers and food processors to develop healthy, nutritious, and balanced livestock feed and feed ingredients. We will leave the hotel and make the short drive via private auto to visit this facility.

Lodging

A block of rooms in the name of Farm Managers and Appraisers has been set at the

Holiday Inn
4821 Oak Street
Quincy, IL

The rate is $ 93.00. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at 217-223-7800. The room block expires on Wednesday, July 10.

Get more details (and a PDF registration form, if you prefer not to register online) here.

Our Spring 2019 newsletter is available now. Click the link to download it:

Spring 2019 ISPFMRA Newsletter

First MidAg Services’ Ross Albert, AFM, Bloomington office, looks on as Ernest Moody, AFM, ARA, AAC, reads the inscription on the “Workhorse Award” presented to him at the annual meeting of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. The plaque reads “This Workhorse Award is presented to Ross Albert, AFM, for his continuing commitment to providing information to the public and promoting the mission of ISPFMRA through his leadership as Chair of the Public Relations Committee. Your work is truly appreciated. Presented February 7, 2019.” The leadership of the Chapter asked Moody, former PR Committee chair, to make the presentation on behalf of the entire membership. Moody cited Albert’s work at authoring and directing writers in a series of monthly columns that appear in Prairie Farmer magazine with the focus being on advice from and the advantages of seeking the counsel of professional farm managers and rural appraisers.

The new ISPFMRA leadership team was elected at the organization’s 91st Annual Meeting held February 7 in Decatur, IL.

Robert Woodrow, AFM, front, center, is elected as 2019 President of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Woodrow is a principal with Farmland Solutions, LLC, Sherman, IL. To his right is the organization’s Academic Vice President Dr. Maria Boerngen, Illinois State University, Normal, IL. To Woodrow’s left is newly-elected Vice President Timothy Harris, AFM, with Capital Agricultural Property Services, Princeton, IL. From left, standing, are: President-Elect Seth Baker, AFM, Field Level Agriculture, Inc., Mt. Zion, IL; Immediate Past President Daniel Legner, ARA, Compeer Financial, Princeton, IL., and; Secretary/Treasurer Gary Schnitkey, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana, IL.