The November Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer had an interesting question about financial assistance for farmers and what they would do with the funds to help their operations.

“If the USDA provides an MFP payment to compensate for weak commodity prices, what will be the principal use of this payment on your farm? A majority of the producers in our surveys, both in November and in October, said that they expect to use that to pay down debt. This month, that was 58 percent of the respondents in the survey, compared to 52 percent last month.”

Farmland values are another consistent topic in the Ag Economy Barometer.

“The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectation Index, at 116, was three points higher than a month earlier, and that’s the second month in a row that the index has gone up, and the index is now ten points higher than it was back in September. The Long-Term Farmland Value Expectation Index, at 165, was up four points compared to a month ago, and that’s a new record high for the Long-Term Farmland Value Expectation Index.”

The November Barometer also looked into expected cash rental rates for 2026.

“This month’s survey also included a question asking producers what their expectations are for cash rental rates in their area in 2026. A majority, 74 percent of the respondents to this month’s survey, said they expect to see cash rental rates hold the same as last year. That’s about the same response we received back in both July and August.”