Farmers Back Tariffs to Boost U.S. Ag Economy Long-Term

Farmers Expect Strong Financial Performance in 2025

American farmers are showing strong support for the administration and efforts to restore fairness in global trade and open new markets for domestic producers.

According to the latest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, 70% of farmers believe that administration tariffs will strengthen the agricultural economy in the long run.

Farmer sentiment improved in April, with increases in both current and future expectations. The Farm Capital Investment Index reached its highest level since May 2021.

This month, one out of four respondents said it was a good time to make large investments, nearly double the percentage of respondents who said it was a good time to invest when surveyed from May through October of last year.

Additionally, the Farm Financial Performance Index has been above 100 for four consecutive months, indicating that producers expect financial performance this year to match or slightly exceed last year’s levels.

Higher diesel and fertilizer prices are squeezing farm profit margins ahead of the midterm elections. Farmers in Iowa and Kansas discuss rising harvest costs, the war in Iran and whether those pressures will change their votes. Peter Tubbs reports on the debate over farm input costs and the differing political responses across the Corn Belt.