The general Business Climate Index for the Agricultural Machinery Industry in Europe has improved and is now positive for the first time since mid-2019. In October 2020, the index reached +8 points (on a scale of –100 to +100).
The value of farmland is an important economic indicator for the agricultural business because it represents most farmers’ highest valued asset. Steady or rising farmland values along with low interest rates have been positive trends for farmers, particularly in light of lower commodity prices in the past several years. Stable farmland prices have remained the one positive during these years of major challenges for U.S. farmers.
According to a September survey from Purdue University, nearly 4 out of 10 corn/soybean producers in the survey said they intend to plant at least some cover crops in fall 2020.
U.S. agricultural producers became more optimistic again in September as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed to 156, the highest reading for the index since the pandemic began last winter and 12 points higher than one-month earlier.
In a note to investors, Stanley Elliott of Stifel said, “We wanted to highlight a survey from Ag Equipment Intelligence which suggests early order activity for North American ag equipment is pointing to a slight increase on a weighted average basis following 6 years of declines.
The global pandemic introduced several disruptions across the red meat, dairy, grain and oilseed supply chains. Despite the numerous challenges, the agricultural land market has shown strength as higher crop receipts and record-low borrowing costs supported strong demand for land.
Bankers responding to the third-quarter agricultural conditions survey reported overall weaker conditions across most regions of the Eleventh District, which includes Texas, 26 parishes in northern Louisiana and 18 counties in southern New Mexico.
Genetically engineered (GE) seeds were commercially introduced in the United States for major field crops in 1996, with adoption rates increasing rapidly in the years that followed.
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25) showed overall new business volume for August was $7 billion, down 24% year-over-year from new business volume in August 2019.
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the September 2020 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) today. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 56.5, an increase from the August index of 48.4.
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In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we take an initial look at the Dealer Business Outlook & Trends Report and what dealers are forecasting for 2025.