Farmers expressed optimism in April’s Ag Economy Barometer from Purdue.
Notably, 70 percent of producers said they believe the increased use of tariffs will ultimately benefit the ag economy in the long term.
The barometer rose from March amid tension with many of U.S. agriculture’s largest trading partners, including Mexico, Canada and China.
Despite the overall improvement in farmer sentiment, one third of producers said it was a bad time to make a large investment in their operation, suggesting caution during trade negotiations.
Additionally, over half of respondents said they expect tariffs to harm their farm’s income in the short term. They expect supply challenges in acquiring fertilizer, machinery parts and crop chemicals.
Read more: Farmers uncertain over ag trade policies
