US Farmer Sentiment Tumbles on Concerns Over Lost Crop Exports

US farmer sentiment fell by the most in nearly six years in January as operators who have been relying more on loans turned pessimistic on exports of crops like soybeans.

The monthly survey of 400 operators with production value of at least $500,000 found farmers are increasing the amount they are borrowing, with more than half expected to use the Trump administration’s $12 billion aid package to pay down debt.

The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer plummeted to a reading of 113, with the net drop the biggest since April 2020, during the coronavirus outbreak.

“The largest decline ...