DTN Poll shows Farmers Hopeful in New Administration

A poll by DTN-The Progressive Farmer shows agriculture is building hope that the ag economy will improve under Donald Trump.  The DTN Agricultural Confidence Index jumped to a rating of 98 following the elections, from a rating of 72 recorded in August.

The most recent survey was based on responses from 500 farmers from across the United States in early December.  The poll remains below the optimism line, a rating greater than 100.  Indexes below 100, which has been the case since March 2014, indicate farmers are pessimistic about their condition.

Farmers rated current conditions at 44.2.  However, future expectations were rated at 127 by respondents.

Pollster Robert Hill, creator of the index, says: “The only thing you can tie that positivity to is the election. Farmers have a lot of hope for the new president." President-elect Donald Trump will take office later this month.

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