Optimism wanes in farm country, survey finds

Producer optimism about the agricultural economy is at its lowest level since the 2016 elections, dropping for the second consecutive month in April. Concerns over trade disruptions and the future of U.S. agricultural exports are fueling the downturn in producer sentiment, according to economists at Purdue University who survey 400 producers nationwide each month.The needle of optimism on current and future economic conditions fell 10 points in April in the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Barometer after dropping 5 points in March.