Nathan Kauffman, vice president and Omaha Branch executive with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, says this is due to a number of reasons such as the gradual deterioration of ag credit conditions, intensifying trade disputes and low commodity prices. Kauffman dove deep into the numbers during a webinar presentation, hosted by Ag Equipment Intelligence. Kaufmann shared some key economic indicators for both the ag economy and the broader U.S. economy. The period of 2007-13 was definitely an economic low point for the aggregate economy, as consumer spending and the Federal Funds Rate (the interest rate banks lend to each other, as set by the Federal Reserve) declined during that period.

Producers’ views of making large farm investments — such as the purchase of new machinery — improved in October, though they still remain cautious about making such investments.