DIAL Ventures Agrifood Economy Index
The Purdue DIAL Ventures Agrifood Economy Index project has the goal of providing valuable insights into the industry's dynamics by offering an objective perspective on how executives and decision-makers perceive their companies, segments, and the industry as a whole. Conducted through a bi-monthly survey targeting professionals in our industry, this ongoing research endeavor aims not only to comprehend their sentiments but also to track their evolution over time.
The index reflects the agri-food industry's sentiment on current conditions and future expectations through five key questions:
1. Would you say that your company/operation today is financially better off, worse off, or about the same compared to a year ago?
2. Do you think that a year from now, your company/operation will be better off financially, worse off, or just about the same as now?
3. Turning to the segment of the value chain you consider your company/operation to be a part of, do you think that during the next twelve months, there will be good times financially, bad times, or just about the same as now?
4. Which would you say is more likely: the segment of the value chain you consider your company/operation to be a part of during the next five years will have widespread good times, widespread bad times, or just about the same as now?
5. Thinking about large investments for your company/operation (acquiring machinery, land, buildings, other companies, etc.), generally speaking, do you think now is a good time or bad time to make such investments?
The survey targets industry participants' sentiments about the agrifood economy performance across six value chain segments highlighted to the right.
The Six Agrifood Segments
· Agricultural input manufacturing: crop protection, fertilizer, crop seed, animal health, tractors and implement manufacturers.
· Agricultural input distribution: agricultural input wholesalers and retailers.
· Agricultural production: growers.
· Agricultural processing and handling: grain elevators, trading companies, ethanol plants, feed mills, crushers, shippers, and packers.
· Food manufacturing: baked goods, dairy products, meat products, and other consumer packaged goods companies.
· Support services and products: financial companies such as banks and insurers, advising and consulting companies, logistics companies, research institutions, etc.
