Successful Farming: With Trump tariff payments boosting Corn Belt farm revenue, farmer confidence shot to its highest level since last June, just before the trade war began against China, said the monthly Ag Economy Barometer published by Purdue University. Producers polled by Purdue said they expect ag exports to increase in the years ahead, an indirect sign they expect a beneficial resolution with China. On the other hand, Successful Farming also reported “gray skies” looming, with commodity prices weighed down by large stockpiles, interest rates going up, and the global economy slowing. For a more somber outlook, read on.