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conditions.
• "Our bank is encouraged with the ag environment at this time," Bonnett said.
• But Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said even though the May numbers are positive, he believes the region's economic growth will slow in the months ahead as the global economy weakens and crop prices decline.
• The farmland index declined to 64.6 in May from April's 69.4, but it remains well above 50, suggesting that prices for farmland will keep increasing.

• The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said recently that farmland in its territory, which includes several of the states in the Rural Mainstreet report, jumped more than 25 percent in the first quarter.
• The farm equipment sales index increased to 65.1 from April's 62.4 suggesting farmers also continue to buy new equipment.
• Goss, who oversees the survey, said farm income remains strong because of increasing demand for U.S. crops from developing nations. Strong farm income and the current low interest rates have contributed to higher farmland prices and equipment sales.
• The May hiring index was 59.2, just below April's 59.3 reading. Goss said job growth varies widely across the region with some of the strongest employment growth coming in areas where significant oil, natural gas and coal mining are happening. For example, he said rural parts of North Dakota and Colorado saw better job growth than Nebraska and Missouri.
• The confidence index, which measures how confident bankers are in the econ

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