Farm Lender Survey Paints Challenging Picture

A survey by the American Bankers Association and FarmerMac of 350 lenders involved in agriculture held some dire and troubling results.

They were similar to what Doug Thiessen of Alabama Ag Credit told a Congressional Committee.

“Approximately 50 percent of my ag clients lost money this year, many now facing multiple years of losses.”

The survey indicated that 90 percent of lenders reporting declining profitability, 84 percent had clients who took on more debt and were more highly leveraged. Only 60 percent of clients were making a profit at this point in 2017 and only 54 percent are expected to be in the black by the end of the year.