farm debt

Rural America is showing us how to keep debt low and stability high. This year’s USDA report might just change how we view our finances.

The USDA launched a new Debt Consolidation Tool that allows producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might come from debt consolidation.  That consolidation could come from either a local lender or the Farm Service Agency.   “...

After three straight months of readings slightly above growth neutral, the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index fell below the growth neutral threshold.  The March index slumped from 50.1 in February to a reading of 45.6 in March.  Despite...

The USDA is forecasting that farm commodity prices will drop in the year ahead and production input costs will stay or even move higher.  For producers, the question is: when/if input prices follow those output prices lower.   “We are forecasting that fertilizer and feed expenses will decline in 2023, yet they will remain high," noted USDA economist Carrie Litkowski. She added expenses for m.

Net farm income for U.S. farmers is forecast at $160.5 billion in 2022, a $19.5 billion increase over 2021.  The December Farm Sector Income and Finances report shows net cash farm income forecast at $187.9 billion in 2022, $29 billion higher than in 2021.  Cash re...

The Kansas City Fed said strong growth in farm real estate debt pushed agricultural loan balances higher at commercial banks in the 2nd quarter.  Outstanding farm debt increased by 5% from last year, the fastest pace in almost six years.  While a...

Farm real estate debt at commercial banks grew modestly in the first quarter, while production loans remained steady. The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank said alongside soaring farmland values, real estate loan balances increased at the fastest pace in four years and drove an increase in the overall amount of agricultural lending ...

Agricultural debt at commercial banks continued to decline in the first quarter of 2021, and farm loan performance improved. Last week, the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank released the data that shows both real estate and production loans decreased, reducing farm debt by more than 5% from a year ago ...

According to the USDA, net cash farm income could wrap up 2020 over 25% higher than 2019's number. The USDA's Cheif Economist Rob Johannson said most of that jump is thanks for government payments and a late year rally in commodity prices ...

Democratic Representatives from New York, Maine, Vermont, and New Jersey introduced the Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act. The legislation would provide one-time debt forgiveness of up to $250,000 for farmers who hold existing loan obligations with the USDA. The ...