Net farm income is forecast to be $114 billion in 2012, down 3.3
percent from 2011. Despite gains in almost all sources of farm
cash receipts, large increases in production expenses, especially
for purchased feed, have more than wiped out the price-led gains in
income. Nevertheless, after adjusting for inflation, net farm
income in 2012 is expected to be the third highest in recent
record, trailing only 2011 and 1973. The projected gains in
2012 livestock and crop cash receipts come mostly from expectations
of price increases rather than expanding production. Oil crops and
feed crops are the two leading commodities in terms of the farm
sector's value of production. Total production expenses are
forecast to rise 7.6 percent in 2012, led by an 18-percent increase
in feed expenses. This chart is based on data from U.S. and State Farm
Income and Wealth Statistics, available on the ERS
website, updated November 27, 2012.