Ratios that factor in interest expenses and debt used as indicators for potential farm sector financial stress

Line chart showing debt-to-asset, debt-service, and times-interest-earned ratios from 2000 through the forecasted amount for 2022.

USDA’s Economic Research Service projects that U.S. farm debt is expected to rise to a record level in 2023, with interest rates as the fastest-growing production cost. However, when measured using solvency and liquidity ratios, the potential impact of higher interest expenses is minimal.


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