Financial Performance of U.S. Commercial Farms, 1991-94

by Janet Perry

Commercial farms represent only 27 percent of farms in the United States, yet produce just over 75 percent of the value of agricultural products. These commercial farm businesses vary greatly by size, commodities produced, financial status, and operator demographics. Overall financial performance shows that the proportion of farms experiencing extreme financial stress remained stable over the last few years, and is considerably less than in the 1980s. Even as record levels of gross farm income are earned in this sector, expenses have increased as well, leaving farms in 1994 with average net farm income relatively stable in nominal terms over the previous 4 years.

Keywords: Assets, balance sheet, cash-flow, debt, debt repayment capacity, economic class, Farm Costs and Returns Survey, farm financial condition, production specialty, region, farm financial characteristics

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