The forecast for net farm income looks bleak.
The Department of Agriculture expects another 8.7% drop in 2017, compared to 2016. Expected at $62.3 billion, down 49.6% from the 2013 record high farm income.
This would be the fourth year of down trending economy.
The forecast is driven by a reduction in the value of farm production, mostly in the crop side, where it’s expected to be down 4.%. The animal side of production is expected to be down 0.5%.