0
Net farm income is forecast to be $120.6 billion in 2013, up 6 percent from 2012’s estimate of $113.8 billion. After adjusting for inflation, 2013’s net farm income is expected to be the second highest since 1973. A return to trend yields would lead to record crop production levels and result in substantial year-end crop inventories. Net cash income—which measures the difference between cash expenses and the combination of commodities sold during the calendar year plus other sources of farm income—is forecast at $120.8 billion, down just over 10 percent from 2012. Even so, 2013’s forecast would be the fourth time net cash income, after adjusting for inflation, has exceeded $100 billion since 1973.
The projected nominal $13.1-billion increase in total expenses in 2013, to $354.2 billion, continues a string of large year-to-year movements that have taken place since 2002. In both nominal and inflation-adjusted dollars, 2013 production expenses are expected to be the highest on record. Rent, labor, and feed are the expense items expected to increase the most in 2013.
Farm sector assets, debt, and equity are all forecast to increase in 2013. As in the last several years, increases in farm asset value are expected to exceed increases in farm debt, with farm real estate the main driving force. Confirming the strength of the farm sector's solvency, both the debt-to-asset ratio and debt-to-equity ratio are expected to reach historic lows.
Tuesday August 27, 2013/ ERS-USDA/ United States.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/
