Farm Credit & Banking
AFBF Economist Samantha Ayoub discusses the latest data on Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy filings and what the troubling trend signals for the farm economy. At the same time, bigger loans and higher rates are squeezing working capital and increasing financial risk.
Bankruptcy filings reflect prolonged margin pressure, rising debt, and limited financial flexibility across farm country. Bigger operating loans are helping farms manage costs, but they also signal growing reliance on borrowed capital.
Danny Munch of the American Farm Bureau joined us to discuss USDA’s latest farm income forecast, revisions to prior estimates, and what the updated data means for farmers heading into 2026.
More flexible export financing could strengthen demand in emerging markets and support higher U.S. agricultural exports.
Modest rate relief may come late in 2026, but borrowing costs are likely to stay elevated.
Purdue University Professor of Agricultural Economics Dr. Jim Mintert shares a closer look at farmer sentiment and the key issues shaping the agricultural economy in January.
Often overlooked, cotton wholesalers act as stabilizers during market stress, translating fragmented retail demand into workable production programs for mills and manufacturers.
Greater transparency into USDA-backed lending can help rural lenders and producers better assess credit availability and investment trends.
Payment totals alone do not show financial stress — production costs and net losses complete the picture.
USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
Congressional leaders signal momentum toward expanded, targeted farm aid to help producers manage losses and cash-flow stress in 2026.
Livestock strength is carrying the farm economy, while crop margins remain tight and increasingly dependent on risk management and financial discipline.
Strong balance sheets still matter, but liquidity, planning, and lender relationships are critical as ag credit tightens, according to analysis from AgAmerica Lending.
Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
Farmer Bridge payments are being used primarily to reduce debt and protect cash flow, not drive new spending. Curt Blades with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers joined us to provide insight into the ag equipment market and the factors influencing sales.
As the new year begins, both farmers and rural families are taking stock of their finances and planning ahead for 2026.
On a spreadsheet, it looks like the ultimate way to harvest extra profit. But in the eyes of the IRS—as RFD-TV Farm Legal & Tax Expert Roger McEowen explains—this “tax-free” bank can quickly turn into a field full of weeds.
A narrower Section 1071 rule could reduce regulatory pressure on ag lenders while keeping credit available in rural communities.
Reviewing risk management now can help dairy and livestock producers enter 2026 with clearer margins and fewer surprises.
Small, locally focused wineries are finding resilience through direct sales and regional loyalty rather than scale alone.
