Farm Credit & Banking
Low-risk credit farming is not a technique; it is a culture of financial discipline. It requires the same level of expertise in the farm office as it does in the field.
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.