Rising Concerns: What ag leaders warn is their top worry heading into next year

interest rates_financial graph on technology abstract background_Photo by monsitj via Adobe Stock_190463205.jpg

Photo by monsitj via Adobe Stock

A new report shows the top concern facing ag lenders heading into next year is interest rates.

The Ag Lender Survey shows nearly half of those who responded ranked interest rate volatility as number one, which is up 35.5 percentage points from last year. It shows interest rates have boosted bank net interest margins, but fears of weakening loan demand and strong competition are expected to cut into yields.

Most lenders surveyed say farm profitability increased over the last year but it still remains below the prior average.

Related Stories
President Trump is expected to press Argentina to take a tougher stance on China in exchange for political and economic support.
Treat storage as risk management and logistics, and budget to break even since export growth is unlikely to absorb bigger U.S. corn and soybean crops.
For rural borrowers, freeing up community-bank balance sheets could mean steadier home loans, operating lines, and ag real-estate financing as winter planning ramps up.
Nick Andersen, Nationwide’s VP of Agribusiness Claims, shares tips for managing weather-related risks in agriculture using their new Hail and Wind Alert Program.
Culver’s Quality Manager Jim Krombach explains why it is vital for brands to invest in the next generation of agriculture through organizations like FFA.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is urging Congress and the Trump Administration to act quickly on behalf of American agriculture.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Tara Vander Dussen, fifth-generation dairy farmer, environmental scientist, and co-host of Discover Ag, joined RFD-TV to talk about her work in agriculture and her passion for sharing the story of dairy.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined RFD-TV to discuss how seasonal stress and mental health concerns can make it more challenging to get a restful night’s sleep
Dr. Ashley Johnson, with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), joins us to share the sector’s perspective on new FDA initiatives targeting ultra-processed foods.
Among many longstanding traditions at the FFA Convention & Expo is the National FFA Band.
Pork producers are making Veterans Day a little brighter for Iowa’s military families.
While there has been an increase in outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) this migration season, the CDC says the public health risk is low.