Farming-Dependent Counties and the Financial Well-Being of Farm Operator Households

摘要

The financial well-being of farmers varies with the local economy's dependence on farming. Farming dependent counties (where farming contributes at least 20 percent of the county's total earnings) offer limited nonfarm employment opportunities. These operators earn high farm incomes but face large debts. Declining land values have lowered their equity positions. Government payments provide a larger share of their incomes than for farms in other areas because these farmers specialize in producing crops included in farm commodity programs. The report examines financial well-being of farm operator households in counties that rely on farming for earnings.