December 5, 2014

Changing Business Climate for Agriculture and the Outlook for 2015

The period from 2006 through 2013 was very profitable for crop farms, but unprofitable for many livestock operations. But the business climate inagriculture changed in 2014 as crop profit margins narrowed sharply and animal agriculture margins improved. Purdue Economists Chris Hurt, Michael Boehlje, Michael Langemeier and Jim Mintert outline drivers of this changing business climate and discuss strategies farms can put in place to help manage the downturn in crop agriculture and the upswing in animal agriculture.

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cattle. beef, crops, livestock

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