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financial analysis
Purdue analysis of FINBIN data shows how liquidity and repayment capacity have differed across crop farm sizes from 2007 to 2025, with notable changes in the gap between smaller and larger farms.
Read More about Liquidity and Repayment CapacityIndiana farmland values remain elevated relative to the cash rent they generate. Purdue agricultural economist Michael Langemeier examines what the farmland price-to-rent ratio can tell us about land values, future returns and the risks facing buyers.
Read More about 2026 Trends in Farmland Price to Rent Ratios in IndianaHave crop farms or livestock farms generated better long-run returns? Michael Langemeier compares rates of return for beef, dairy, diversified, and crop farms from 2007–2025, revealing why recent livestock price strength hasn’t translated into a clear long-run advantage.
Read More about Comparison of Long-Run Rates of Return for Crop and Livestock FarmsIncreasing financial leverage will increase expected returns as long the marginal returns from the use of loans exceed the cost of borrowing. In favorable economic times, higher leverage can improve financial performance and stimulate farm growth. However, in unfavorable economic times, leverage can cause business performance to deteriorate rapidly. Thus, higher leverage may increase expected returns and financial risk.
Read More about Impact of Leverage on Rates of Return of Crop FarmsHigher prices don’t always guarantee higher profits. New Purdue research examines the tradeoffs between organic and conventional crop production, including yield differences, cost structures, and the factors driving farm-level profitability.
Read More about Conventional and Organic Enterprise Net ReturnsUSDA’s first 2026 Farm Income and Wealth Statistics release provides an early look at the U.S. farm balance sheet heading into the next production cycle. Farm assets and equity are projected to grow at the slowest pace since 2019–2020, while farm debt accumulation accelerates for the third time in four years. Non-real estate assets are expected to decline, driven by reductions in livestock and crop inventories, even as machinery investment continues rising. Key efficiency ratios remain near historic lows, signaling tighter production returns relative to asset values.
Read More about USDA’s First Forecast of the 2026 U.S. Farm Balance SheetThe Farm Finance Lab tool helps producers use Schedule F tax data and balance sheets to quickly generate financial ratios measuring profitability, liquidity, solvency, and financial efficiency. Users can upload documents or enter values manually, explore interactive gauges, and test scenario changes to better understand financial performance. The tool is free to use and does not store any user data.
Read More about Farm Finance Lab: Turn Tax Data into Financial Management InsightExamine breakeven prices, earnings per acre, breakeven cash rents, and trends in working capital with this spreadsheet tool.
Read More about Long-Run Cash Rent Spreadsheet ToolThis article discussed recent trends in feed costs for farrow-to-finish and swine finishing enterprises, and provided projections for the second half of 2025. Average feed costs in 2024 were substantially lower than feed costs in 2022 and 2023. Moreover, a further reduction in feed costs is expected for the upcoming year.
Read More about Prospects for Swine Feed Costs in the Second Half of 2025The objective of this paper is to measure the cost efficiency of corn and soybean production for six typical farms in North America (three in Canada and three in the United States). All these farms produce both corn and soybeans. Cost efficiency is measured using data envelope analysis. In addition to comparing efficiency indices, cost shares of the most efficient farm is compared to cost shares for the other five farms.
Read More about Cost Efficiency Comparisons of U.S. and Canadian Farms