Survey of U.S. farmers reveals how a farm’s agility relates to farm growth. Respondents were asked if they had established goals, objectives, and core values; whether their farm looked for opportunities that new enterprises may provide; whether they regularly assessed their advantages and disadvantages compared to other farms.

Survey of U.S. farmers reveals how absorption capacity drives farm growth and resilience. Respondents were asked if they had low per unit fixed costs, a diversified enterprise mix, and a strong balance sheet.

Off-the-shelf strategic risk management tools remain unavailable for farmers (unlike availability of forward pricing commodities, hedging commodities using futures and/or options, locking in input prices, etc., for financial, marketing, and production risk), furthering the misconception that strategic risks are “unmanageable”. Strategic risk management requires a more deliberate approach (i.e., enhancing farm agility and absorption capacity). Results presented in this article reveal how resilience to strategic risk relates to future growth expectations, optimism on the state of the agricultural economy, use of management practices, and financial performance.