Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies have hit highs not seen for a decade in some states, setting off alarms, with some wondering whether the farm economy could be headed for a crisis similar to the one that occurred in the 1980s. A deeper look at the numbers tells a different story.

“Some deterioration in credit quality” for borrowers in the agricultural sector is evident in a new set of financial indicators of the Farm Credit System posted last week by the system’s federal regulatory agency, the Farm Credit Administration.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2017 - President Trump’s advisers are getting an earful about the potential impact of his trade policy on the U.S. farm economy.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2017 - There is more evidence of a continued downturn in the U.S. farm economy. USDA says that net farm income is likely to decline this year by 8.7 percent to $62.3 billion. That would make this the fourth straight decline since the peak in 2013.