Overview
The ERS farm income and costs program measures, forecasts, and
explains indicators of economic performance for the U.S. farm
sector and major crop and livestock farm groups. The program's
analyses and data are used by USDA and other clients in both the
public and private sector to form a perspective about the financial
health of the U.S. agricultural economy. Distributional analyses
identify subsectors and business types that are performing well
relative to past trends and to other groups and types of farms.
Financial performance measures assess the farm sector's receipts
and expenses; net income variations in farm income by farm size and
other categorizations; and changes in the sector's wealth holdings.
Each of these measures, and combinations of measures, help
summarize the financial position of the farm sector. ERS publishes
estimates and forecasts of farm income and wealth based on
responses to USDA's annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey
(ARMS), as well as other sector-level information. See
- A discussion of farm income and cost estimates and forecasts
for the agricultural sector.
- Data tables for the farm income forecast and State farm sector
estimates (including costs).
- The Agricultural Income and Finance Outlook report for
historical estimates and forecasts of farm sector financial
information.
- Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) Data that
underpin much of the farm income forecast and estimates.
- ERS forecasts and estimates farm household income
and well-being.