Farm profits forecast to rise, but federal aid remains a big safety net - Investigate Midwest

Farm profits forecast to rise, but federal aid remains a big safety net - Investigate Midwest

The latest forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says net farm income will reach $179.8 billion in 2025, up 40% from last year.  On the surface, that sounds like a big rebound. In reality, most of that increase comes from federal disaster payments, not from stronger crop or livestock markets. USDA says producers will see $40.5 billion in direct government payments this year, more than three times higher than in 2024. Most of that tota…