Farmers fretting over market conditions

Midwest farms are showing financial stress, and producers are expressing concerns about market conditions, according to a new Purdue University survey.

Researchers learned that as much as 7 percent of U.S. farms are suffering from some financial stress. Many are carrying larger loans than a year ago, and one in five of them said it was the result of carrying over a previous year’s unpaid operating debt.

Producers seem more optimistic about the future of agriculture exports. Only 8 percent in the recent survey said they expect agriculture exports to decrease in the next five years.•