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Farm Income Expected to Fall Across the Midwest

Harvest Public Media is a reporting project based in the Midwest, which covers agriculture, from farms to food to fuel.
Harvest Public Media is a reporting project based in the Midwest, which covers agriculture, from farms to food to fuel.

The rural economy may take a hit this year. That's according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As Harvest Public Media’s Amy Mayer reports, farm incomes are forecast to drop.


(SCRIPT)
USDA expects net farm income to be down 36 percent this year compared to last. USDA economist Mitchell Morehart says lower commodity prices and current land values and production expenses make the most recent forecast bleaker than government estimates from last spring.

"We see declines being widespread, in other words there is not a region of the country where incomes are going to go up in 2015 in our current forecast."

Lower prices for corn, soybeans, wheat and hogs will particularly impact Midwest farms. Amy Mayer, Harvest Public Media.

Harvest Public Media is a reporting collaboration focused on issues of food, fuel and field. Based at KCUR in Kansas City, Harvest covers these agriculture-related topics through an expanding network of reporters and partner stations throughout the Midwest. Global demand for food and fuel is rising, and the push and pull for resources has serious ramifications for our country’s economic prosperity. What’s more, we all eat, so we all have a stake in how our food is produced In the Midwest, in particular, today’s emerging agenda for agriculture is headlined by climate change, food safety, biofuel production, animal welfare, water quality, and sustainability. By examining these local, regional and national issues and their implications with in-depth and unbiased reporting, Harvest is filling a critical information void. Most Harvest Public Media stories begin with radio — regular reports are aired on our member stations in the Midwest. But Harvest also explores issues through online analyses, television documentaries and features, podcasts, photography, video, blogs and social networking. We are committed to the highest journalistic standards. Click here to read our ethics policy.