Rabobank Group

7-4-2009 | Food and Agribusiness news

U.S. farmers’ outlook on the economy generally mirrors that of the overall population, says a new Rabobank U.S. Farm & Ranch Confidence Survey. More than half of the U.S. farmers surveyed are employing risk management strategies to help navigate through this difficult economic climate.

“We are in the midst of difficult financial times, but this survey illustrates that farmers are taking steps to mitigate their risk, which will ease concerns about the future,” said John Ryan, president and CEO for Rabo AgriFinance. “While many are hurting because of the economy, there is some optimism that the situation will improve next year.”  

In addition to risk management tactics, the Rabobank Farm & Ranch Survey looks at business conditions, economy concerns and expansion plans among U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers.

U.S. Farm & Ranch Confidence Survey
The study was conducted to gauge farmers’ confidence among target farming regions in the United States.  An independent survey company conducted 458 computer-assisted telephone interviews in the first half of February 2009. The farmers targeted own or operate a farm grossing $250,000 or more in the regions of the Midwest, Southern and Western United States.