Profitability of Farm Businesses: A Regional Farm Type, and Size Analysis

Detailed information is given on farm business profits during 1987-91 among the various U.S. production regions, production special ;ties, and farm sizes. The report uses recent data to show the ... ide income variance IIIIICIng farms, a third of which are not profitable, and shows the major part played by larger and more specialized farms in the total production of U.S. agriculture. Average returns on assets including capital gains are determined for farms of the various regions, production specialties, and farm sizes. Farm incomes are compared against the returns of U.S. Treasury bills on the same value of capital investment.