The current farm downturn has led to farmers and ranchers, politicians, and industry observers asking whether we are headed toward another 1980s magnitude farm financial crisis. There are several similarities between the current downturn in farm financial health and the conditions in the 1980s, but there are also some differences. This paper will evaluate whether the conditions are similar enough to conclude that we might be headed toward a 1980s type of financial crisis.

Topics: Ag Finance and Record Keeping