The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that farm sector equity may rise to 1.6 percent in 2018 to almost $2.7 trillion but decline by 0.1 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars. Additionally, there are possibilities that the 1.6 percent increase in farm assets may exceed the one percent increase in farm debt.

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Shank's Argo
The State of American
Farms and the Move to
Increase Small Farm
Yield

2. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that farm sector equity may
rise to 1.6 percent in 2018 to almost $2.7 trillion but decline by 0.1 percent in inflation-
adjusted dollars.
Additionally, there are possibilities that the 1.6 percent increase in farm assets may exceed
the one percent increase in farm debt.
The Challenges Small Farms Face
According to Farm Aid, debt-to-income ratios of the farm sector is at the highest it has
been in three decades. The solvency ratios continued to weaken for five consecutive years.
Farmers may face an economic uncertainty that will affect the survival of their farms in
case they cannot secure affordable and timely credit. They mostly rely on credit to buy the
fertilizer, seeds, machinery, and other elements that maintain production.
Furthermore, Successful Farming explains that one of the challenges that young or beginner
farmers face is when they do not get help from the USDA. Many of them are growing
alternative crops and producing food which they directly sell to consumers, restaurants, or
grocery stores.

3. For farmers who have limited access to capital, farming experts suggest that establishing a
viable business plan can open up options for financing.
Increasing Productivity and Yield
Tractors remain the essential machine when farmers need power for big projects. Today,
all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs) are taking over many modern-
day tasks. Despite the strength that tractors have, ATVs and UTVs provide the versatility
that enables farmers to travel many acres easily and finish a lot of jobs.
Farmers can use ATVs and UTVs to transport supplies across their farms. A large UTV has
the capacity to carry hundreds of pounds of supplies. Another use for this type of vehicle is
plowing fields. Farmers can turn their UTV into a small tractor by adding a chisel plow or a
disc plow attachment to the back of the machine.
They can use it not only for plowing but also for raking. When they install a raking
attachment to the machine, it will help them clean up different debris efficiently.
There are many other ways farmers can utilize a UTV or ATV. Experts suggest investing in a
high-quality UTV to help farmers accomplish more work and ensure better yield.

4. Sources:
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-sector-income-finances/assets-debt-and-wealth/
https://www.farmaid.org/blog/fact-sheet/looming-crisis-american-farms/
https://www.shanksargo.com/
https://www.agriculture.com/news/top-7-concerns-of-young-farmers
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/atv-utv-uses-farm-jobs/