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Tilling good earth or tending to animals may seem like an ideal way of life to many young farmers.

But when commodity prices plunge, or if treacherous weather wipes out a field of crops, where do you turn when your livelihood is threatened?

There are a handful of resources in Ohio that offer assistance to farmers who run into debt problems. But many experts in the field say debt avoidance can be the best remedy, and it begins with good financial planning.

“Avoiding or managing debt consists of building a budget, tracking expenses, avoiding unnecessary household spending and making sure your loan matches the purpose and need of your operation,” said Jonathan Carter, assistant vice president with the agricultural lending cooperative Farm Credit Mid-America.

Carter works within the lender’s Growing Forward program, which provides loans and education to young, beginning and small farmers. He says some common sense tips can help farmers avoid debt. For example, farmers should not use a one-year operating line to purchase equipment, or permit excess family living expenses to add up.

Academic research does point to some potential pitfalls for farmers in the coming years.

Professors from the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State University say that while the rate of bankruptcy for farmers is low, it’s likely to increase in the future as farm income and land values decline.

Ani Katchova and Robert Dinterman studied the effects of the economy on farmers and found that net farm income is expected to decline by 8.7 percent this year to $62.3 billion. That could squeeze some small farmers who aren’t prepared.

“Currently, only a limited number of farmers are experiencing financial distress, but if we see another two to three years of flat or declining income levels, it will be much harder for farmers to service debts,” Katchova said. “It puts them in a more vulnerable position.”

Last-ditch efforts such as filing for bankruptcy shouldn’t surface if young farmers properly plan, said Dave Drake, Ohio farm loan chief with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Drake said he’s seen many transfers of farmland over the past 10-15 years as the baby boomer generation ages.

The department offers a program that helps farmers who can’t get credit through conventional channels, or if they’ve experienced weather- or disaster-related problems. It has a separate real estate program in which it purchases farms.
USDA has about $1.3 billion outstanding loans in Ohio, with a majority going to young and beginning farmers. Terms vary and are typically lower than the market. They can be a source of capital for struggling owners, and USDA will work with borrowers to restructure debt if needed.

“Most farmers have some kind of rudiments of a business plan,” Drake said. “You’ve got to convince a loan officer that the risk the lender is going to take on you is going to pan out for both parties.”

Marty Clark, agribusiness, compliance and workforce development coordinator for The Career Center in Washington County, recommends that his clients invest in a good recordkeeping system. The goal is to use the records to see where the farm’s strengths and weaknesses lie.

Each year Clark helps farmers measure and analyze the cost of production on each of their enterprises – milk, cattle, hogs, for instance. Then, he’ll compare that to the farmer’s income.

“In agriculture we have very little control over what we get for our products,” Clark said. “It’s market-driven supply and demand. The biggest challenge we’ve got is we’ve got to control our costs. You have to know what your costs are when you’re trying to make a profit.”

Budget options for farmers

Farm lenders and consultants recommend that all farmers separate their business budget from their family budget in order to be successful. They should track expenses for both budgets using computer software or applications.

Here are several other tips to avoid and manage debt, and a basic guideline for a family budget.

Avoiding debt:

• Create a budget and stick to it
• Match the term of loans to your needs
• Start every venture with a business plan
• Ensure proper cash flow
• Avoid unnecessary debt
• Purchase health insurance
• Build 3-to-6 months of emergency savings by treating it as a fixed expense
• Don’t allow household debt to increase as it could affect business borrowing

Managing debt:

• Refinance or extend the terms of loans
• Consider Chapter 12 bankruptcy, created in the 1980s for farmers and fishermen to avoid liquidation or foreclosure
• Amortize carryover debt for a few years
• Reduce overall debt
• Increase income through value-added agriculture
• Change your lifestyle

Budget breakouts:

• Consumer spending: 20 percent
• Saving and investments: 10 percent
• Taxes: 30 percent
• Housing: <30 percent
• Consumer debt: <10 percent

Sources: Farm Credit Mid-America, Ohio State University, The Career Center