A report from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank shows farm stress and bankruptcies have increased in the upper Midwest. The Federal Reserve ninth district reported 103 chapter 12 bankruptcies in 2018, compared to 79 the previous year. Farmers in the region continue to face low prices for commodities and high production costs. In particular, dairy farmers are experiencing challenging times, with overproduction and low prices. Total costs for inputs like seed, fertilizer, pesticides, fuel and electricity have risen by 50 percent since 2006 for Minnesota farmers.
