U.S. net cash farm income is forecast to increase three percent this year. This figure varies by region. The Northern Great Plains and Heartland areas, which would include the Dakotas, are forecast to see a 22 percent increase in average net farm income. The so-called Northern Cresent includes Minnesota, Wisconsin into the northeastern United States. Income in this area is expected to be up only four percent, due to the influence of a difficult dairy economy. Carrie Litowski leads the farm income team at USDA’s Economic Research Service and said farm input costs are being called ‘flat’ for the year ahead. “They are expected to remain elevated from 2025 into 2026 after rising significantly in 2022.”
