USDA has raised its 2026 net farm income forecast by $5 billion from its February estimate. Direct government payments, including traditional farm program payments and ad hoc assistance, are expected to increase 70 percent from 2025. “On the farm sector balance sheet, assets, debt, and equity are all forecast to increase nominally in 2026, with equity forecast to rise two point seven percent,” said USDA economist Carrie Litkowski. Farm production expenses are forecast to rise by $21 billion, or 4.5 percent.
