Forecast & Trends

In addition to reporting a record $2.8 billion income for the year, last Wednesday, Deere & Co. reported that its fourth-quarter income rose 46% on a 20% increase in sales and revenues. More importantly, the world’s largest farm equipment maker also raised its 2012 net farm income to $115.7 billion from $111.6 billion it projected in August.

Some analysts are expressing concerns that uncertain global economic growth will lead to a downturn in ag machinery sales in 2012. Despite these fears, Deere raised its outlook for most farm commodity prices for the year ahead. It says it’s also looking for strong net farm cash income for the next year.

U.S. Commodity Price Estimates

 

2010-11

Previous
2010-11

Forecast
2011-12

Previous
2011-12

Forecast
2012-13

Corn

$5.18

$5.30

$6.40

$5.75

$5.30

Wheat

$5.70

$5.70

$7.40

$7.30

$6.60

Soybeans

$11.30

$11.65

$13.00

$12.75

$11.25

Cotton

$0.82

$0.81

$0.88

$0.90

$0.75

(dollars per bushel, except cotton, which is dollars per pound)

 

U.S. Farm Cash Receipts

 

2010

Previous
2010

Forecast
2011

Previous
2011

Forecast
2012

Previous
2012

Crops

$173.0

$170.9

$209.3

$207.6

$207.7

$198.1

Livestock

$141.5

$141.5

$163.1

$153.0

$157.2

$151.9

Government Payments

$12.2

$12.2

$10.7

$11.8

$9.3

$12.3

Total Cash
Receipts

$326.7

$324.6

$383.1

$372.4

$374.2

$362.3

(in billions of dollars)

 

U.S. Net Farm Income

 

2010

Previous
2010

Forecast
2011

Previous
2011

Forecast
2012

Previous
2012

Total Cash Receipts

$326.7

$324.6

$383.1

$372.4

$374.2

$362.3

Other Cash Income

$21.1

$21.0

$18.6

$21.2

$23.0

$23.8

Gross Cash Income

$347.8

$345.6

$401.7

$393.6

$397.2

$386.1

Cash Expenses

($254.2)

($254.2)

($286.0)

($282.0)

($288.0)

($283.0)

Net Cash Income

$93.6

$91.4

$115.7

$111.6

$109.2

$103.1