1998 NORTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK: REPRESENTATIVE FARMS 1997-2007

Net farm income for all representative farms except small size and low profit farms in 2007 will be higher than in 1998. Net farm income for small and low profit farms will remain the same and decrease, respectively, for the forecasting period. Cropland prices are projected to fall in all regions of North Dakota after having peaked in 1997. Cash rental rates are projected to follow cropland prices. Debt-to-asset ratios for most farms fall across the forecast period. Debt-to-asset ratios for the low profit and small size farms are higher than those for large and high profit farms.