The end of November saw USDA releasing the agency’s updated financial forecasts. The USDA headline shouted “Farm Sector Weakness to Continue Into 2016.” Net cash farm income is expected to decline 14.6% in 2016 versus last year; that follows a 19.8% decline in 2015.   USDA further noted that 2016 net farm income is at the lowest mark since 2009 and the third consecutive annual decline since farm profits hit record highs in 2013.

With that, this week’s graph digs into several key commodities that are of likely interest to BEEF readers. The chart features annual farm gate receipts for cattle, corn, oil crops (comprised predominately of soybeans) and milk. Several highlights include:

Where do you see these trends headed in the future? How will the farm sector adapt to less revenue being generated across most key commodities? What key differences are you experiencing and/or witnessing because of these realities? What impact might this have on diversified operations and subsequent investment in the beef industry’s infrastructure going forward? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.