Farm lending activity continued to increase gradually alongside further growth in loan sizes. The average size of non-real estate farm loans was about 20% higher than a year ago and drove an increase in lending volumes for the fourth consecutive quarter. At the same time, average interest rates on farm loans rose sharply alongside higher benchmark rates and reached a 10-year high, putting additional upward pressure on financing costs.

The outlook for farm finances remained favorable alongside elevated commodity prices, but increased interest rates, challenging weather conditions, and high production costs remained key concerns. Higher expenses contributed to a rebound in lending during 2022, but strong farm income and liquidity likely has limited financing needs of many producers. Looking ahead, however, elevated operating expenses could put additional upward pressure on loan demand.

Fourth Quarter National Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers

The volume of non-real estate farm loans at commercial banks increased steadily through the end of 2022. Lending activity was 7% higher than a year ago and grew at an average pace of about 15% over the past year (Chart 1). The growth continued to be driven by larger-sized operating loans and also was boosted by an increase in feeder livestock loans.

Chart 1: Volume of Non-Real Estate Farm Loans - is a line graph showing the annual percent change in the volume of total non-real estate loans during each quarter from Q1 2016 to Q4 2022 and also includes a line showing the rolling four-quarter average.  Sources: Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Farm lending historically has increased alongside higher production costs, but strong liquidity likely has curbed some demand the past two years. Production expenses across the farm sector have increased nearly 15% since 2020 while farm lending declined about 10% (Chart 2). Working capital on farms increased nearly 60% over that time, reducing borrowing needs for many producers and strengthening their ability to service debt.

Chart 2: Farm Lending, Operating Expenses and Liquidity- is a line graph showing the volume of Farm Lending*, Operating Expenses** and the Debt Service Ratio as an index (2000 =100) every year from 2000 to 2022. Farm Lending* and Operating Expenses** are index based on 2022$. There is also are arrow pointing upward indicating that values of the Debt Service Ratio moving that direction on the x-axis indicate higher liquidity.   *Average annual volume of loans for current operating expenses and livestock loans from Survey of Terms of Lending. **Total U.S. farm sector production expenses less interest expenses and capital expenditures.  Sources: USDA, Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers, and Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Interest rates on farm loans rose rapidly again in the fourth quarter and the spread between rates offered at large and small banks narrowed. Rates on non-real estate farm loans increased by an average of about 125 basis points from the previous quarter (Chart 3). Financing charges have risen more rapidly among large farm lenders than small or mid-sized banks during recent months and the difference between average rates charged by those groups reached the lowest level since 2007.

Chart 3: Average Interest Rates on Non-Real Estate Loans by Bank Size - is a clustered column chart showing the average interest rate by bank size (total non-real estate, Small or mid-sized banks, and large banks). It includes columns for the 2015-2019 Average, 2020 Average, 2021 Average, Q1 2022, Q2 2022, Q3 2022 and Q4 2022. Sources: Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers and Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Despite increasing sharply over the past year, farm loan interest rates remained near the recent historic average. Rates charged on both real estate and non-real estate loans reached the highest level in more than a decade but were near the average of the past 20 years (Chart 4). The rapid rise has pushed financing costs up notably for producers, and the increase could be more pronounced for operations with higher debt needs.

Chart 4: Average Farm Loan Interest Rates - is a line graph showing the average interest rate on Farm Operating Loans and Farm Real Estate Loans in every quarter from Q1 1978 to Q4 2022. It includes a line showing the 2000-2022 average.  Sources: Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers and Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Data and Information

Excel SpreadsheetNational Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers Historical Data
Excel SpreadsheetNational Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers Tables
txtAbout the National Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers

Authors

Cortney Cowley

Senior Economist

Cortney Cowley is a senior economist in the Regional Affairs Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. She also serves as a special advisor on the agricultural econo…

Ty Kreitman

Associate Economist

Ty Kreitman is an associate economist in the Regional Affairs Department at the Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. In this role, he primarily supports the F…