A Historical Look at Farm Income

This publication presents the national farm income statistics, dating back to 1910. The current USDA income series, at the national level, include estimates of net farm income, net cash income, net business income, net cash-flow, and farm production transactions. In 1980, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) added three new income series to reflect the changing farm economy of the 1970's. The new series included net cash income, net cash-flow, and production transactions with estimates back to 1940. A net business income series in the National Financial Summary with estimates back to 1940 was introduced by ERS in 1985. The net cash-flow account, net business income, and farm production transactions (excluding operator dwelling) have never before been extended or published back to 1910.