Farmers like Egg Harbor’s Joe Haberli will believe a recent projection report from the United States Department of Agriculture when it appears in his bank statement. According to the USDA’s Farm Sector Income Forecast, their net increase could be at least 10 percent in 2019 compared to 2018 at $69 billion nationwide. That is still just over half of what it was just six years ago when it was marked at $123 billion. Farmers can expect to see more from milk and cattle and less from hogs and soybeans. Haberli, who milks 250 cows a day at his operation, says it is hard to be optimistic when prices have been low for several months.
The higher prices would be a welcome sign for farmers if it is true, who have seen their neighbors go out of business faster than they have since the 2008 recession.
