Farm Income

By
rjonesx
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Definition

In United States agricultural policy, several measures are used to gauge farm income over a given period of time.

Farm Income

What is ‘Farm Income’

Farm income refers to profits and losses incurred through the operation of a farm. A farm income statement (sometimes called a farm profit and loss statement) is a summary of income and expenses that occurred during a specified accounting period. This period is usually the calendar year for farmers (January 1 – December 31).

Explaining ‘Farm Income’

In U.S. agricultural policy, farm income can be divided as follows:

Gross Cash Income: the sum of all receipts from the sale of crops, livestock and farm related goods and services, as well as any direct payments from the government.

Gross Farm Income: the same as gross cash income with the addition of non-money income, such as the value of home consumption of self-produced food.

Net Cash Income: the gross cash income less all cash expenses, such as for feed, seed, fertilizer, property taxes, interest on debt, wagers, contract labor and rent to non-operator landlords.

Net Farm Income: the gross farm income less cash expenses and non-cash expenses, such as capital consumption and farm household expenses.

Net Cash Income: a short-term measure of cash flow.

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