Strong ag economy boosts farm businesses
Published 9:29 am Thursday, December 22, 2011
By Mark Steil, Minnesota Public Radio News
WORTHINGTON — The nation’s struggling economy is making tentative steps toward recovery, but it still has quite a ways to go to catch the high-flying agricultural sector.
The Great Recession barely touched the agricultural economy because of high commodity prices. Grain and livestock prices remain high and farm income is likely to set another record this year. Those good times on the land are spreading to businesses that sell to farmers.
Farm machinery makers are one of the main beneficiaries of the strong agricultural economy. Equipment demand is so robust that some companies are expanding, adding more production and jobs.