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Forecast shows weak farm income to limit Nebraska’s economic growth

Photo courtesy Nutrient Advisors

A new report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says weak farm income will continue to hamper Nebraska’s economic growth during the next three years.

“We do anticipate another drop in farm income here in 2017,” says Eric Thompson, director of UNL’s Bureau of Business Research.  “While that will be reversed somewhat in 2018 and 2019—we’re expecting an increase in farm income both those years—the overall picture over the next three years won’t be much progress in farm income.”

Thompson says farm income is projected to rise nearly four percent in 2018 and more than seven percent in 2019. But he says those increases will be mostly the result of improved productivity, “the actions of the producers themselves, rather than a rebound in commodity prices.”

Thompson says weakness in agriculture, Nebraska’s largest economic sector, will cap growth in the state’s overall economy, despite strong performances in other sectors like construction and business services.

Past research has shown about one in four Nebraska jobs is tied to agricultural production.

AUDIO: Eric Thompson

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