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Ag lender: Planning for the 2027 crop year starts now

An ag lending expert says early financial planning could help farmers manage economic uncertainty heading into 2027.

Rudi Pitzer Perry, regional vice president of agricultural lending at Farm Credit Mid-America, says tighter margins are forcing producers to reevaluate their operating budgets.

“It’s not just grain prices, so many of these input costs just aren’t coming back down,” she says. “Diesel costs of course are now a big concern rolling into harvest. There are some restructuring options that we can look at to try to open up some breathing room.”

She tells Brownfield regular communication with ag lenders can help farmers make more informed management decisions.

“Talk to your financial advisor,” she says. “Talk to your financial officer and crop insurance agent. Talk to your partners early so that you have more time to work through any hurdles that you might have.”

Perry says proactive planning will be critical as producers prepare for another year of tighter margins in 2027.

AUDIO: Rudi Pritzer Perry, Farm Credit Mid-America