New data from the Ag Economy Barometer show U.S. farm debt continues to climb, with the percentage of producers expecting larger operating loans rising for 2026 and a growing share attributing that increase to unpaid debt carried over from prior years. Higher input costs remain the most common reason for larger loans, but unpaid balances and reliance on short-term financing are contributing to a rising financial stress index among surveyed farmers.

Read the full article to understand how farm debt trends and financial stress could affect your operation and planning decisions this year.