Agriculture is a diverse sector represented by a complex mix of business enterprises.
The Economic Research Service in collaboration with USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, conducts an annual survey of farm and household finances. Since 1986, results of this survey have been used to establish estimates of farm financial position, considering both net income and the degree of indebtedness. The most recent survey results are for calendar year 1999. The share of vulnerable farms was similar to a year earlier when 5.1 percent were considered financially vulnerable. The share of farm businesses considered to be in a favorable financial position, increased by 4 percentage points reaching 68.4 percent.