Livestock Profits Rise as Crop Farmers Face Debt Concerns

Sep 26, 2025

By Bob Bragg

As we look at the U.S. agricultural economy, it’s apparent that livestock producers are much more optimistic about the prospects for the near term then crop producers. Beef producers see the potential for record profitability this year. But crop producers are likely to have a tougher time. Over the Past couple of months, the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index has registered falling optimism among crop farmers concerning future prospects for their operations due to the expectations that returns on their crops will be low. Also, agricultural economists and agricultural lenders have begun to register concerns that all is not well in the agricultural economy. They’re finding troubling comparisons to the 1980’s farm financial debt crisis that caused many farmers to file for bankruptcy, often forcing them out of farming.

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Video: WARNING! Rough Start To Breeding Season!!

WARNING! Sheep Breeding Season Begins With A Bang! Breeding season is officially underway at Ewetopia Farms, but it didn’t exactly start the way we planned!

This vlog begins with us sorting through our rams to find the perfect match for a customer’s breeding program. What should have been routine quickly turned dangerous when one of our more nervous rams panicked. In seconds, Arnie’s knee was injured, and then I was slammed hard onto the concrete floor — both of us taken down by one ram!

Thankfully, it was just bruises, but it’s a reminder of how unpredictable and powerful mature rams can be. Once we recovered, it was time to get back to the real work — the start of breeding season.

We sorted the ewes into four breeding groups (two Suffolk and two Dorset), checking parentage as they ran through the chute, deworming those that needed it, and setting aside thinner ewes for session two of breeding season in a month’s time.This staggered approach keeps lambing organized and prevents overcrowding in the barns.

From rogue rams to the excitement of new breeding groups, this episode is full of action. Stay tuned for the next vlog, where we’ll share how we chose the rams for each group!