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PrintLEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) - As farmers face tightening margins, elevated production costs and uncertain markets, agricultural economists from the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFÉ) are contributing practical guidance to help producers navigate the downturn.
Six of the 36 agricultural economists who contributed to the Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC) publication, titled "Surviving the Farm Economy Downturn: 2026 Update are based at Martin-Gatton CAFE.
"Our specialists covered topics from cattle markets and row-crop profitability to lender communication, bankruptcy, alternative crops, value-added marketing and long-term farm resilience," said Jennifer Hunter, associate dean for UK Extension and director of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. "Their contributions reflect the breadth of economic expertise available through the UK Extension."
Jordan Shockley, Ph.D., a UK Extension professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, said the update builds on an earlier version that was developed 10 years ago, when Southern Extension economists saw a need for a coordinated regional resource. With another downturn emerging over the past two to three years, the group decided to update the publication for current conditions and add chapters reflecting new challenges facing producers.
"This is a great example of the working relationship we have in the Southern region," Shockley said. "When issues arise for producers here, we get together and respond. The fact that we put this together in a couple of months shows the urgency of the issue and how close-knit and effective we are as economists in the Southeast."
The SRMEC publication, also supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, includes 24 peer-reviewed articles with strategies to help producers weather the storm as commodity prices soften and production expenses remain high.
In the update, several common themes emerge: producers need to know their costs, communicate early with lenders, preserve liquidity, evaluate risk carefully, avoid short-term decisions that weaken long-term viability and build resilience before the next downturn arrives.
Farmers and agricultural professionals can access the publication and related content through the Economic and Policy Update E-newsletter provided by the Martin-Gatton CAFE Department of Agricultural Economics.
