Figure 1 provides a clear illustration of the regional variation in the trends of the ratio over time. One piece of the variation is due to different soils and types of farms. Typically, Northern Illinois has more livestock operations. This has led to heavier corn rotations and a greater percentage of these operations being cash-rented. The rotation in Central Illinois has primarily been 50/50 corn and soybeans, with a higher percentage of crop share arrangements. Southern Illinois has most of the wheat acres in Illinois that are typically followed by double-crop soybeans, and those operations average more owned acres as a percentage of their operation. In addition, lower-quality soils lead to more variability in yields. Compared to the Northern and Southern regions of Illinois, the Central area of the state has demonstrated the least variation in median values over the past two decades. When looking at the individual components of the ratio across the entire period, Northern Illinois experienced the largest standard deviation in median gross farm returns (s.d. = $207,870) and current assets (s.d. = $236,930).The standard deviation of the working capital to gross farm returns ratio (0.157) in this region was also the largest, although it was only slightly higher than that of Southern Illinois, which had a standard deviation of 0.155. In contrast, Southern Illinois displayed the largest standard deviation in median current liabilities (s.d. = $83,651). Furthermore, in most years, Southern Illinois reported the lowest median values for both working capital and gross farm returns compared to the other two regions.
Overall, the median reported working capital to farm returns ratio has improved since the early 2000s. In 2003, the median grain farm within each region had a cautionary ratio. In the following years, liquidity improved significantly and reached the strong range. However, Southern Illinois experienced a sharp decline in its ratio, falling by 41.78% from 2007 to 2009. In terms of the individual components of the ratio at the median, gross farm returns in the region increased by 19.15%, current assets declined by 1.96%, and current liabilities rose dramatically by 54.54%, which implies a substantial squeeze in working capital. At the farm level, the median reported working capital declined by 40.32%. The ratio quickly recovered from 2009 to 2011 as working capital improved.
In the 2010s, the median grain farm across all regions in Illinois experienced a prolonged period of declining liquidity. Lower grain prices translated to lower ending inventory values and, consequently, lower current asset values. Current liabilities trended higher. Southern Illinois experienced the largest deterioration in farm liquidity during this period, declining from a ratio of 0.656 (strong) in 2011 to 0.198 (cautionary) in 2017. By the end of the decade, however, farm liquidity began to improve. While all three regions reported strong working capital to gross farm returns ratios at the median in 2023, Southern Illinois saw a decrease from the previous year, whereas the ratios in Northern and Central Illinois increased.
Conclusion
Overall, over the past two decades, the median reported working capital to gross farm returns ratio in Illinois has improved. However, significant regional differences in trends have become more evident. Central Illinois has experienced the least variability in this ratio, maintaining greater stability compared to other areas. In contrast, Southern Illinois often struggles with liquidity challenges, consistently reporting lower median values for both working capital and gross returns.
These liquidity issues are largely driven by the region’s greater crop yield variability, leading to more pronounced income swings. This yield variability stems from Southern Illinois’s lower soil quality, making crops more vulnerable to extreme conditions such as excessive rainfall, elevated temperatures during the growing season, or drought. In our next article, we will examine the working capital to gross farm returns ratio by farm size.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to acknowledge that data used in this study comes from the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) Association. Without Illinois FBFM, information as comprehensive and accurate as this would not be available for educational purposes. FBFM, which consists of 5,000+ farmers and 70 professional field staff, is a not-for-profit organization available to all farm operators in Illinois. FBFM field staff provide on-farm counsel along with recordkeeping, farm financial management, business entity planning and income tax management. For more information, please contact our office located on the campus of the University of Illinois in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at 217-333-8346 or visit the FBFM website at www.fbfm.org.
Notes
The Farm Financial Scorecard adheres to the guidelines set by the Farm Financial Standards Council.
s.d. refers to the standard deviation.
References
Mashange, G., B. Zwilling and D. Raab. "The Liquidity of Illinois Grain Farms: Working Capital to Gross Farm Returns Ratio." farmdoc daily (14):222, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, December 9, 2024.
Mashange, G., D. Raab and B. Zwilling. "The Liquidity of Illinois Grain Farms: Working Capital." farmdoc daily (14):208, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, November 14, 2024.
Source : illinois.edu