by Morgan Stutrud
Farming in North Dakota has always required resilience, and recent economic and policy pressures are testing that resiliency more than ever. Data from North Dakota Farm Management shows that average net farm income across the state declined from $139,574 in 2023 to $118,688 in 2024, highlighting the financial challenges many producers are facing.
Rising input costs, fluctuating commodity prices and regulatory requirements are influencing decisions about crop selection, planting strategies and long-term farm planning. Farmers are finding ways to adapt — from exploring specialty markets to adopting new financial planning tools — but understanding how these strategies are working across the state requires comprehensive data.
What’s in the data?
The release of 2025 North Dakota Farm Management data in April will offer fresh insights into the state’s agricultural landscape. Once instructors compile information from producers across the state who are enrolled in the program, this next set of data will provide key information to track how farmers are navigating economic pressures and evolving policies in North Dakota.
The insights will help identify emerging trends, highlight successful adaptation strategies and shed light on areas where farmers may need additional support.
Staying informed about regional trends helps producers make better-informed decisions for their operations. Seeing how peers are responding to market pressures, regulatory changes and input costs provides invaluable context for planning, risk management and strategic investments.
Participation in the North Dakota Farm Management program helps agriculture producers strengthen their skills, gain practical insights and make more informed decisions for their operations.
By enrolling, farmers gain access to detailed benchmarking data and financial reports, allowing them to anonymously evaluate their operations against regional averages and peer operations. The program helps producers identify opportunities for improvement, measure the impact of changes on their farm’s financial health, and strengthen decision-making skills that are critical for long-term success.
Participation not only benefits individual operations, but it also strengthens the overall data set, giving the North Dakota agriculture community a clearer picture of the trends shaping the state.
Keeping an eye on these trends, as well as participating in ND Farm Management, will be essential for farmers, policymakers and anyone connected to agriculture in North Dakota. The upcoming data promises to show not only the challenges but also the innovative ways North Dakota farmers are working to maintain viability in a changing landscape.
Stutrud is a North Dakota Farm Management education program instructor at Dakota College at Bottineau and writes from Rugby. Visit ndfarmmanagement.com, or contact Madison Bodine, state supervisor for ND Farm Management education, at mbodine@nd.gov or 701-328-4567 for more information.