# Farmers remain profitable despite shrinking margins, but bankers see challenges ahead

> A Farmer Mac and American Bankers Association survey of over 600 ag lenders estimates 59% of borrowers will stay profitable in 2026 despite falling farm margins. Nearly three-quarters reported lower overall profitability, and 74% reported greater reliance on government payments.

- Date: 2026-11-11 · published 2026-11-12T03:14:27.390Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/94862-farmers-remain-profitable-despite-shrinking-margins-but-bankers-see-challenges
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Heavy dependence on government payments and weakening loan quality could affect farm spending and feed purchasing if support is cut. Record cattle prices are cushioning livestock demand for feed.

## Read by commodity

- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2024-11-01 | [Cattle on Feed Remains Elevated, Despite Low Cattle Inventory](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27996-cattle-on-feed-remains-elevated-despite-low-cattle-inventory.md) | -1.9% | -2.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-08-09 | [Shrinking U.S. cattle herd signals more pain from high beef prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39969-shrinking-u-s-cattle-herd-signals-more-pain-from-high-beef-prices.md) | +1.8% | +3.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-04-24 | [Rabobank Report: Beef and cattle demand begins the year historically strong, supply pressures remain prevalent - Beef Web](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30680-rabobank-report-beef-and-cattle-demand-begins-the-year-historically-strong.md) | +0.9% | +1.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-09-22 | [Cattle supply remains tight; market rallies \| Livestock \| farmweeknow.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28432-cattle-supply-remains-tight-market-rallies-livestock-farmweeknow-com.md) | +0.9% | +2.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-04-03 | [CoBank: Animal protein performance to strengthen despite pressures](https://feedsoft.ai/events/36517-cobank-animal-protein-performance-to-strengthen-despite-pressures.md) | +3.5% | +2.7% |

## Sources

- agri-pulse.com: https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/25479-farmers-remain-profitable-despite-shrinking-margins-but-bankers-see-challenges-ahead

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.