A farm management specialist points to government aid as one of the biggest reasons cash rents held steady over the last year.

Gary Schnitkey with the University of Illinois tells Brownfield there was little change between 2019 and 2020.

“What helped keep them at stable levels was MFP payments and CFAP payments this year. But MFP payments last year when we were setting rates.”

He says without those payments, many farmers will be cash-starved.

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