Economic risk and the structural characteristics of farm businesses

Abstract

This study uses farm‐level data from the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association to determine whether the variability of net farm income is significantly influenced by farm size, financial structure, and other structural characteristics of farm businesses. The econometric results indicate that under a cross‐sectional model the relative variability of real net farm income is not significantly influenced by farm size, measured either by acreage or value of farm production. However, under a time‐series/cross‐section model, periodic variations in farm size, along with differences in the relative crop price received, crop yield, degree of enterprise diversification, and geographic location, can significantly influence changes in farm income variability.