Iowa Ag Connection - Farm Woes Raise Loan Defaults for One-Fourth of Bankers

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Farm Woes Raise Loan Defaults for One-Fourth of Bankers
Iowa Ag Connection - 06/20/2019

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) for June rose above growth neutral for the month. According to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy, the RMI for June indicated positive growth for the region.

Overall: The overall index climbed to 53.2 from 48.5 in May. This is the sixth time in the past seven months that the index has risen above growth neutral. The index ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral, and an RMI below the growth neutral threshold. 50.0, indicating negative growth for the month.

"Higher agriculture commodity prices and rebuilding from recent floods boosted the Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) for the month. Furthermore, despite the negatives from the trade war, 69.4 percent of bankers support either raising, or continuing current tariffs," said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University's Heider College of Business.

Jeff Bonnett, president of Havana National Bank in Havana, Illinois, said it has been estimated that anywhere from 15 to 20 million acres were not planted in corn.

According to Bonnett, "Based upon this information, corn prices should be in the $5.75 to $6 (or more) a bushel range. What are we missing? Will the true corn acres planted be revealed after the required certification through FSA due by July 15th?"

Farming and ranching: The farmland and ranchland-price index for June improved to a still weak 44.8 from May's 41.2. This is the 67th straight month the index has remained below growth neutral 50.0.

The June farm equipment-sales index increased to 35.7 from May's 31.3. This marks the 70th straight month the reading has fallen below growth neutral 50.0.

Banking: Borrowing by farmers for June remained very strong. The borrowing index fell to a strong 72.6 from May's 79.7 and April's record high 81.3. The checking-deposit index rose to 50.0 from May's 42.4, while the index for certificates of deposit and other savings instruments rose slightly to 51.6 from 51.5 in May.

Hiring: The employment gauge climbed to a very strong 64.5 from May's 61.8. Despite tariffs and flooding over the past several months, Rural Mainstreet businesses continue to hire at a solid pace.

Over the past 12 months, the Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 0.2 percent pace compared to a higher 1.3 percent for urban areas of the same 10 states. Rural areas in four Rural Mainstreet states, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Illinois, lost jobs over the past 12 months.

Confidence: The confidence index, which reflects bank CEO expectations for the economy six months out, expanded to 53.3 from May's abysmal 38.2, indicating a positive, but somewhat weak economic outlook among bankers.

Home and retail sales: The home-sales index increased to a very strong 69.4 from May's healthy 63.2. The retail sales index for June advanced to a healthy 58.1 from May's 44.1. "It appears that the region is experiencing a rebound from recent low retail sales resulting from floods for several states in the region," said Goss.

Each month, community bank presidents and CEOs in nonurban agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of a 10-state area are surveyed regarding current economic conditions in their communities and their projected economic outlooks six months down the road. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included.

This survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. It gives the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey in 2005.

The June RMI for Iowa expanded to 51.1 from May's 46.5 Iowa's farmland-price index sank to 44.1 from May's 47.2. Iowa's new-hiring index for June slumped to 48.9 from 53.1 in May. According to James Brown, CEO of Hardin County Savings Bank in Eldora, "If our farmers take advantage of improved corn prices, it will be a much better year for our customers. That will certainly vary region to region depending on planting conditions and ultimate yields."

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