The latest report from NASS will come as no surprise to Midwestern farmers. The title says it all, “Midwest Production Expenditures Up 13 Percent, Driven by Fertilizer and Feed” United States Total Farm Production Expenditures totaled $318.7 billion for 2011, up from $289.1 billion in 2010. The 2011 Total expenditures rose 10.2 percent compared with 2010 Total expenditures. All expenditure items except Interest and Labor increased from the previous year. Midwest region Total expenditures were up 13 percent from 2011. All expenditures, except interest, were up from the previous year.
The largest total increases were fertilizer and lime, up 1.87 billion dollars (16 percent) and feed, up 1.74 billion dollars (21 percent). Large relative increases included other farm machinery, up 37 percent; trucks and autos, up 26 percent; and tractors and self-propelled farm machinery, up 25 percent.
The Midwest region contributed the most to United States Total Expenditures with expenses of $98.7 billion (31.0 percent), up from $87.7 billion in 2010. The other regions ranked by Total Expenditures are: Plains at $73.8 billion (23.2 percent); West