According to the Department of Agriculture, net farm income in 2017 will rise from $61.5 billion in 2016 to $63.4 billion in 2017, a modest 3.1 percent increase but also the first increase since 2013. Much of the increase came from the sales of grain inventory, along with increased revenue from milk and livestock. The net income for 2017 is still only about half of its peak level, and according to agricultural economist David Widmar, income closer to $72 billion would be a sign of an improving farm economy. Source: Alan Bjerga and Jeff Wilson, "First U.S. Farm-Income Gain in Four Years Signals Hope of Bottom," bloomberg.com, August 30, 2017