Provides an overview of the financial characteristics and performance of the U.S. farm sector and farm bus., and the financial status of farm households. All three measures of farm income are projected to decline in 2009 ¿ net farm income, net cash income, and net value added. Uncertainty surrounds the forecasts of farm assets, debt, and equity in 2009, given the volatility of commodity, energy/input, and financial markets. Farm financial ratios monitoring liquidity, efficiency, solvency, and profitability show that the sector¿s financial performance in 2008-09, while slightly worse than in 2007, is quite favorable overall when compared to the 1980s and 1990s. In 2009, the largest declines in farm-bus. income are forecast for dairy farms. Illus.