Because of the nature of front-end funding of growing crops, cyclical weather patterns and the national security aspects of agriculture, finance and credit has become a critical component of agriculture. This new book presents important analyses dealing with issues critical to maintaining a vigorous agricultural industry in America.

Scope of agricultural finance; Farm financial management; Design of a farm financial accounting system; Analysis of farm financial statements; Organization and growth of the farm; Time value of money and capital budgeting; Accounting for risk in investment decision making; Strategies for reducing risk; The cost of capital and the optimal capital structure; Legal considerations in agricultural finance; Farm business organization; Income tax management; Disinvestment and estate planning; Agricultural and the macroeconomy; Design of a financial accounting system for agriculture; Analysis of financial statements for agriculture; Capital intensification and capital utilization in agriculture; Aggregate investment and fifinancing behavior; National economic policyinstruments; Effects of change in national economic policy; Financial intermediaries serving agriculture; Commercial banks and farm lending; Farm credit system; Government lending agencies serving agriculture; Other financial intermediaries; Evaluation of financial intermediation in agriculture.