Vulnerability to Farm Problems Varies by Region

Farmers' financial problems translate to areawide distress, at least in the short run—more for some farming regions, States, and communities than others. The vulnerability of an area to the financial crisis in farming depends on the financial conditions of its farmers, its dependence on farming, especially on export-sensitive crops, and the strength of its nonfarm economy. We discuss here these factors and show which areas are most affected by them.