Drop in Farm Income Is Expected in 2006

Farmers will see their incomes plunge in 2006 coming off two years of unusually high prices and record crops, the Agriculture Department said.

Rising energy costs and interest rates are gobbling up the bottom line for farmers, analysts said.

On average, net income for a farmer should be $48,600 this year, down from $68,300 last year, according to forecasts from the department.