With 2020 in the rearview, Jackson Takach, chief economist at Farmer Mac, believes the new year will bring with it new opportunities for farmers.

“A lot of really positive things happened in the second half of [2020], especially in the fourth quarter, to make us think the ag economy was good,” he said, during a webinar last month hosted by Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) to coincide with its annual meeting.

Increased grain prices at harvest, government aid through multiple programs, steady to slightly higher land values and low interest rates have provided farmers...