Examination of Farm Bankruptcy Debtors and Their Creditors

Agricultural financial conditions and farm reorganization options have been analyzed extensively by agricultural economists, but analysis of actual reorganization bankruptcy filings has not been completed. This study contains analysis of 219 Chapter 11 farm filings in South Dakota from 1980-1985 and documents financially related characteristics of these producers and their secured. impaired and unsecured creditors. Discriminant analysis is used to examine the predictive value of initial filing data on eventual court disposition of farm Chapter 11 cases. Major provisions of Federal Bankruptcy Chapter 11 and 12 are compared. South Dakota agricultural lenders' reactions concerning impacts of Chapter 12 on credit management practices, cost and availability of agricultural credit is documented.