Insurer Says Farms Prospering
AP Business Analyst John Cunnife reports Equitable Life and Prudential Life as the leading insurers in farm lending with a combined $2.45 billion in loans to 25,000 borrowers across 47 states. Walter Penn of Equitable notes farm real estate valued at about $423 billion with $51.9 billion in debt, emphasizing earnings over market price and a 25 percent down payment to reduce land speculation.