Unlike the 1980s when farmers could take off-farm jobs to survive tough times, today's $66K average salary won't even cover loan interest.
Katie Dehlinger
Farm Business Editor
Katie Dehlinger grew up near the Illinois-Wisconsin border in Rockton, Ill., and graduated from the University of Missouri in 2009 with a bachelor's of journalism in news/editorial writing and minors in history and sociology.
She's filled a number of roles at DTN, including nearly five years as the Markets Editor, where she covered commodities markets and marketing strategies in addition to USDA report lockups. She spent several years as the Executive Producer for RFDTV's daily news programs, Market Day Report and the Rural Evening News. She's now back at DTN, this time as the Farm Business Editor, where her reporting focuses on tax and estate planning, farmland values, health care and other issues that affect farmers' bottom lines.
Recent Blogs by Author
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More From This Author
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Dehlinger's Favorite Story of 2025
DTN Farm Business Editor Katie Dehlinger shares how she likes to write about creative people putting innovative ideas into practice, and why a story about forming their own microcaptive insurance companies was her favorite of the...
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Landwatch
Landwatch Recent Farmland Sales
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Factor in Living Expenses When Developing a Compensation Plan
With many farmers and ranchers grappling with slim to negative margins, taking a close look at family living expenses is a must when putting together a compensation plan for the farm business.
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Landwatch
December 2025 Recent Farmland Sales
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Bankers See Cash Flow Crunch
Bankers may be worried about a cash flow crunch on American row-crop farms, but experts at the Agricultural Bankers Conference say farmers should prepare capital expenditure plans that enable them to take advantage of lower...
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Landwatch
Landwatch Recent Farmland Sales
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Partial Budgeting Tool Unlocks Equipment Decisions
Tool provides useful guidance about the return on investment of your machinery lineup and when it makes sense to keep or trade.
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Landwatch
November 2025 Recent Farmland Sales
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Finding Farm Financing - 3
How a contentious breakup with a lender put this Kentucky farmer on a path to stronger financials.
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Finding Farm Financing - 2
Lenders offer new credit opportunities as farmers focus on preserving cash.
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Landwatch
October 2025 Recent Farmland Sales
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Farmer's Lender Split Sparks Success
How a contentious breakup with a lender put this Kentucky farmer on a path to stronger financials.
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Shop for a Lender for 2026
Lenders offer new credit opportunities as farmers focus on preserving cash.
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Ag Bankers Warn of Rising Row Crop Risks
Ag lenders weigh in on interest rates and rising financial risks on row-crop farms.