If the intent of the author was to suggest that 2012, like 1979, was going to be the low in the debt to asset ratio and would climb from there, I don't have the 2015 KFMA debt ratios, but i would think that since 2012 land values in KS have out paced debt accumulation, so the ratio has went down instead of up. Certainly if assets values, especially land were to go down in value without a corresponding decrease in debt the ratio would go up, and it could get ugly. Believe me having lived thru the 80's I am well aware of how ugly things can get. My main point was if the author thought 2012 would be the start of a 80's like crisis in terms of debt to asset ratios, he has a been a few years premature.  This graph is  aggregate farm sector.