Agriculture

ABA: Farm Bank Report Shows Ag Lending Up 6 Percent in 2017

Strong performance, asset quality and capital levels in 2017 U.S farm banks increased agricultural lending by nearly 6 percent, or $5.9 billion, to $106 billion in 2017, according to the American Bankers Association’s annual Farm Bank Performance Report. Asset quality remained healthy at the nation’s 1,847 farm banks as non-performing loans fell to a pre-recession…

ABA: Ag Lender Survey – Farm Profitability Still Down but Improving

ABA and Farmer Mac survey shows lenders slightly more optimistic Eighty-two percent of agricultural lenders reported a decline in farm profitability in the last 12 months, according to a joint survey by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac; NYSE: AGM and AGM.A). Despite the continued decline, the survey of…

ABA: Prestigious Ag Banking Award Goes to Pennsylvania Banker

The American Bankers Association Center for Agricultural and Rural Banking will present Pennsylvania banker Michael H. Firestine with its annual Bruning Award for his leadership and outstanding dedication to providing credit and financial guidance to farmers, ranchers and rural businesses. ​The award will be presented at the ABA National Agricultural Bankers Conference in Milwaukee on…

USDA: Agency Seeks Information on Existing Rules for Modification or Repeal

Pursuant to Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda” the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting information to assist in identifying existing regulations that should be modified or repealed. USDA requests comments on several questions including the following: regulations that result in the elimination of jobs, or inhibit job creation; regulations that…