MANSFIELD — Local farmers in Richland, Morrow and Ashland counties are receiving more than $1.7 million back from Farm Credit Mid-America in March as part of its annual patronage distribution, the organization announced.
Farm Credit Mid-America is returning $280 million in net earnings to customer-owners this year. Of that total, $63 million is going to Ohio farmers, including more than $1.7 million to farmers served by our Mansfield office.
This is cash returned directly to eligible farmers who do business with Farm Credit Mid-America, helping support local farm operations, families, and rural communities.
U.S. farmers receive $1.75 billion in 10 years
The farmer-owned cooperative continues its patronage program this spring. Customers commonly use patronage payments to:
Pay down operating or term debt
Offset spring input and planting costs
Reinvest in equipment, land or on-farm improvements
Strengthen working capital and financial resilience
This year’s distribution brings the total amount of net earnings returned to customers over the past 10 years to more than $1.75 billion, underscoring the strength of Farm Credit Mid America’s diverse portfolio and commitment to support farmers through both good and challenging times.
“Returning capital to our customers is just part of how we do business as a cooperative,” said Melanie Strait-Bok, Farm Credit Mid-America senior vice president of agricultural lending in Ohio.
“Our customers manage risk every day. Patronage gives them a little extra flexibility, whether that’s strengthening their balance sheet, improving
cash flow or helping them plan for the season ahead.”
Farm Credit Mid-America is a farmer-owned cooperative, meaning customers are also
owners. Through patronage, a portion of the cooperative’s earnings is returned to eligible customer-owners based on the level of eligible business they conduct with the Association.
Patronage is an annual decision made by Farm Credit Mid-America’s board of directors.
“Over the last decade, we’ve returned more than $1.75 billion directly to the people who make agriculture work,” said Tara Durbin, chief lending officer of agriculture at Farm Credit Mid-America. “A portion of that capital stays in Indiana where it supports farms, families and rural communities, which is exactly what our cooperative system was designed to do.”
Farm Credit Mid-America serves agricultural producers, rural homeowners and agribusinesses across Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.
In addition to patronage, the cooperative invests roughly $5 million annually in rural communities through education, leadership development, youth programs and support for the next generation of agriculture.
To learn more about Farm Credit Mid-America’s patronage program, eligibility requirements and customer-owner experiences, visit fcma.com/patronage.
About Farm Credit Mid-America
A proud member of the Farm Credit System, Farm Credit Mid-America is securing the future of rural communities and agriculture as a leading provider of reliable, consistent credit and financial services to farmers, producers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.
The customer-owned cooperative serves more than 145,000 customers and manages a portfolio of $44.1 billion in total earning assets owned and managed.
Farm Credit Mid America’s products and services include loans for real estate, operating, equipment, rural living, crop insurance and vehicle, equipment and building leases.
For more information, visit www.fcma.com.