News & Blog Posts
2021 Farm Credit Fly-In: Recap
An amazing week was had by the Farm Credit Midsouth Directors, employees and Members who traveled to Washington, D.C. for this year’s Farm Credit Fly-In and Farm Credit Communications Conference. After last year’s virtual event, it was good to be back in person to advocate for those ag issues important to our Members.
Employee Spotlight Becky Street
If you have visited our Jonesboro branch any time over, say, the last 15 years or so, it’s a good bet you recognize Customer Service Representative Becky Street. Becky has been a mainstay there for the last decade-and-a-half, first at the front desk, and currently in loan services, working on conversions, extensions, releases and transfers.
Misty Secrease
We’re introducing you to Farm Credit Midsouth Specialized Loan Processor Misty Secrease. In November, Misty celebrated 14 years with our Association, having joined us in 2007 as a Customer Credit Representative in the Jonesboro branch.
Congratulations to Our Most Recent Photo Contest Winners!
The winners of our latest Photo Contest have been announced. These winning photos may be featured in: Across The Midsouth newsletter, calendar, FCM website, and you may even see some photos hanging in your local branch offices.
Crop Insurance - Because You Can’t Afford to Gamble with Your Livelihood
In 2020, the crop insurance program paid out almost $5 billion in indemnities to producers across the United States who had purchased, and were therefore protected by, crop insurance. Crop insurance provides a safety net against perils such as frost, drought, disease, flooding and hail. Without a strong crop insurance program, uncontrollable changes in weather could undermine farmers’ financial security and place the entire farm economy in jeopardy.
The Rearview Mirror and the Windshield
What a great crop year 2021 will be remembered for by many farmers! Great yields and great prices in the same year are rare. Unfortunately, another anomaly in 2021 that will long be remembered was the devastating December 10th tornado. Its impact on the agricultural communities in Northeast Arkansas, especially the towns of Trumann, Monette, and Leachville, has been enormous.
Earning and the Ability to Repay
Knowing your break even costs is going to be a key component to success. In farming, this is one of the hardest calculations to come up with since farming has several variables that play a role in the operation. One of the largest variables is annual increases for overall input costs from inflation. Input costs typically are not known until they are realized.
Letter from CEO James McJunkins
Most area growers are wrapping up harvest on their farms. The expectation is that 2021 will certainly be a great year, both for Farm Credit Midsouth and our Members. As we round out the season, Midsouth farmers are experiencing above-average yields and great prices. Rarely do we get these two to come together!
Welcome Rachel Barnett
Farm Credit Midsouth is pleased to announce Rachel Barnett has joined the Farm Credit Midsouth team as a Credit Analyst.
Hog Heaven
We’re in Hog Heaven that the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year is a Member of Ours! Congratulations to Cobb/Lyerly/Owens Farms of Lake City
The Sweet Life
We are fortunate to regularly get an up close and personal look at the broad range of entities that together make up Midsouth agriculture. But on this day, we were in for a treat. Something a little more unique. A little sweeter, if you will. On this day, we got to talk sweet potatoes on Stray Dog Farms.
Benchmark Value Update
This year’s update appears to be, when compared to recent years, a return to more healthy increases with certain areas experiencing slightly more increase in value. Farm Credit Midsouth uses five benchmarks to estimate changes in land values from year to year. Land values were steadily increasing for several years in Eastern Arkansas. In 2015 land values began stabilizing and slightly declining in 2018.