Supporting Rural Communities
Farm Credit is dedicated to the rural communities that producers and our local cooperatives call home. Whether this means volunteering at a food bank, supporting rural entrepreneurs or providing disaster relief, we’re here to help.
Farm Credit is committed to supporting the rural communities where our customers and employees live and work
Whether it’s supporting rural entrepreneurs, advocating for access to broadband, or providing relief following a disaster, Farm Credit is there.
Farm Credit’s unique funding structure allows funds to flow from Wall Street into rural America. As a cooperative lender, the patronage payments we return to our customers further facilitates resources into rural communities.
Many of Farm Credit’s customers have leadership roles or are actively involved with national commodity organizations. Farm Credit is proud to partner with many of these associations, which offer valuable opportunities for farmers and ranchers to gather and discuss policy priorities, industry standards, and other important issues, while fostering relationships and leadership development.
Rural Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship plays an important role in creating vibrant rural communities. However, rural entrepreneurs can face unique barriers, like inadequate access to broadband, infrastructure challenges and labor issues.
Ag Innovation Challenge
Farm Credit’s commitment to supporting agriculture and rural communities means working to ensure rural entrepreneurs have the tools they need to overcome these barriers. One example is Farm Credit’s sponsorship of American Farm Bureau Federation’s Ag Innovation Challenge.
Launched in 2015, the Challenge was the first national business competition of its kind focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs. Through several rounds of competition, the overall winner will ultimately receive $100,000 in startup funds, with one runner-up awarded $25,000 and two other entrants receiving $10,000 each.
“The competition process has been great…the exposure, the relationships, the networking, has been wonderful. And we’ve gotten to meet a lot of great people who have only validated our idea and our business model.”
– NORDEF, 2023 Ag Innovation Challenge Winner
Market Maker
Farm Credit proudly supports MarketMaker’s Innovation Award, recognizing innovative applications of the MarketMaker platform that demonstrate support of MarketMaker’s overarching goal to connect producers to markets and to improve consumer access to fresh, healthy, local foods.
The award is presented annually during the National Agriculture Marketing Summit. MarketMaker seeks best-practice proposals in four areas:
- Marketing
- Strategic Partnerships
- Outreach
- Education
Financing Rural Utilities
The Farm Credit System supports our rural utility customers by providing financing to infrastructure projects such as water systems, electricity, and telecommunications in rural areas. Farm Credit understands that reliable infrastructure is vital for a thriving rural America.
Supporting Rural Infrastructure
Rural America’s future viability depends on access to reliable and modern transportation, energy, water, healthcare and other rural facilities to attract businesses and people. Farm Credit supports rural electric cooperatives, water and wastewater facilities, healthcare entities and rural communications providers.
To learn more about Farm Credit’s work to support rural infrastructure, click here.
“Farm Credit’s partnership and commitment to rural communities helps enable us to most effectively and efficiently serve our customers and keep them connected.”
– Catherine Moyer, CEO of Pioneer Communications
When disaster strikes, Farm Credit is there.
While destructive wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes have devastated agricultural communities over the years, Farm Credit continues to step up and provide support to its customers and their communities.
Wildfire Relief
In 2024, when the largest wildfire ever recorded in Texas burned 1.2 million acres in the panhandle, Farm Credit stepped up. Farm Credit System institutions generously pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars in relief in addition to staff time and resources to help those affected.
Tornado Recovery
When tornadoes devastated parts of Arkansas, Indiana, and Tennessee in 2023, Farm Credit Mid-America was there. Employees immediately volunteered boots on the ground assistance while also helping customers navigate crop insurance options and federal aid programs.
Hurricane Volunteer Efforts
2022 proved a particularly destructive year for hurricanes. Hurricane Ian first made landfall in Southwest Florida and then again in coastal South Carolina. Farm Credit institutions joined forces in contributing hundreds of thousands to the American Red Cross relief efforts to help.
Flood Assistance
Following the devastating floods which took place in 2023, Farm Credit stepped up to directly assist those impacted. The Farm Credit East Community Fund, financed through employee contributions with a match from the institution, provided financial assistance to producers to help cover personal losses and other expenses.
