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In advance of his first speech to a joint session of Congress, more than 200 organizations remind President Donald J. Trump that the need to #RebuildRural has never been more important. American agriculture creates millions of jobs for U.S. workers and remaining competitive will require reliable infrastructure linking rural communities to global markets.

More than 200 organizations from across the country wrote to President Donald J. Trump today encouraging him to prioritize rebuilding infrastructure in rural America.

Todd Van Hoose, CEO of the Farm Credit Council, made the following statement on President-elect Donald Trump's reported nomination of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture: “Rural Americans played a critical role in the election. Governor Perdue has a long history of personal involvement in agriculture. He knows the challenges facing our nation’s farmers and rural families. USDA and Farm Credit share a common mission to support rural communities and agriculture and we look forward to working with Governor Perdue to fulfill that mission.” said Van Hoose.

Farm Credit proudly supports the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and its annual meeting again this year, sponsoring the organization’s work to foster rural entrepreneurship and build the next generation of leaders in agriculture and rural communities.

Farm Credit System officials today briefed Congress and farm and rural interest groups on credit conditions in agriculture and rural communities. Briefings were held for staff of the House and Senate agriculture committees and a wide range of commodity, farm and rural interest groups.

Farm Credit today recognized 4-H youth from seven different states for outstanding achievement and initiative to significantly improve and enhance their local communities. The winners of the Grow Community Change Challenge were announced during the National 4-H Council’s Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) in June and July and their work is now being shared nationally.

Farm Credit celebrates its 100th anniversary on July 17, 2016. In recognizing the organization’s milestone, the President of the United States shared a message of appreciation, the House of Representatives and the Senate both introduced resolutions to commend and congratulate the Farm Credit system, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack lauded the organization’s role in American agriculture and spoke to its ongoing importance to the future.

Today Farm Credit wrapped up a series of celebratory events held in Washington, D.C. recognizing its 100th anniversary of providing reliable, consistent credit to rural American communities and agriculture. Farm Credit 100 activities began Tuesday, June 14 and concluded this afternoon on a high note with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack delivering a keynote speech acknowledging Farm Credit’s centennial milestone at the Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives Award Luncheon.

The Farm Credit Administration today reviewed Farm Credit’s 2015 financing of beginning farmers and ranchers, which includes significant increases across multiple metrics: the number of beginning farmers served, the number of new loans, the average size of loans, and the total amount of financing provided to this important agricultural sector.

Farm Credit participated today in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry’s full committee hearing titled, “The Farm Credit System: Oversight and Outlook of the Current Economic Climate.”