Ag Bankers Conference

Thanks to record high input costs and very volatile interest rates, the farm economy can sometimes be difficult to navigate for the most seasoned grower.  But what about for those new to the world of farming?  What does the outlook look like for them?   Jackson Ta...

One of the top points of discussion at this year’s American Bankers Association Ag Bankers Conference was the 2023 Farm Bill.  You may ask yourself, why do bankers care about the farm bill.  Ed Elfmann, Senior Vice President for Ag and Rural Banking Policy at the ABA says despite what many think, a large portion of the banking industry is connected to rural America, and the Farm Bill has a direct

When it comes to the first two quarters of 2023, what is the expectation of the farm economy from the banker’s perspective?  That was one of many questions the 2022 Ag Lender Survey, produced by the American Bankers Association and Farmer Mac, looked to answer.  Jackson Takac...

The past couple of years have been fairly good for farm country, financially speaking.  But will that trend continue into the future?   That was one of the hot topics at the 70th Annual American Bankers Association Ag Bankers Conference.  Curt Covingt...

When hemp became legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, there was a lot of buzz in farm country about what that would look like as an everyday crop, and who would grow it.  It’s not just farmers that are curious about the newly legal commodity, many in the Ag banking sector are watching hemp very closely.   T...

Economists with the American Bankers Association expect several more years of gradual interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve.  ABA Vice President Brittney Kleinpaste anticipates three or four bumps in 2019.   "We expect that to continue into 2022, just, the Fed to continue to push the economy as it improves to get us back to that normalization level.  So far,...

Economists with the American Bankers Association expect several more years of gradual interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve.  ABA Vice President Brittney Kleinpaste anticipates three or four bumps in 2019.   "We expect that to continue into 2022, just, the Fed to continue to push the economy as it improves to get us back to that normalization level.  So far,...

It’s a question on the minds of many in the ag industry.  Will Congress pass a Farm Bill on time?  Ed Elfmann, senior Vice President  of ag and rural banking with the American Bankers Assocation, says partially.   “In 2018, there will be a Farm Bill out of the House.  Timing is unsure at this poin...

If you’re not happy with the weather, wait a little while and things will change.  That phrase works not only for the weather, but the overall ag economy.  Ag economist and financial analyst Dr. Dave Kohl recently spoke at the 2017 Ag Bankers Conference in Wisconsin.  He said the a...

It’s not a question of if a farmer needs to borrow money, but when and how much.  When that time comes, it’s important that both sides of the relationship are honest and upfront.  Curt Covington, former ag banker, currently with Farmer Mac, says farmers first need to make their case to a loan officer, but remember, that officer must run the information up the chain of commend.  So, he said it’s vi