Learning Center

Explore 2023 articles in our Learning Center.

Economic Updates
Breaking Down the Markets
Each month, we provide a quick snapshot of the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.

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Ag Finances
Leveraging Purchase Leasebacks
Freeing up working capital on equipment payments can make a big difference in a producer’s ability to cash flow their operation, especially during prolonged periods of tight profit margins. Leasebacks can help.

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Ag Finances
Bridging the Gap: The Importance of Operating Loans
Operating loans provide critical funding for farmers and ranchers to cover their upfront costs and capitalize on the timing of their purchases.

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Economic Updates
Breaking Down the Markets: December 2023
Here is the December 2023 updates on commodities found around AgCountry's territory based on the WASDE report and other reports produced by the USDA.

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Risk Management
Crop Insurance: Finishing 2023 to Prepare for 2024
Year-end is upon us. There are a few things to keep in mind as we close out the 2023 crop insurance year and look forward to 2024.

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Ag Finances
Negotiating an Equipment Purchase
Learn how to negotiate an equipment purchase.

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Ag Finances
The Benefits of Leasing
Leasing is one of the most important financial tools available to farmers and ranchers with many advantages including working capitol preservation, accelerated tax write-offs, and estate planning.

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Risk Management
Understanding Dairy Revenue Protection
Dairy farming is a risky business. The Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) program is designed to offset some of these inherent risks and uncertainties.

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Economic Updates
Breaking Down the Markets: November 2023
Here are the November 2023 updates on commodities found around AgCountry's territory based on the WASDE report and other reports produced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

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Community Involvement
2023 Photo Contest Winners
Click here to see the winning photos of the 2023 AgCountry Photo Contest!

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Ag Sustainability
Farming Regeneratively: Balancing Business with Improved Soil Health
AgCountry customer Ed Hegland has long practiced regenerative farming and climate-smart agriculture. Learn about his Minnesota farm.

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Ag Finances
The Tools For Starting a Successful Farming Operation
Being a young or beginning farmer or rancher is challenging. AgCountry Farm Credit Services provides the tools to help young or beginning producers succeed.

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Economic Updates
Breaking Down the Markets
This month’s USDA WASDE report stated yield reductions in both corn and soybeans, resulting in lower production for both crops.

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Risk Management
October Farm Bill Update
Passing a new Farm Bill continues to prove challenging as delays continue to occur. An extension is likely as the House tries to elect a new Speaker.

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Risk Management
PRF Insurance: Drought Protection When You Need It
PRF is a rainfall index insurance plan for those who graze their animals or grow forage for animal production. PRF protects against drought or a lack of moisture.

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Risk Management
As Farm Bill Deadline Approaches, Congress Faced with Challenges
Back in Washington, DC following the annual August recess, Members of Congress now face a lengthy legislative to-do list in September that includes work on the 2018 Farm Bill that is set to expire at the end of the month.

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Economic Updates
Breaking Down the Markets
Here are the latest updates on commodities found around AgCountry's territory from the WASDE report and other reports produced by the USDA.

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Risk Management
Is PRF Right for You and Your Operation?
Pasture, Rangeland, Forage is a great option for farmers and ranchers to protect themselves against challenging growing conditions due to poor weather.

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Risk Management
MPCI Claims: What to Do Before Harvest Begins
Hail, wind, and drought have impacted the 2023 growing season across the upper Midwest. If an MPCI claim is possible, steps need to be taken prior to harvest.

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Risk Management
Breaking Down the Markets: July WASDE
Each month, we provide a quick snapshot of the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and other reports produced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

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Risk Management
Recapping SCO and ECO Coverage: What Paid Out in 2022
Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) are county-based with SCO riding on top of your Revenue Protection (RP) policy all the way up to 86%, while ECO sits on the top end starting at 86% and going as high as 95%.

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Ag Finances
Creating and Understanding A Projected Cash Flow Statement
Cash flow is the road map of what your money will be doing throughout the year. Creating an annual cash flow projection is accomplished by identifying and understanding when cash is coming in and when cash is going out

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Community Involvement
2023 Upperclassmen Scholarship Winners Announced
Ten current college students are being awarded a $1,000 scholarship from AgCountry Farm Credit Services.

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Risk Management
Hail Insurance: Protection Before the Storm
Hailstorms can pop up at any given time in our region and damage, even destroy, a crop in minutes and affect your bottom line. Insuring your crop early in the year does not cost you any more money. Why not get your operation covered as soon as the crop is up?

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Economic Updates
June Market Update
Market updates from June’s USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report

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Ag Finances
Understanding Your Ratios
Understanding financial measures and ratios will help you better understand the shape your farming operation is in and what you can do to improve or capitalize on it. Learn more about key ratios by clicking here.

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Ag Finances
What to Consider When Expanding Your Dairy
Expanding your dairy operation will have a major impact on your farm’s future. There are many motivating factors for you to consider.

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Risk Management
Insurance Options for Protecting Your Livestock
Livestock and dairy producers carry a lot of risk in today’s markets, leaving them vulnerable to falling prices and increased costs. Thankfully, insurance options exist to help protect their animals.

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Risk Management
Protecting Against Perils: Replant Option and Preparing for Hail
Perfect seedbed conditions and a promising start to a crop can be gone instantly by frost, insects, and other perils. Knowing your insurance options like replant and hail is important when the crop is still early.

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Risk Management
Prevented Plant 101: Covering The Basics
With an extended winter, farmers in the northern U.S. may be getting a late start to planting. When conditions are too wet and time has run out, Prevented Planting is an option in your MPCI policy that kicks in.

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Ag Finances
Add Leasing to Your Financial Toolbox
Every farmer and rancher should have leasing in their financial toolbox. From cash preservation to tax advantages of an accelerated write-off, leasing offers are an ideal solution to help grow your farming operation in both the near and long term.

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Ag Finances
Machinery Lending Made Easy
Getting a loan for a new piece of farm equipment doesn't have to be difficult. We break down the process and will show you how the machinery lending process can be easy.

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Risk Management
Is ECO Right For You?
Enhanced Coverage Option shouldn't be dismissed because it’s county coverage. It can be a beneficial tool within your crop insurance plan.

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