Learning Center

Explore 2024 articles in our Learning Center.

Risk Management
Disaster and Economic Relief Passed along with Farm Bill Extension
Congress avoided an end of the year government shutdown when it passed a short-term funding bill on December 21 along with $31 billion in disaster and economic assistance for farmers and ranchers.

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Community Involvement
Grain Bin Safety: Know Your Resources, Stay Safe
Grain bin safety is of utmost importance for the wellbeing of farmers and agricultural workers. Learn more about safety tips and AgCountry's Grain Bin Rescue Program.

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Economic Updates
November WASDE: Grain Outlook as U.S. Farmers Finish 2024 Harvest
While above-normal yields in areas will help offset higher crop input prices and lower grain prices, production is uneven across the country.

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Risk Management
Capitol Report: Will we Pass a Farm Bill This Year? Maybe a Disaster Bill?
Limited progress has been made on the Farm Bill in recent weeks but House and Senate agriculture committee leaders are meeting. Read the latest about passing a new Farm Bill along with economic and production disaster funding.

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Economic Updates
Drought and War Efforts Lead to Volatile Grain Markets
Corn, soybean, and wheat markets all experienced volatility after reports of drought and continued war efforts surface.

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Community Involvement
2025 AgCountry Photo Contest Winners
Check out the winners of our 2025 AgCountry photo contest.

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Economic Updates
Grain Market Overwhelmed with Bearish News
Over the past month, the grain market has continued to be overwhelmed with bearish news. Estimated record soybean and corn yields in the U.S. have been the major influencer throughout the trade.

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Economic Updates
Harvest Reminders
Fall harvest is a rewarding time for farmers. Here are items to keep in mind this fall regarding your multi-peril crop insurance (MPCI) policy:

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Economic Updates
Beef Remains a Bright Spot as Corn and Soybean Continue to Slide
Beef markets continue to shine on the latest WASDE report from the USDA while corn and soybean markets hit trading lows with a record crop expected within the U.S.

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Risk Management
Can Margin Protection Benefit Your Operation?
Using insurance products like Margin Protection (MP) can mitigate risk and bring producers peace of mind in the dynamic world of agriculture.

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Risk Management
Capitol Report: No Progress Made on Farm Bill
The Farm Bill remains at a standstill as Congress shifts its attention to passing other legislation while farm organizations push for action.

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Economic Updates
Markets Focus on Weather as Peak Growing Season Arrives
The market focus over the past month was weather as the peak growing season is upon us. Corn and spring wheat both suffered tough trading months.

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Risk Management
How to Sign up for an LRP Feeder Cattle Policy
Today’s cattle prices are strong. With strong prices come greater opportunity and risk. Those raising feeder cattle can protect against a declining market price with a Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) policy.

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Ag Finances
Navigating High Prices and Market Demands
Equipment financing is a critical tool for both farmers and equipment dealers in today’s high-cost machinery market. For many producers, access to financing ensures growth and stability amidst rising prices.

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Risk Management
Capital Report: Farm Bill Remains at Impasse
Senator Boozman released the Republican Farm Bill framework but the bill remains at an impasse without greater bipartisan support.

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Community Involvement
Announcing the 2024 Upperclassmen Scholarship Winners
AgCountry is proud to announce the 10 recipients of our $1,000 Upperclassmen Scholarship.

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Risk Management
The Value of a Team Approach
Successful farms are influenced by countless variables. Working with a knowledgeable team of specialists is a difference-maker.

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Economic Updates
Latest WASDE Shows Little Change
Planting season is wrapping up and markets are switching gears to focus on weather. USDA kept estimates quiet with little change in the U.S. and South America.

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Risk Management
Understanding Prevented Planting Coverage
A wet spring has prevented some farmers from planting their entire crop. We explore coverage options through Prevented Planting.

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Risk Management
Capitol Report: Farm Bill Faces Uncertainty After Passing House Ag Committee
The House Agriculture Committee recently passed their version of the Farm Bill but the bill's future remains uncertain. Click here to read a breakdown of the House bill.

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Risk Management
Hedging Cattle Markets with LRP
There are many risks facing farmers and ranchers today. Price risk is one of the biggest challenges facing farmers—especially cow/calf operations. A Livestock Risk Protection policy can help hedge against a drop in market prices.

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Economic Updates
Bullish News Brings Opportunity to Grain Markets
Grain markets are seeing some bullishness after recent events. Changing seasons, U.S. planting, and surprises in South America have generated a buzz for grains. Reports were mixed for cattle, hogs, and dairy.

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Risk Management
Will Insurance Cover Replanting?
A warm winter and lack of snow allowed farmers to get into the fields early. However, excess rain and cold temperatures has impacted crop emergence. Learn about your options with replant provisions within your insurance policy.

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Risk Management
Capitol Report: Key Date Set for Farm Bill
Progress on the Farm Bill took a big step as the House Agriculture Committee announced a date for markup. Agriculture Committee leadership in both the House and Senate released high-level information about their versions.

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Ag Finances
Farm Machinery Auctions: 2024 Insights
Strong farm profitability and ripples in the supply chain have supported a robust used equipment market in recent years. But with significant improvement in the supply of new equipment and the projected decline in net farm income for 2024, following record highs in 2022, the market is now in a state of transition.

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Economic Updates
April WASDE Report Brings Few Surprises
The April WASDE report didn’t bring any fireworks to the market, as anticipated. One surprise found in the report helped the corn market by stating a decrease in corn ending stocks of 50 million bushels due to an increase of corn used for ethanol.

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Ag Finances
Q&A: Should I Buy Farmland?
There are a lot of factors to consider before a farmer or rancher makes a land purchase. We sat down with Market Vice President Keven Berdan to help answer the question, “Is now a good time to buy farmland?

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Ag Finances
Collaboration Effective 4/15/2024
The Collaboration between AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Services of America, and Frontier Farm Credit is official and effective April 15, 2024

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Community Involvement
Announcing the 2024 High School Scholarship Winners
AgCountry Farm Credit Services is pleased to award 50 scholarships to graduating high school seniors across our territory.

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Ag Finances
Unlock Opportunities with Farm Equipment Leasing
In the ever-evolving agricultural equipment and machinery financing landscape, leasing has become an increasingly important tool, offering producers a cost-effective and flexible alternative to outright purchases or loans.

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Ag Finances
Collaboration Update 4/1/2024
Plans are actively progressing for a Collaboration between AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Services of America, and Frontier Farm Credit. We set an initial targeted start date of April 1, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter. While we are on track, the Collaboration is not yet official.

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Ag Finances
Capitol Report: House Version of Farm Bill Could Come in April
With all 2024 appropriation bills now passed, agriculture leaders in the U.S. House and Senate have their sights set on working on passing a new Farm Bill. The House Agriculture Committee is expected to introduce the bill into committee following the Easter break.

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Economic Updates
Factors Impacting Ag Commodities Production and Prices
Throughout history, global agricultural commodity prices and production have been affected by a myriad of factors that have a very well-defined statistical, cyclical, and correlated historical DNA backdrop. Learn where we stand within the cycles.

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Economic Updates
Latest WASDE Report is a Mixed Bag for Area Commodities
The report showed little change in South American production estimates, but the market is trying its hardest for a reversal by believing South America’s crop isn’t as big as the USDA is estimating.

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Risk Management
Understanding Acreage Reporting
Acreage reporting may not be top priority, but attention to detail today plays a key role in both insurance premiums and the amount of insurance provided. Knowing what to include in your report will lead to a smooth process and ensure compliance in the program.

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Ag Finances
Managing Machinery Debt
Learn how much debt you should put towards your farm equipment.

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Ag Finances
New Federal Requirements for Beneficial Ownership Information
As of January 1, 2024, select entities must report beneficial ownership information to the federal government, per the Corporate Transparency Act.

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Risk Management
Capitol Report: Farm Bill Delays Continue as Funding Issues Loom
The passage of a new Farm Bill continues to be held up by ongoing issues in Washington, D.C. Further delays could push the bill into the lame-duck session following the November election.

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Country Living
A Guide to Rural Construction
There are big decisions to make when pursuing a construction project in the country. Learn more before you begin your next rural construction project.

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Economic Updates
Large U.S. Ending Stocks Provide Unexpected Surprise
The February USDA WASDE report isn’t known to be as impactful as the January report. The report fooled us a little, bringing very little change to South American production while making large movements to U.S. supply.

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Risk Management
ECO and SCO: Added Protection for Your Farm
High input prices continue to shrink margins, leaving farmers seeking additional insurance protection to cover their bottom line. ECO and SCO are area-based coverage options that provide extra protection to farmers.

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Ag Finances
Farm Machinery Buying Trends
Several years of favorable commodity prices, higher net farm income and a recovering supply chain contributed to strong sales of machinery and equipment in 2023. That trend could begin to decelerate in 2024 if lower revenue projections are realized.

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Ag Finances
Section 179 Update
Planning your next farm equipment purchase? Whether you intend to buy, finance, or lease, you may be qualified to take advantage of substantial tax savings under Section 179 again this year.

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Economic Updates
Capital Report: Farm Bill Makes Progress But Key Hurdles Remain
Congress has returned to Washington, D.C. following a holiday season break and members of the House and Senate have again picked up work on two major unfinished items of business.

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Risk Management
Cultivating Stability: The Significance of Crop Insurance for Farmers and Agricultural Lenders
Crop insurance is a pivotal tool, offering a safety net for farmers while simultaneously becoming an asset for agricultural lenders.

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Ag Finances
Get Involved: Join the AgCountry Board or Nominating Committee
AgCountry is seeking candidates for our Board of Directors and Nominating Committee.

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Risk Management
The Benefits of Reporting Production Early
Reporting production probably is not top of mind as we begin the new year. However, reporting production early has substantial benefits instead of waiting until the April 29 deadline. Let us explore why you should act now.

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Ag Finances
Five Reasons to Attend an AgFocus Event
Discover the many reasons why you should attend an AgFocus Event.

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