ArborOne's Blog

Annie's Project Opportunity

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:19:00 +0000

Annie's Project is a national program that teaches women about farm management skills in a comfortable relaxed setting. It is hands-on, not just lecture time. This year, an opportunity has presented itself for women farmers in South Carolina. Clemson Extension is offering an educational retreat May 31 - June 3, 2012, at the Hampton Inn and the Firehouse Conference Center in Newberry, SC. Space is limited and the deadline is May 15th. Very soon! The fee is $75 and covers all workshop materials and activities, lodging, meals and more! View the flyer or contact Jennifer Boyles at 843.616.0786.

National Agriculture Day – March 8th

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:00:00 +0000

National Ag Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

ArborOne Farm Credit is proud to be a part of the national Farm Credit System that was created in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson when he signed the Farm Credit Act. Farm Credit was created to provide agriculture, agribusiness and rural America with dependable credit. We are pleased to be the leading agricultural lending experts.

National Ag Day is the primary focus of the Agriculture Council of America.

The ACA believes that every American should:

*understand how food and fiber products are produced

*appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products

*value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy

*acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry

Happy National Ag Day! Thank your local farmer and buy local!

State Fair of Virginia - official statement

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:10:00 +0000

March 7, 2012 official statement

Unfortunately, the State Fair of Virginia (a non-profit organization not affiliated with the Commonwealth of Virginia) has been unable to obtain sufficient financing to sustain its business operations for fiscal year 2012 on a profitable basis or to purchase the remaining collateral as set forth in an Order entered earlier in the SFVA’s bankruptcy case. Based on the Court Order, which was agreed to by the Fair, the lender group will take possession of the real estate and remaining personal property on March 7.

If the bondholders are awarded the funds held for scholarships, the lender group will use its best efforts to determine the details of each recipient’s current award in order to set up a scholarship fund and administer those funds to the youth who would otherwise have been negatively impacted by The State Fair of Virginia’s failure.

Crop Insurance Deadline - Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:22:00 +0000

It’s February 27th, and that means tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28th, is the deadline to sign up for or make changes to crop insurance.

This is such an important part of any farmer’s business plan and risk management, don’t miss the date. If you have any questions, Don, Debbie, Ashley or Andrea will be happy to help you. Call the ArborOne office at 800.741.7332 or visit our website www.ArborOne.com. This link will lead you directly to our crop insurance information.

Don’t miss the date! It’s not too late – take care of it now.

Francis Marion's Dr. Fred Carter Speaks at Staff Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:09:00 +0000

Francis Marion University’s Dr. Fred Carter was the inspirational speaker for the ArborOne Farm Credit staff meeting on February 15th. Dr. Carter shared the history of the university and how it has well-served the state. He also discussed how programs have grown and would be growing in the future – nurse practitioner, industrial engineering and masters of public administration degrees. Dr. Carter’s words were inspiring, but his visible passion and love for Francis Marion University were even more inspirational. He encouraged the employees of ArborOne to care passionately for the customers and the company. And for them to know that they are making a difference in the lives of the farmers and agribusiness owners in the Pee Dee.

It was a especially meaningful to have Dr. Carter speak since 20 of the 51 employees of ArborOne Farm Credit received their undergraduate, masters or both from Francis Marion University.

ArborOne Farm Credit, headquartered in Florence, South Carolina, is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production, rural home mortgages as well as crop and life insurance. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. For more information, visit ArborOne.com.

Crop Insurance Deadline

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:54:00 +0000

If you haven’t heard, the deadline to make changes to your crop insurance coverage or to sign up for crop insurance is fast approaching. February 28th is the last day to sign up or make changes to your coverage.

Call Don, Andrea, Debbie or Ashley at ArborOne Farm Credit for more information at 800.741.7332 or 843.662.1527. Information on crop insurance and deadlines throughout the year can be found here. Or visit our website www.ArborOne.com

Starting the Year Off Red, Right

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:42:00 +0000

The lure of wearing jeans every Friday in January and February while supporting a good cause - the American Heart Association – could not be denied. And that’s how ArborOne Farm Credit raised $800 for the AHA.

But that is just the beginning. During 2012, ArborOne employees will be able to pay $20 to wear jeans on Fridays. The money raised will go to a different charity each month. Suggestions will be made by the staff and a committee has been set up to determine which cause will be supported each month.

Proposed Farm Safety Regs for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:28:00 +0000

In the January 25th edition of USA Today’s Money section, reporter Judy Keen addresses front and center the proposed limits on what kids can do on farms, but are these proposed regulations too rigid?

These new rules would:

*prohibit children under 16 who are being paid from operating most power driven equipment, including tractors and combines. Some student-learners would be exempted from the ban on operating tractors and other farm implements, but only if the equipment has rollover protection and seat belts.

*keep those under 19 from working at grain elevators, silos, feedlots and livestock auctions and from transporting raw farm materials.

*prevent kids 15 and under from cultivating, curing and harvesting tobacco to prevent exposure to green tobacco sickness (caused by exposure to wet tobacco plants).

*prohibit youths from using electronic devices i.e. cell phones while operating power-driven equipment.

The legal age for children to be employed on a farm is 16 and that wouldn’t change. The Fair Labor Standards Act also allows kids 12 to 15 to have non-hazardous farm jobs under certain conditions. And the above proposed regulations wouldn’t apply to kids working at farms owned by their parents (family farms), but they would prevent the kids from doing some jobs for pay at neighbors and relatives farms.

Proposed regulations have a time period for public comments. During that time more than 18,000 public comments were posted. These comments were then published in September in the Federal Register and raised the hackles of many farmers and ranchers.

Safety is very important for all farm workers. A fact not lost on farm families who make it a point to teach and practice safety on the farm.

But a very important point is made at the end of the article: if rural youth are going to be forced to get jobs in town rather than on the farm, where are future farmers going to come from?

Good point.

Ag Insights

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Brett Crosby, president and co-owner of Wyoming-based Custom Ag Solutions , spoke at Coker College in Hartsville, SC, on Thursday afternoon. He talked to an audience of students, local farmers, and members of the community interested in agribusiness. He shared interesting numbers about farmers, farming and feeding the world:

< 1% of the US population is farmers

This < 1% is feeding 1/5th of the world’s population

20% of all grain in the world comes from the US

16 – 17% of all meat comes from the US

Each year there are fewer farmers growing more food for less.

Mr. Crosby had a lot of interesting information. He does what he loves – he’s a cowboy and an economist. You can follow his insights on twitter under the handle @mbacowboy.

Symposium Teaser

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:26:00 +0000

As we prepare for the 2012 Commodity Marketing & Risk Management Symposium coming this Thursday, Jason Creamer, a credit analyst at ArborOne Farm Credit, shares a bit about his part in the General Session:

“With grain prices well above historical averages and the high cost of farming, producers are looking into both irrigation systems and grain storage as ways to positively impact income. We will be looking at ‘the basics’ in cost analysis and discussing some of the questions surrounding these two investments. Every farm is different and requires its own unique analysis into the impact of irrigation and grain storage. We hope to provide some basic tools that can be used and tailored to help your farm study the options.”

Jason spoke to farmers and agribusiness owners this past summer about irrigation financing. His knowledge and expertise are the rule rather than the exception at ArborOne.

Want to come to the meeting? It’s free and lunch is provided.
When: Thursday, January 12, 2012
Where: Clemson Extension’s Pee Dee Research & Education Center on Pocket Road, Florence, SC
What time: 8:30am – registration begins
3:00pm – meeting will end no later than

Sponsored by : ArborOne Farm Credit; Nationwide Agribusiness – McLean Marechal Insurance; Palmetto Grain Brokerage; ARMtech Insurance Services
Hosted by: Clemson Extension

Commodity Marketing & Risk Management

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:11:00 +0000

It’s that time of year… commodity groups are holding annual meetings, farmers and agribusiness owners are repairing equipment, plans are being made, budgets calculated – it’s January.

This is also the time of year that we hold our annual Commodity Marketing & Risk Management Symposium at Pee Dee Research & Education Center on Pocket Road in Florence. Also known as the Clemson Extension office, we have to thank them for always hosting this meeting.

At this year’s meeting we will begin registration at 8:30am (coffee and donuts), followed by…

General Session: Overview of program/breakout sessions, including
Commodity Marketing with Edgar Woods, Palmetto Grain Brokerage
Cost Analysis for Irrigation and Grain Storage Financing – Jason Creamer, ArborOne Farm Credit

Breakout Sessions (choose one to attend before and one after lunch)
Basic Commodity Marketing – Brenton Bozard, Palmetto Grain
Advanced Commodity Marketing – Edgar Woods, Palmetto Grain
Land As Your Legacy – Nationwide Insurance
Risk Management through Crop Insurance – Ag Risk Management Technologies (ARMtech) Insurance Services

Lunch (free)

Breakout Sessions repeat after lunch

Closing Session – A time for questions and door prizes, to finish no later than 3:00pm

This event is sponsored by ArborOne Farm Credit, Nationwide Agribusiness – McLean Marechal Insurance, Palmetto Grain Brokerage and ARMtech Insurance Services. We thank Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service for hosting this event at the Pee Dee Research & Education Center at 2200 Pocket Road, Florence. A map is available at http://mapq.st/yNayGw

Feel free to call ArborOne Farm Credit at 800.741.7332 or check our website www.ArborOne.com for more details.

Where's the beef?

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:36:00 +0000

“Where’s the beef?” may become “Where’s the chicken?” in 2012.

According to two articles recently released, a drop in poultry production is expected for 2012. Greater global demand is leading to rising feed costs which can be directly connected to the rising cost of raising meat and poultry.

How might this affect our area? Poultry growers should expect fewer flocks and consumers might experience a higher cost of chicken in the grocery store. This won’t be the first time poultry has been through this. And as hard as it is to say, in the long run this is a good thing and it needs to happen.

All things will balance out and prices will return to normal, but it may be 2013.

Farm Credit Bonds - A Solid Deal

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:13:00 +0000

These days it’s difficult to know where to invest. Farm land is a good idea, but so are Farm Credit Bonds. Recently made available, these are high credit quality debt instruments issued throughout the month in various amounts, maturities and structures.

"Bonds offer a large degree of structural flexibility, thereby presenting the Farm Credit System’s greatest opportunity to meet the varied needs of the investor and dealer community. Bonds may be issued each business day and are underwritten by one or more of the Bond Dealers. Federal Farm Credit Banks Consolidated Systemwide Medium-Term Notes and Unscheduled Bonds were previously issued with similar characteristics."

Interested? Visit the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation website page that is dedicated to details about every aspect of the program, right down to a list of Bond Selling Group Members.

Calling All Shooters!

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:11:00 +0000

ArborOne Farm Credit’s Talent Management Group is putting together a sporting clays event that will benefit the FFA and 4-H groups of South Carolina. "Aim-At-Ag" will take place at the Black River Sporting Clays Club in Kingstree, SC, on October 15th. Enjoy a beautiful day of sporting clays while supporting a great cause.

You’ll also have the chance to win a ½ Day Santee Catfishing Trip for 4 at Blacks Camp with Jay Gregg, Host of SC Outdoors. This trip includes accommodations for one night.

There will be awards given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Places; Youth High Overall and Youth Team Winner.

Contact Rebecca Patterson,( rpatterson@arborone.com), Charles Vernon, (cvernon@arborone.com ) or call 800.741.7332to register or ask about sponsorship opportunities.

Strong Farm Income

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:38:00 +0000

With the release of the current U.S. export forecast for fiscal year 2011 at $137 billion, $22 billion higher than the previous record set in 2008 and $28 billion above 2010, U.S. farmers have something to celebrate. These strong numbers are in spite of droughts, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack commented that, “Despite the setbacks, American agriculture is thriving; demonstrating again that the men and women who own and operate America’s farms and ranches are some of the most resilient in the world.”

Our farmers and ranchers are showing their strength and foresight. Not only are they focusing on exporting their crops; but also finding ways to make local connections with schools, hospitals, grocery stores and individuals.

Agriculture is a bright spot in the U.S. economy. With increased farm income, agricultural real-estate prices have been driven to record highs in some parts of the country.

The USDA’s Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade FY 2012 has exports remaining at $137 billion with imports rising; the trade balance for 2012 is expected to be a surplus of $32 billion, the third highest ever. 2011’s surplus of $42.5 billion remains a record.

So we congratulate, celebrate and thank our farmers for a job well-done!

Livestock Forage Disaster Program - FSA

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:52:00 +0000

The South Carolina USDA FSA announced August 31, 2011, that more counties in South Carolina will be eligible for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) as the drought continues. Livestock producers in these counties will be potentially eligible for this program.

LFP was authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill to provide compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted specifically for grazing. Complete details on the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) can be found here.

The LFP is just one part of the Emergency Loan Program available through FSA. We encourage all in the noted counties who may be eligible for this disaster relief to contact their local FSA agent for more information.

Irrigation - Consider for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:33:00 +0000

With uneven predictions for the 2011 cotton and corn crops of South Carolina, area farmers are preparing for 2012. Part of this preparation is reviewing risk management steps. Two very important ones are crop insurance and irrigation systems. Hmmm, maybe that last one wasn’t so high on the list last year, but this year it deserves a long, hard look.

When considering the purchase of an irrigation system there are things in addition to cost that must be looked at. Where will the water come from - a well, an on-site pond? Will the irrigation system be hydraulic or electric? The fields that will be affected by this equipment are they leased or owned? And if they are leased is a long-term lease negotiable?

So many questions that can only be answered by the farmer. But the bottom line is an irrigation system can save your crops and has the ability to pay for itself within 5 years.

What Keeps Farmers Up at Night…

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:47:00 +0000

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the weather keeps farmers up at night. It is unpredictable, no matter what the meteorologist says on the 11:00 news. Rain is good, especially during the crucial growing cycle; hail is not, ever.

What else? There’s always market risk. The volatility of pricing, maintaining a viable market for their product as well as food safety all fall under that. And don’t forget labor issues. Immigration is a hot topic among the politicians and farmers. The need for a “guest-worker program” is high on many lists. Investing in a crop and not being able to harvest could be a business-crushing event. And let’s not forget government regulations, definitely a REM-interrupter.

Suggested RX? Remember that ArborOne Farm Credit has 95 years experience in agricultural and agribusiness lending. That said, we are your partners and ahead of the curve as an ag lender. Facilitators not road blocks.

Now roll over and go back to sleep.

Welcome to the Table, Agriculture

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:47:00 +0000

Those of us in the agribusiness industry - whether as farmers, workers or ag lenders - know how important agriculture and timber is to South Carolina. It's a $34billion industry that employs more than 200,000 people in our state.

I was so pleased when the importance of agribusiness in South Carolina was noted at a strategic planning session for the SC Chamber of Commerce. The people in the room, business leaders from across our state, recognized and discussed the difference the ag industry will make going forward with economic development and legislative planning.

We have so much to be proud of; and so many opportunities moving forward. Agriculture has a seat at the table and is more than ready to contribute.

Think Globally, Act Locally

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:45:00 +0000

Now South Carolina really is.

Funding is now in place to begin the post-45 deepening study for the Port of Charleston. This is the first step in the port expansion that will deepen the channel from 45 to 50 feet which will allow larger cargo ships to dock in Charleston.

The Port of Charleston study will be complete not long after the Panama Canal finishes a major expansion project in 2014. The Canal will then be able to accommodate larger cargo ships. Already the deepest Southeastern port, with its expansion, Charleston will be able to safely welcome more large cargo ships.

This expansion opens major doors for South Carolina farmers. With the global demand for soybeans on the rise in Asian and Mid East markets, farmers are planting 10% more soybeans than in 2010. This year’s crop is expected to earn $142 million, $20 million more than last year.

Outdoor pursuits and budget cuts...

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:09:00 +0000

In a recent letter to the South Carolina General Assembly, the following comments were made:

“A thriving economy and the future health and prosperity of South Carolina depend on our commitment to our water and air, our natural areas, our farms and forests, our wildlife and our scenic vistas. These assets are important to all South Carolinians and are intended to be passed along to future generations in as good and hopefully better shape than we found them. Whether it is hunting for white-tailed deer or turkey, fishing for spot-tail bass, or hiking one of the many trails that crisscross our state, outdoor pursuits are a deep tradition in our state.

Forestry, farming, outdoor recreation and tourism are the largest sectors of South Carolina’s economy, contributing $54 billion annually and accounting for about 463,000 jobs. This means that land and water resources are responsible for nearly a third of our state’s economy and roughly one in four jobs.”

That’s the positive. The negative is that the five agencies charged with the stewardship of these precious public resources (Department of Natural Resources (DNR), SC Department of Parks Recreation, and Tourism (PRT), SC Forestry Commission, SC Conservation Bank and SC Department of Agriculture) have seen their budgets slashed in recent years. These cuts threaten their core operations. Less than 1% of the entire state’s budget goes to these agencies. We need to be, as a state, focused on generating revenue and jobs rather than having to constantly cut expenses. Imagine what these agencies could do to “sell” South Carolina through promotion of the SC Certified program, just one example, and job generation if they were adequately funded!!

I urge you to contact your local representative in the Statehouse. Let them know your concern.

We need to do a better job in rural America...

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:41:00 +0000

telling our story.

Rural America is the rolling hills you wind through going on vacation; it’s the small town with the amazing restaurant and art gallery just off the interstate; it’s the strawberry patch where your kindergartener uses one hand to put strawberries in his bucket and the other to put them in his mouth. Rural America is filled to the brim with farmers supplying our stores with safe, fresh, affordable food -the same food we buy with a much smaller portion of our paycheck than any other country in the world.

Federal spending on farm programs represents less than one-half of one percent of the federal budget.

Drill down further, the USDA’s budget devotes only 17% of its budget to farm & commodity programs.
Wow.

Let’s put some numbers to those percentages.
$25 billion is budgeted by the USDA for farm & commodity programs. The USDA’s budget is $146 billion. (as a side bar, 70% of the USDA’s budget is for nutrition assistance – that’s $102.2 billion)

And a pie chart. (http://www.obpa.usda.gov/budsum/FY11budsum.pdf)

US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack describes rural America as "a unique and interesting place that (I don’t think) a lot of folks fully appreciate and understand. They don’t understand that while it represents 16 % of America’s population, 44 % of the military comes from rural America. It’s the source of our food, fiber and feed, and 88% of our renewable water resources. One of every 12 jobs in the American economy is connected in some way to what happens in rural America. It’s one of the few parts of our economy that still has a trade surplus."

Well said Mr. Secretary.

Now let’s each find a way to tell our own story of rural America.

Next time…
What exactly is "a billion"?
What happened "a billion" seconds ago?
How many bales of cotton will a billion cotton bolls make?

What We Can Do...

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Sometimes we take it for granted that farmers and local residents throughout our territory realize everything ArborOne Farm Credit can do. For example, in Horry County, ArborOne is able to finance operating loans for farmers. It’s a niche market and one we are proud to serve.
But in addition to operating loans in Horry County (or Williamsburg, Georgetown, Marion, Dillon, Marlboro, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Sumter, Lee, Darlington, or Florence) we can also provide agricultural loans, real estate loans, or finance that recreational property you’ve been eyeing for the last couple of years. Long term financing is available.

ArborOne is proud of the fact that we make our decisions locally. We are financially sound and have capital to lend.

We’ve been providing operating loans to Horry County farmers for generations, and we’d love to work with you.

2010 - A Good Year

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:00:00 +0000

In spite of the economy, 2010 was a good year for ArborOne Farm Credit. This is something I am always pleased to report. We remain well capitalized, experienced growth, achieved healthy profits and will again pay a strong patronage to our stockholders.

I believe the outlook for agriculture over the next three years is positive. In fact, we may be in the beginning of another golden age for agriculture. Rising world demand for our products insure a good year for row crops as well as stable farmland values all benefitting local farmers. The market is right for taking advantage of low long-term fixed rates for real estate, a way to bullet-proof your balance sheet for years to come. A word of caution: beware of "bubbles" in commodity prices. A great predictor of price is long-term average prices, and with that in mind, we are seeing prices on some commodities hit all time highs which over the long haul are not sustainable. Set a goal, employ a strategy, use hedging to protect your investment and never try to "time the market". Be sure to have an overall management plan in place. Keep risk management an integral part of it – whether it’s crop insurance, irrigation systems, storage bins or any other strategy available.

Legal Risk

noreply@blogger.com (ArborOne Farm Credit) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:38:00 +0000

As we continue our Risk Management discussion, Legal Risk and the awareness of this risk is crucial.

Better risk management decisions can be made when farmers realize that legal implications are a part of many day-to-day commitments. Loan repayment, use of pesticides, marketing of agricultural products, even human resource issues and inheritance laws – all and more are part of the legal issues that may come forward.

The most common legal issues associated with farming are: appropriate legal business structure and tax and estate planning, contractual arrangements, tort liability, and statutory compliance, including environmental issues.

As a farmer, you should ask yourself:

- Have I reviewed my property and liability insurance policies? Do they exclude areas that concern me, such as pollution and/or livestock?

- Am I covered in community service activities?

- Are my leased buildings and equipment covered?

- Do I need to perform an environmental audit? Am I keeping the required records?

Regardless of the type contractual arrangement – oral or written – you should be concerned about what happens if there is a disagreement. Check with your local State Bar Association, there are often publications on various legal topics available. It’s always better to visit a qualified attorney before entering into an agreement. Preventive action can be much cheaper and less time-consuming.