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Stay Informed. View the Latest News and Events
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Essentials12.06.22Essentials Issue 06 - Winter 2022
Learning Programs, Scholarships & Grants, Ag Barometer, and more in this edition of Essentials.
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Cultivations11.17.22Cultivations Post-Harvest 2022
In this issue, read a message from the CEO, farmland value analysis, commentary from Dr. David Kohl, and check out FCI’s learning programs, community improvement grants, agriculture scholarships, and Directors Cup awards.
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Insights10.07.22Summit Views on Livestock Farming
Commentary, wisdom, and perspectives from globally renowned agricultural economist Dr. David M. Kohl..
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Cultivations11.17.22Cultivations Post-Harvest 2022
In this issue, read a message from the CEO, farmland value analysis, commentary from Dr. David Kohl, and check out FCI’s learning programs, community improvement grants, agriculture scholarships, and Directors Cup awards.
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Cultivations03.14.22Cultivations Pre-Plant 2022
In this issue, read a message from the CEO discussing tomorrow’s uncertainties, Director elections, FreshRoots Directors Cup details, and commentary from Dr. David Kohl.
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Cultivations11.15.21Cultivations Post-Harvest 2021In this issue, read a message from the CEO on preparing for a year of increased prices, a land value trend report, and check out FCI's community improvement grants, agriculture scholarships, and Directors Cup awards.
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Cultivations03.11.21Cultivations Pre-Plant 2021In this issue, read about Director elections, preseason patronage, FreshRoots Directors Cup details, and commentary from Dr. David Kohl.
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Cultivations11.24.20Cultivations Post-Harvest 2020In this issue: Farmland values benchmark study results, 2021 Director's Cup recipients announced, Dr. Kohl with a post-harvest action plan, 2021 FCI ag scholarship and community grant applications now online, and dates and registration link provided for virtual Farm Credit College programs.
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Cultivations03.11.20Cultivations Pre-Plant 2020
In this issue, learn the results of the Board of Director elections, discover details on eligibility requirements and how to apply for the 2020 $5,000 Directors Cup Award, and be inspired when Dr. David Kohl shares tips from operations experiencing success by setting short and long-term goals.
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Cultivations10.31.19Cultivations - Post Harvest 2019Director cup recipients honored at Illinois State Fair, learn about upcoming fall/winter Farm Credit College courses, and learn about opportunities for youth with agriculture scholarships and community improvement grants.
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Cultivations03.20.19Cultivatations Pre-plant 2019Director election results announced. Apply for the Cultivating Master Farmers Program. Board of Directors now accepting applications for the FreshRoots Directors Cup.
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Essentials12.06.22Essentials Issue 06 - Winter 2022
Learning Programs, Scholarships & Grants, Ag Barometer, and more in this edition of Essentials.
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Essentials10.07.22Essentials Issue 05 - Fall 2022
Weather Outlook, Learning Programs, & Calendar Contest Winners and more in this edition of Essentials.
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Essentials08.10.22Essentials Issue 04 - Summer 2022Farmland values, farm loans that pay, interest rates and more in this edition of Essentials.
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Essentials06.07.22Essentials Issue 3, 2022Cash Patronage, Weather Updates, Interest Rate Discussion, and Summer Webinars.
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Essentials04.07.22Essentials - Issue 2, 2022
In this issue Dr. Kohl with FreshRoots reflections, Interest Rate discussion with Brownfield Ag News, FCI Scholarship & Community Grant recipients announced, and Rural 1st® testimonial.
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Essentials02.07.22Essentials Issue 1, 2022Trends in FCI’s territory indicate increased sales for larger sums, according to FCI's appraisal team. Find out more information on recent farmland auctions reported since the last results were published in July 2021. Additionally, land sales results reported from various farm real estate auctions held in the past six months throughout the Farm Credit Illinois geographical area.
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Essentials12.08.21Essentials - Issue 6, 2021In this issue, read Dr. Kohl's recent commentary on beginning farmers, learn how to protect your input investments with customized crop insurance coverage, and register for a learning program near you.
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Essentials10.05.21Essentials - Issue 5, 2021In this issue listen to a weather update from Eric Snodgrass, learn about FCI's operating loan advantage, and view the Focus on Farming calendar winners.
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Insights10.07.22Summit Views on Livestock Farming
Commentary, wisdom, and perspectives from globally renowned agricultural economist Dr. David M. Kohl..
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Insights08.08.22How High Will the Fed Go?
Glen Semple shares how continued interest rate hikes are affecting the U.S. economy and what is projected for interest rates going forward.
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Insights06.06.22Shifting Fed Rates and Strategy
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve (Fed) met May 3-4, and voted to increase the Fed Funds rate by 0.50% to 1.00% – the largest increase in the Fed Funds Rate in nearly 30 years.
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Insights04.05.22FreshRoots Reflections
Dr. Kohl reflects on some of the major takeaways from FCI’s FreshRoots program meetings. Review the key lessons young and beginning farmers learned during these meetings – from managing economic hardships to making challenging, but valuable, operation changes.
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Insights04.05.22One Rate, One Loan, One DreamThe Shooks of Champaign County dreamed of purchasing a country property that allowed for multigenerational living. When the opportunity presented itself, they turned to Rural 1st® to finance and bundle their complex property into one long-term loan, under one fixed rate.
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Insights02.01.22The Cooperative Advantage for Farm Families and Ag BorrowersWhen choosing a lender, consider the advantage of working with a cooperative - owned by its members and not outside investors. Lending cooperatives deliver value by serving the needs of member-borrowers and their communities.
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Insights12.03.21Protect Input Investments with Customized Crop CoverageAs input prices soar, the countless decisions farmers must make before putting in the 2022 crop are daunting. Farmers can customize their crop insurance coverage to fit their unique risk management plan and budget just like any other input. And FCI agents are here to help farmers confidently protect their input investments and create a bottom-line guarantee.
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Insights12.03.21Frontline Insight from Young and Beginning ProducersAfter more than 200 webcasts during the pandemic, Dr. Kohl resumed in-person sessions. What has he found most interesting from his latest interactions with young farmers? What are some of the principles and practices that will give the next generation a higher probability of being on the positive side of the financial and quality-of-life ledgers?
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News07.29.22Farm Loans that Pay
Members can pencil in patronage annually even with today’s financial market pressures. You can credit this to the Board of Directors’ long-term capital management plan that prioritizes low upfront interest rates and consistent patronage payouts while managing capital conservatively.
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News06.20.22$40 MILLION FARM CREDIT CASH PATRONAGE ARRVING TO FARM FAMILIESMore than 8,100 Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) borrowers receive their share of a $40 million cash patronage distribution this week.
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News06.06.222022 Summer Interns
Farm Credit Illinois recently hired four college students pursuing an agriculture-related major to complete a 12-week summer internship. Get to know our FCI interns.
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News05.31.22Beginning Farmers Build Bright Futures
Two young farmers and one farmer couple from central and southern Illinois were named FreshRoots Directors Cup honorees this week by Farm Credit Illinois.
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News05.09.22Students Named Farm Credit Family ScholarsFarm Credit Illinois recognizes twelve students, all children of FCI employees, as recipients of the Tom Tracy Memorial Farm Credit Illinois Family Scholarship.
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News04.04.22Illinois Students Receive $60,000 of Scholarships
Farm Credit Illinois named 30 high school seniors as agriculture scholarship recipients in central and southern Illinois.
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News04.04.22Youth Groups Receive Community Improvement GrantsFarm Credit Illinois awarded 50 community improvement grants to FFA chapters and 4-H clubs in central and southern Illinois.
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News02.08.22Meeting Demand Through Entrepreneurship
2021 Directors Cup honoree Austin Ellison of St. Clair County goes above and beyond row crop farming, while also owning and operating two successful businesses.