Knowledge Center
Find the latest news, industry articles, auction results, member features, and more.-
Stay Informed. View the Latest News and Events
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News04.06.20Community Improvement Grants Awarded to Local Youth
Fifty 4-H clubs and FFA chapters were awarded $500 grants to make tangible improvements in their local communities. FCI has invested nearly $160,000 in grant funds since the program’s start in 2008.
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News04.06.20Youth Named as 2020 Agriculture Scholars
Thirty high school seniors were named FCI Agriculture Scholars, receiving $2,000 towards their college education. Since the program’s start in 2004, $516,000 of scholarships have been awarded to 389 students planning to study agriculture at a college or university.
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News04.02.20Cooperative Readiness Surrounding COVID-19
FCI commits to providing continued access to services while prioritizing the health and safety of the farm families, employees, and rural communities we serve.
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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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Cultivations11.08.18Cultivations - Post-Harvest 2018The post-harvest 2018 edition of Cultivation includes useful information about the Farmland Value Study, upcoming Farm Credit College programs, and how to apply for 2019 Scholarships and 4-H/FFA Grants. Cultivations comes out twice a year and is mailed to all FCI cooperative members and crop insurance customers.
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Cultivations03.15.18Cultivations - Preplanting 2018
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Cultivations11.01.17Cultivations - Post-harvest 2017
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Essentials02.07.20Essentials Issue 01, 2020In this issue, you’ll learn about upcoming Farm Credit College workshops, 2020 Directors Cup applications announcement, Weather Update from Eric Snodgrass, reminder about scholarship and community improvement grant deadlines, land auction results and upcoming auction listings.
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Essentials12.10.19Essentials Issue 06, 2019In this issue learn how you can sign up for our upgraded texting clubs, learn about upcoming FreshRoots forums for young and beginning farmers, sign up for winter Fielding Forward crop insurance meetings, check out the latest auctions near you, apply for an agriculture scholarship or community improvement grant, read Dr. Kohl’s latest article, and listen to how creating a cash flow statement helps farmers better plan for tomorrow.
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Essentials10.11.19Essentials Issue 05, 2019
The Farm Credit Learn and Grown Pavilion is dedicated, the 2020 Focus on Farming photo calendar finalists are announced, new staff introduced, and tenured staff congratulated on recent anniversaries at FCI. Eric Snodgrass provides a weather update, On The Block auction listings are shared, and upcoming fall/winter Farm Credit College workshops announced.
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Essentials08.22.19Essentials Issue 04 - Summer 2019This issue includes a patronage photo slideshow, how to identify phishing emails, access to the land values benchmark study, a report on land sales in the last 90 days, and how lowered interest rates will impact the rest of 2019.
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Essentials06.05.19Essentials Issue 03 - 2019In this issue of ESSENTIALS, you'll watch a timely weather outlook update from Eric Snodgrass, learn about the new FCI cash patronage program, meet the Director's Cup recipients and also meet the 2019 Summer Interns!
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Essentials04.08.19Essentials 02 - Spring 2019Lots of great content in this issue: KOHL-laborations, INTERESTing Times, a "Text Club" contest with terrific prizes, meet the 2019 Ag Scholars and Community Grant Recipients, important crop insurance information, Staff in the Spotlight introducing new FCI employees and celebrating milestone anniversaries and more!
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Essentials02.05.19Essentials Issue 01 - 2019
In this issue learn about the FreshRoots $5,000 Directors Cup award, discover how to forward market grain with confidence, access links to apply for FCI's scholarship and community grants programs, view upcoming farmland auctions, and more.
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Essentials12.05.18Essentials Issue 06 - 2018Hear from Dr. David Kohl on how to plan for 2019, register to attend a Farm Credit College Estate Planning workshop, register to attend one or more 2019 Fielding Forward crop insurance meetings, and find information about 2019 FCI ag scholarships and community improvement grants.
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Field Goals01.01.20Field Goals Winter 2020Dr. Nicholas Paulson, University of Illinois College of ACES and farmdoc contributor, discusses continued challenges coming in 2020. Learn about the new reward program the Illinois Department of Agriculture is piloting in 2020 for farmers planting cover crops, check out the Fielding Forward crop insurance meeting schedule, review a list of questions farmers should ask before renewing their crop insurance, and discover 2020 crop insurance enhancement opportunities.
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Field Goals08.21.19Field Goals Fall 2019Learn how prevent or delayed planting provided a safety net this tough planting season that helped soften the impact of weather. And harvest may be later than usual, but you will want to review a pre-harvest policy inspection list included in this issue. And you’ll also learn about other protection options that fall outside the common ones farmers are most familiar.
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Insights12.09.19Mindset: The Competitive EdgeAre mindsets and attitudes positive or negative difference makers in your farm business? Maintaining a strong network of people who are collaborative and can think critically will be the seed and fertilizer needed for success.
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Insights10.15.19Make Informed Decisions with Annual Cash Flow StatementsRunning a farm business is demanding – especially in today’s tight margin environment. Taking the time at year-end to create a cash flow statement can help you make informed decisions all year.
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Insights08.08.19How Lowered Interest Rates Will Impact the Rest of 2019What does the recent rate reduction by the FOMC and the ending of the Fed's balance sheet runoff earlier than planned mean for the future of interest rates?
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Insights08.06.19What are Phishing Emails?Phishing emails are one of the most common online threats. Being aware of this danger and knowing how to spot phony requests can protect your personal and farm business information.
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Insights06.01.19The 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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Insights04.01.19A Dovish Stance - No More Rate Hikes in 2019What does the announcement indicating no expected rate hikes for 2019 reflect about the Fed’s balance sheet and the U.S. and global economies?
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Insights04.01.19The Short and Long-term Views from the RoadHow little changes or increased focus can increase a producer's chance of success in today's farm economy.
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Insights03.28.19Wet Weather Have You in a Holding Pattern?Don't forget these crop insurance details this spring.
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News04.06.20Community Improvement Grants Awarded to Local Youth
Fifty 4-H clubs and FFA chapters were awarded $500 grants to make tangible improvements in their local communities. FCI has invested nearly $160,000 in grant funds since the program’s start in 2008.
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News04.06.20Youth Named as 2020 Agriculture Scholars
Thirty high school seniors were named FCI Agriculture Scholars, receiving $2,000 towards their college education. Since the program’s start in 2004, $516,000 of scholarships have been awarded to 389 students planning to study agriculture at a college or university.
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News04.02.20Cooperative Readiness Surrounding COVID-19
FCI commits to providing continued access to services while prioritizing the health and safety of the farm families, employees, and rural communities we serve.
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News04.01.20Young Farmer Perspectives from FreshRoots ForumsDuring the winter FreshRoots Forums, Dr. Kohl facilitated panel discussions with Directors Cup recipients. Dr. Kohl highlights his favorite nuggets of wisdom and conversation in this edition of KOHL-laborations.
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News03.23.20Five Things to Know When Looking For Country Living Financing
Don’t let lending limitations get in the way of your country living dreams. Find a lender who can finance whatever rural life you envision by asking the following questions.
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News02.24.20Shearer Joins Farm Credit Team
Get to know Marion’s newest assistant vice president of crop insurance – Nathan Shearer of Grand Chain.
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News02.18.20Hoelting Joins Farm Credit Team
Get to know Jacksonville’s newest loan officer– Jessica Hoelting of Jacksonville.
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News01.27.20ARC vs. PLCChoose which framework is right for you – Agricultural Risk Coverage at the county level (ARC-CO), Agricultural Risk Coverage at the individual level (ARC-IC), or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) – by March 15 for 2019 coverage and June 30 for 2020 coverage.
