The Farm Credit System is a nationwide network of cooperative lending institutions that provides credit and financial services to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, agricultural cooperatives, rural utility systems and agribusinesses. The system provides more than $152 billion in loans to over half a million borrowers.

The system was created in 1916 by an act of Congress and is the largest single provider of agricultural credit in the United States. The strength and stability of the system is reflected in the size of the national system — over $197 billion in total assets, but the real benefit of the operation is dealing with a local office with hometown people who know their business, their communities and their customers.

Unlike commercial banks, we do not take deposits. Money is raised by selling system-wide bonds and discount notes in the securities market on Wall Street. The proceeds are channeled through the System banks, associations and thus ultimately to our customers involved in agriculture and agribusiness.