Farm Credit Mid-America to return $63 million to Ohio farmers

At a time when farmers continue to navigate tight margins, elevated input costs and ongoing market uncertainty, Farm Credit Mid-America will return $280 million in net earnings to eligible customer-owners this March through its patronage program, with $63 million returning to Ohio farmers.

Customers commonly use patronage payments to pay down operating or term debt, offset spring input and planting costs, reinvest in equipment, land or on-farm improvements, and strengthen working capital and financial resilience.

This year’s distribution brings the total amount of net earnings returned to customers over the past 10 years to more than $1.75 billion, underscoring the strength of Farm Credit Mid-America’s diverse portfolio and commitment to support farmers through both good and challenging times.

“Returning capital to our customers is just part of how we do business as a cooperative,” said Melanie Strait-Bok, senior vice president of agricultural lending in Ohio for Farm Credit Mid-America. “Our customers manage risk every day. Patronage gives them a little extra flexibility, whether that’s strengthening their balance sheet, improving cash flow or helping them plan for the season ahead.”

Farm Credit Mid-America is a farmer-owned cooperative, meaning customers also are owners. Through patronage, a portion of the cooperative’s earnings is returned to eligible customer-owners based on the level of eligible business they conduct with the association. Patronage is an annual decision made by Farm Credit Mid-America’s board of directors.

“Over the last decade, we’ve returned more than $1.75 billion directly to the people who make agriculture work,” said Tara Durbin, chief lending officer of agriculture at Farm Credit Mid-America. “A portion of that capital stays in Indiana, where it supports farms, families and rural communities, which is exactly what our cooperative system was designed to do.”

Farm Credit Mid-America serves agricultural producers, rural homeowners and agribusinesses across Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. In addition to patronage, the cooperative invests about $5 million annually in rural communities through education, leadership development, youth programs and support for the next generation of agriculture.

To learn more about Farm Credit Mid-America’s patronage program, eligibility requirements and customer-owner experiences, visit fcma.com/patronage.