COMMON GROUND BLOG

Find trends and outlooks, education and more on financing rural America from Farm Credit Services of America.

Apr 10, 2024 | The Business of Agriculture

Our experts review the current rate environment among other topics ranging from early payment discounts to equipment purchases to paying down long-term debt.

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Jun 10, 2014 | Crop Insurance

Hailstorm a Reminder of Managing Risks with Crop Insurance

The storm that hit parts of Nebraska and Iowa on June 3 proved as powerful as forecasters had warned. Fortunately, customers heeded the warnings and reviewed their crop insurance levels before the hail hit.

Jun 2, 2014 | The Business of Agriculture

Rising Cattle Values Boost Need for Owner Equity, Lender Capacity

Ranchers, feeders and feedyard operators often ask why lenders require cattlemen to invest greater levels of equity to maintain the lending relationship. We offer the answers.

May 29, 2014 | From the Farm

A Family Winery in Nebraska Grainbelt

As founders of only the fourth vineyard in Nebraska, Max and Theresa McFarland faced some big challenges, including finding a lender who shared their vision.

May 22, 2014 | The Business of Agriculture

High Degree of Variability in Farmland Market

Farmland prices across our four states are in various stages of flux. Learn what the numbers revealed in the first four months of 2014.

Apr 24, 2014 | Rural Communities

Every Day is Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work on the Family Farm

Here, at FCSAmerica, we’ll use Take Your Daughters and Sons Day to talk about ag, our chance to pay tribute to the generations of farming families who have passed their know-how and work ethic from parent to child.

Apr 22, 2014 | The Business of Agriculture

Farm Credit institutions and USDA Announce New Tool to Help Rural Businesses Grow

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called the fund “a powerful new tool” that will help rural businesses access private equity.

Apr 17, 2014 | Rural Communities

Growing a ‘Farm Community’ Inside a City School

Bryan High educators traveled to California to see what an urban agriculture academy looked like. The irony of Nebraskans traveling to learn about agriculture was not lost on the California tour guides.

Apr 15, 2014 | Rural Communities

Government Aid Only Goes so Far for South Dakota Rancher; Kindness is Key to Recovery

Rancher Shawn Freeland doesn’t look to the USDA’s livestock disaster assistance program to restore his herd following last October’s blizzard. Only time – and extraordinary acts of kindness – will help him weather his cattle losses.

Mar 26, 2014 | The Business of Agriculture

Learning to Manage the Risk of PED

Most of the pork producers we work with anticipate good profits in 2014. But the PED virus weighs heavily on the industry. It’s a risk that producers will have to learn to manage.

Mar 19, 2014 | Crop Insurance

Proper Identification Number Required

Entity types such as individuals operating as businesses, estates, and irrevocable trusts require Employer Identification.

Mar 12, 2014 | Crop Insurance

FCSAmerica GrowingOn Meetings Help Producers Navigate Through Crop Price Volatility

FCSAmerica hosted GrowingOn® meetings in 30 locations across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota from December 2013 through January 2014.

Mar 11, 2014 | The Business of Agriculture

The Way of the Future: Fossil-fuel Free Farms

The Dakota Lakes Research Farm in Pierre, South Dakota, has cuts its use of fossil fuel by half. Now it has its sights on a fossil-fuel free operation by 2026.

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FCSAmerica serves farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. For inquiries outside this geography, use the Farm Credit Association Locator  to contact your local office.