The Farm Credit System is a nationwide network of borrower-owned lending institutions and specialized service organizations. Farm Credit provides more than $160 billion in loans, leases and related services to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, aquatic producers, timber harvesters, agribusinesses, and agricultural and rural utility cooperatives.
Congress established the Farm Credit System in 1916 to provide a reliable source of credit for the Nation’s farmers and ranchers. Today, the System provides more than one-third of the credit needed by those who live and work in rural America.
Farm Credit is the leader in agricultural and rural financing in the United States. In fact, we are the largest single lender to agriculture in Florida, as well as the Nation.
If you are a Florida farmer, grower, producer or food processor, you have come to the right place for your lending and leasing solutions. Are you looking for a loan to purchase agricultural real estate, livestock, machinery, vehicles or an existing agribusiness? Looking to purchase a home in the country? With nearly 100 years of experience in agricultural finance, our industry experts can help you meet your financing needs and lifestyle dreams.
Our Mission
To provide our members with dependable and responsive financial services to agriculture and the rural community while optimizing the value of our members’ investment.
Our History
The seeds of the Farm Credit System were planted by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, when he appointed the Country Life Commission to address the problems facing a predominantly rural population.
The Commission’s report documented a lack of adequate agricultural credit, where farmers could not readily secure loans on fair terms. The report led to various presidential and congressional studies, which included extensive analysis of other nations’ rural credit systems. Congressional proponents’ stalemate in 1914 led to the Joint Committee on Rural Credits in 1915, which in turn drafted the final compromise adopted in 1916.
Lawmakers ultimately chose a cooperative credit structure based on 12 Federal Land Banks (FLBs), using $125 million in government seed money, but financed by private capital from investors.
Our Core Values
- Character – Knowing what is right and doing it
- Excellence – Pursuing and rewarding the best
- Respect – Acknowledging the rights, values, and beliefs of everyone
- Innovation – Creating, delivering, and accepting positive change
A strong foundation, reliability and dependability are the cornerstones upon which the Farm Credit system is based. Founded by farmers, for farmers, in 1916, Farm Credit has had a long-standing partnership with agriculture and rural Americans. We have helped America’s farmers and rural communities grow and prosper for almost 100 years. Every staff member believes in building long-term relationships with our members- we invite you to join the Farm Credit family, too.
Our Strategic Objectives
- Provide high quality financial and credit-related services to all qualified customers.
- Manage credit and financial risk so that the Association’s capital base is strong and stockholder wealth is improved.
It Pays To Do Business us
Farm Credit does something no other lender does. We share our profits with our member-borrowers. Because we are a cooperative, we operate for the benefit of our customers. This means that our profits are returned back to our member-borrowers, not to stockholders on Wall Street, like other lending institutions.
We Are Here To Serve Agri-Business and Rural America
Turn to the expert in the agri-business lending business- Farm Credit of Florida for all of your agri-business needs.