American Ag Credit: Experts in growing business - $3 billion agricultural cooperative provides loans for nurseries, avocado grov

Whether you are a high school student in need of financing for a 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA) project or the owner of a multi-million-dollar nursery that requires additional financing, American Ag Credit has been helping customers just like you with their agricultural lending experience for many decades.

Established in 1916, American Ag Credit, a government-sponsored entity that is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, can arrange loans for farmers, ranchers and cooperatives of all sizes. Their role is to provide a consistent source of funds for rural America and agriculture.

“We are well experienced in agricultural financing and are a cooperative, owned by our borrowers,” said Greg Warren, vice president and branch manager of the company’s Escondido office. “On top of our competitive fees, over the past two years we [the Escondido branch office] have paid back $1.4 million in cash dividends to our borrowers.”

The cash dividend payment for 2006 was the equivalent of a 0.75-percent reduction in the interest rate paid by its member-borrowers. During this same two-year period, the Association has paid back over $30 million to its member-borrowers.

The Escondido branch serves the needs of Fallbrook, Rainbow, De Luz and Bonsall. It currently assists 155 customers with 240 outstanding loans.

“We are probably the largest financing entity for avocados in Southern California,” Warren said. With the large number of avocado groves owned by investors who rely heavily on grove management companies, Warren says his staff is pleased with the success they have achieved for clients by learning and sharing information pertaining to the proactive management of groves.

Whether you need a long-,

intermediate- or short-term loan; a line of credit; a country home loan; funding for your farm or ranch operation; or lease financing for equipment and/or vehicles, these agricultural professionals are pleased to provide the service that fits your need.

“We finance all sizes of operations from this branch, from $25,000 to $35 million,” Warren said.

Agricultural producers are the largest segment of business American Ag Credit handles. Owners of ornamental plant and tree nurseries, greenhouse nurseries, cut flower operations, vineyards and avocado and citrus groves favor the company’s competitive rates and fees and find them to be consistent, responsive and resourceful.

Supporting youth is something American Ag Credit has done for many years. Not only do they provide interest-free loans for 4-H and FFA projects, provided the student maintains a minimum 2.0 grade point average, but they offer an outstanding summer internship program. “We feel that anything we can do to support the youth is valuable,” Warren said. “It’s our way of giving back and helping develop the next generation.”

Watching agricultural interests pass from generation to generation is something Warren has a lot of personal experience in. He is a fourth generation in the agriculture business himself.

“It is very rewarding to me to watch farming operations pass through to the different generations,” he said. “We see that transition a lot.”

American Ag Credit, known as a stable, knowledgeable and reliable source of financing for agriculture operations, also avidly supports the San Diego Farm Bureau and is a key sponsor of the organization’s annual Farmer of the Year dinner.

Contact your local American Ag Credit office at 960 Canterbury Place, Suite 210, Escondido, CA 92025. Call (760) 746-5055 for more information.

To learn more about the internship program for college students (deadline May 15), visit the company Web site at http://www.agloan.com.