Farm credit loans can help balance the risk that comes with making a living off the land. Farming life is surely rewarding, but those who do it day in and day out know just how much is out of their control -- especially when Mother Nature gets involved. Fortunately, the federal government understood this and put the Farm Credit Service (FCS) in place to ensure a reliable source of agriculture credit for America's farmers. The FCS is a national network of credit unions and banks that work specifically for farmers.

Whether you are just starting out or have been successfully farming for years, it's important to know what farm and agriculture federal credit unions have to offer. Farm credit services can provide assistance to farmers in three distinct areas:

1. Farm credit loans for your home, cars and farm equipment;

2. Crop and livestock insurance;

3. Beginning and small farmer loans.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Finance your business with agriculture credit loans

To be a successful farmer, you need a house and vehicles for your family, plus numerous outbuildings and farm equipment. Ag credit loans are available to help you build your farming business and plan for a successful future.

I recommend: Farm Credit Services of America is one-stop shopping for today's busy farmer. They offer competitive rates for real estate loans and lines of credit you can tap into for all of your farm operating needs. If you're a farmer in America's heartland, check out Farm Credit Services of Mid-America to help you with capital for everyday operating expenses.

Prepare for the unexpected with help from an Ag credit union

When your business depends on help from Mother Nature for its success, particularly plants or animals, it's a good idea to think about crop and livestock insurance. This type of speciality insurance is available from your farm credit union and is a viable form of risk management.

I recommend: If you're a farmer in the northwest, contact Northwest Farm Credit Services. They provide several different types of crop insurance, including revenue-based insurance, which protects you against an income drop because of low prices, unexpected low yields or a combination of both. The Hartford Financial Services Group, a well-known name in the insurance world, has offered livestock insurance to farmers since 1916.

Consider agriculture credit for the small farmers or those just starting out

Feeding our ever growing country depends upon U.S. farmers, both new and small. Congress has decreed that the Farm Credit System look after the needs of these vital American farmers.

I recommend: Learn more about the government's desire to help beginning and small farmers at the Farm Service Agency's website. The Center for Rural Affairs is a good place to get started if you're a new or small farmer seeking farm credit loans and financial expertise, as well as farm credit sources.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Today's farmers can take advantage of today's Internet banking options available with farm credit services institutions. While paper draft slips can still be used to draw credit line funds, Internet banking provides farmers with the ease of making withdrawals online and the ability to select whether the funds go directly to their bank account or to pay bills.