AgCountry Farm Credit Services

We're a member-owned financial services cooperative serving agriculture & rural communities in Minnesota, North Dakota & Wisconsin

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Our offices will be closed Wednesday, November 11 for Veterans Day.

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

A strong risk management strategy goes beyond a single decision. Crop insurance, marketing, working capital, and debt management all play a role.

Before selecting coverage for the year ahead, consider:
✅ Your cost of production
✅ Projected cash flow
✅ Available working capital
✅ Planned capital purchases

Understanding your financial picture can help you weigh coverage options, costs, and risks with greater confidence.

Download our 2027 Crop Insurance Playbook: https://t.co/XGIAUTsNCG

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

New hog barn economics have changed dramatically.

According to @TerrainAg, rising construction costs, elevated borrowing rates, and stronger competition for capital have increased the revenue required to justify new facilities. As a result, building construction has become as much a capital allocation decision as a hog-producing decision.

The economics may increasingly favor maintaining and reinvesting in productive existing facilities relative to new construction.

If contract payments are sufficient to keep existing barns operating but insufficient to generate investment in replacement facilities, finishing capacity could gradually tighten as older barns reach the end of their useful lives.

The long-run question isn't simply whether existing finishing barns can remain economically viable. It's whether the economics of contract finishing provide sufficient incentive to replace those facilities as they age out of production. https://t.co/AW91Tlqvl3

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

When Lynd Fire & Rescue identified an opportunity to strengthen its emergency response capabilities, it took action. The department added a trailer to house its specialized grain bin rescue equipment in one centralized, mobile unit, helping firefighters respond more quickly during critical emergencies. By consolidating essential equipment in a single location, crews can deploy faster and operate more efficiently.

As Jason Algyer from the department shared, “Our community depends on us to be ready on their worst day. When an individual suddenly becomes trapped, having the right equipment ready to go and our mutual aid partners on the way gives us a real chance to save a life.”

We're proud to support projects like this through our Working Here Fund grants. Discover more stories like this in our Community Impact Report: https://t.co/vvmqnnTHWX

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Artificial intelligence is making its way onto the farm, but adoption is still in its early stages. About 15% of farms indicate they use AI, with office tasks making up a far higher share than agronomic tasks. Common uses include drafting emails and field notes, planning and decision-making, and business or financial analysis. Yield prediction and agronomy use cases generally have a lower use rate among all farm sizes.

Farms that experiment early and build stronger data foundations may see more benefits over time as AI capabilities continue to improve.

Read more from @TerrainAg: https://t.co/XZqgjPTYHQ

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

As drought conditions continue across parts of the region, you may be thinking about yields, cash flow, and your overall farm financial position.

Discover how higher fall harvest prices may affect your crop insurance protection and what to review before making year-end decisions. https://t.co/DcXK1niqbe

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

While soybean operating margins are improving, questions around exports, trade, and South American production could shape what's next for soybean prices.

Brazilian farmers are expected to increase planted soybean area at the slowest rate in 20 years, and any changes to planting pace that reduce the size of Brazil's crop could lead to price volatility in Q4 for soybeans.

Read more from @TerrainAg: https://t.co/iB7XXc7kfB

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Our strength comes from who we serve. As National Co-op Month comes to a close, we're celebrating the farmers and ranchers who make our cooperative what it is. Their hard work keeps agriculture moving forward, and as customer-owners, their voices help shape the future of our cooperative.

We're proud to stand alongside them, today and for generations to come.

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Harvest pressure may be grabbing today's headlines, but it's not the whole story.

Despite a bearish adjustment to old-crop ending stocks, overall corn supplies remain tighter than a year ago. Combined with stronger demand and global production risks, that could provide support for a firmer market into 2027.

Read more from @TerrainAg: https://t.co/gC6lZCYNjk

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Despite weak new equipment sales and aging fleets, higher repair costs continue to keep machinery cost per acre high. Looking ahead, total machinery costs in 2027 are expected to remain near or above 2026 levels.

As harvest wraps up, it's a good time to review cost of production assumptions and benchmarks to better guide equipment decisions heading into 2027. Learn more from @TerrainAg: https://t.co/PHoXe6VomV

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Fixed costs are often harder to see – but they’re one of the biggest long-term drivers of competitiveness. In our upcoming webinar, we’ll break down how strong operations think about fixed cost structure, where inefficiencies tend to hide, and how to evaluate whether your cost structure is helping or holding you back.

Register to watch live or later: https://t.co/U9lyD1d3cO

This webinar will feature @AgEconomists co-founders David Widmar and Brent Gloy, along with Jen Dragt, relationship officer.

[Terrain @TerrainAg]

🔎🥛 Our Q4 #Dairy Market Outlook: This environment will require more active #RiskManagement and a closer assessment of culling and beef breeding strategies than when feed costs were low, #milk prices were high, and #beef revenues were unprecedented.

Learn more about the factors shaping #DairyMarkets near term: https://t.co/swt32fqX2w

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Farmers and ranchers make decisions today that shape their operations and communities for years to come.

Long-term planning requires long-term certainty. A five-year Farm Bill provides a policy foundation for investment in the future of agriculture. Recent progress toward a new five-year Farm Bill is an encouraging step for agriculture and rural communities.

#FinishTheFarmBill

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

PRF insurance is an area-based insurance program that replaces income from forage losses caused by low precipitation relative to a historic average. Because producers make several coverage selections, evaluating historical rainfall data and different coverage scenarios can help inform decision-making.

Learn more about PRF insurance: https://t.co/ShhygYXWI2

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Farm accounting and tax planning are about more than keeping records organized. Accurate financial reporting and year-round planning can help producers better understand cash flow, evaluate opportunities, and make informed decisions for the future. Whether meeting in person or virtually, having the right information at your fingertips can make those conversations even more productive.

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

No matter where in the world Daniel finds himself, he is just a click away from his ranch. A smartphone app allows him to locate his cows and adjust their pasture access to an area as small as two acres.

He can move cattle two to three times a day without having to drive across the operation’s 15,000 acres that hold around 3,000 head of cattle.

The combination of virtual fencing and solar-powered collars has the potential to be one of his most profitable ranch investments.

Learn more about Daniel's story and others in our sustainability report: https://t.co/33N5dwUfda

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

The new Mountrail Bethel Home is designed to provide compassionate care to residents of Stanley, ND, and the surrounding communities. Through the Rural Community Grant Fund, the organization purchased new nursing home beds to help equip the facility.

This project will continue to benefit Mountrail Bethel Home residents and their families for years to come.

Applications for the Rural Community Grant Fund are due October 31. Learn more and apply: Learn more and apply: https://t.co/ZgiYREXKYF

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Sugar market fundamentals appear to be improving. Tightening U.S. supplies, a rebound in Mexican imports, and rising refined beet sugar prices are forecast to improve beet payments and narrow losses substantially by 2027.

While sugar beet production costs remain elevated, higher sugar prices could return some lower-cost producers to profitability for the 2027 crop.

Read more from @TerrainAg: https://t.co/55v3a22uMy

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Lower than average rainfall can have a significant impact on forage production. PRF insurance is designed to help livestock producers manage that risk. Swipe through to learn how this area-based coverage works.

Learn more: https://t.co/5hxvx2eX1p

[AgCountry Farm Credit Services @AgCountry]

Over the past few years, dairy producers have enjoyed a favorable combination of strong milk prices, reasonably low feed costs, and exceptionally high beef-cross calf values. But the tailwinds supporting healthy margins are weakening.

Day-old prices have been falling rapidly, milk prices have come under pressure due to heavy supply growth, and feed markets are beginning to show signs of tightening supplies. While none of these developments are anything extraordinary on their own, together they point toward more margin pressure than has been the norm in recent years.

As margins compress, focus will need to be regained and margins will need to be more actively managed. Read more from @TerrainAg: https://t.co/FoutlKAMoq