Agriculture

ABA: Farm Banks Remain Key Source of Credit for America’s Farmers and Rural Communities

Farm banks continued to play a central role in financing U.S. agriculture in 2025, accounting for more than one-third of all farm lending nationwide while maintaining solid capital, profitability and employment levels, according to ABA’s 2025 Farm Bank Performance Report. Banks held nearly $212 billion in farm loans at the end of 2025, representing 35.7% of total…

ICBA: ICBA Congratulates House on Passage of Farm Bill

Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement on House passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) on a 224-200 vote. “ICBA and the nation’s community bankers congratulate the House of Representatives on passage of the farm bill. This is an…

ABA: ABA Applauds House Passage of the 2026 Farm Bill

“We thank the House for passing the 2026 Farm Bill, critical legislation that supports farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the country. Banks remain a primary source of credit for agricultural producers of all sizes, and this bill strengthens the tools lenders need to meet the evolving needs of rural America. “The Farm Bill includes…

ICBA: ICBA Congratulates House Agriculture Committee on Passing New Farm Bill

Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement congratulating the House Agriculture Committee on advancing a new farm bill on a 34-17 vote. “ICBA and the nation’s community banks support passage of the farm bill with further modifications to help ensure farmers and ranchers and the community…

ABA: Ag Lenders Signal Cautious Outlook for Farm Profitability in 2025

ABA, Farmer Mac survey results released at ABA Agricultural Bankers Conference in St. Louis Agricultural lenders report signs of tighter conditions in farm profitability and credit quality in 2025, according to a joint survey conducted by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, or Farmer Mac (NYSE: AGM and AGM.A). The survey—based on responses…

ABA: Trailblazers in Agricultural Banking Honored with Bruning and Blanchfield Awards

Recipients will be recognized for their leadership and contributions to ag lending at the 2025 ABA Agricultural Bankers Conference The American Bankers Association today announced the recipients of its highly regarded Bruning and Blanchfield Awards, the association’s premier awards presented annually for significant contributions to agricultural banking. ABA will honor Kathy Daily, managing director of…

ICBA: ICBA Urges Congress to Build on Pro-Agriculture Policies in Testimony Before House Agriculture Committee

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today testified before Congress on the importance of community banks to the nation’s agriculture credit markets and how policymakers can enhance the new farm bill.  Testifying before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit, Brian Gilbert of First National Bank in Sioux Falls, S.D.,…

ABA: U.S. Farm Banks Deliver Strong Growth and Stability in 2024, Reinforce Vital Role in Agricultural Credit

The American Bankers Association today released its annual Farm Bank Performance Report highlighting the critical role farm banks played in supporting U.S. agriculture in 2024. Despite continued challenges from global uncertainty and lingering supply chain disruptions, farm banks posted solid financial performance, improved asset quality and increased lending to America’s farmers and ranchers. The U.S. banking industry…

ABA: ABA Testifies Before Senate Ag Committee on Risk Management, Credit and the Agricultural Economy

The American Bankers Association offered the banking industry’s views on risk management, credit and the agricultural economy in testimony before the Senate Committee on Agriculture today. Caleb Hopkins, current chair of ABA’s Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee, testified on behalf of ABA. Hopkins, based in Halbur, Iowa, has worked in agricultural banking for 13 years, including the…

ICBA: ICBA Strongly Supports Bipartisan ACRE Act Offering Lower-Cost Credit to Rural Americans

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed strong support for the introduction of the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act to support farmers, ranchers, and rural homeowners.  The bipartisan bill introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Angus King (D-Maine) in the Senate and Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Don…