Issue 8 - 2017
Fall  - B  Edition
Farm Credit College Programs in December & January
Registration Open to Members Now   


Brush up on your marketing and risk management skills at the December program and take time to focus on your farm's future at the estate and succession planning seminar in January. Farm Credit College programs are provided at no cost for FCI members.


KOHL-laborations       
Cash Is King


With the farm economic reset going into its fifth year, cash and working capital are increasingly difficult to maintain, but efforts to preserve them are critical. M aintaining cash and operational working capital impacts the bottom line and strategic flexibility while providing  both short and long-term advantages. Cash negotiations can add to profitability and sustainability in a farm business.
Attention Youth: Scholarships & Grants Available
Applications Available Online 


Losing financial balance can be detrimental to a farm business. As some farm families consider restructuring debt to increase liquidity, they must first recognize the issues that got them off-center and create an action plan to find the right balance.
Farm Credit Illinois Invests in New Technology
Modernized Member Portal Debuts August 2018

FCI is investing $10 million in a cutting-edge technology platform and joining four Farm Credit System peers as a part-owner of Farm Credit Financial Partners, Inc. The platform features the latest technology and functionality advancements and is building a state-of-the art online banking portal. Look for more details next summer on how this new technology upgrade will affect you leading up to the August transition.

 
T.I.P. Technology & Information Protection
Protect Your Information in Public Places



Using your personal devices is not enough to protect your sensitive data when working in public places or posting on public social media sites. Discover some simple precautions to keep your personal information safe regardless of where you are.
  
 
Protecting Yourself in Public 
 
Financial Snapshot
3rd Quarter Business Results



On The Block

Upcoming Farmland Auction Listings
FARMLAND INFORMATION AUCTION INFORMATION
County Total
Acres		 Tillable
Acres		 Date Time City Weblink
Randolph 110 110 11/25/17 10:00 am Red Bud More Info
St. Clair 80 78 11/25/17   1:00 pm Lebanon More Info
Logan 305 301 11/28/17 10:00 am Mt. Pulaski More Info
Christian 152 152 11/29/17 10:00 am Moweaqua More Info
Richland 80 64 12/07/17   5:00 pm Olney More Info
Sangamon 95 95 12/08/17 10:00 am Riverton More Info
Richland 20 0 12/08/17   3:00 pm Olney More Info
St. Clair 118 94 12/09/17   1:00 pm Lebanon More Info
Madison 47 47 12/11/17 10:00 am Alton More Info
Macon 202 202 12/14/17 10:00 am Illiopolis More Info
Shelby 155 149 12/14/17 10:00 am Assumption More Info

Farm Credit Illinois maintains a  list of upcoming farmland auctions submitted within the Association's 60-county marketplace. The listing can be found at  www.farmcreditIL.com .
Submit an upcoming auction at  www.farmcreditIL.com/auctioninfo .
Lake Land College Recognizes Giving
FCI Named Outstanding Philanthropic Organization
 

The Lake Land College Foundation recognized FCI with one of two Outstanding Philanthropic Organization awards at the Foundation's annual meeting in Mattoon, Oct. 24. FCI President & CEO Tom Tracy accepted the award on behalf of the cooperative.  Pictured above from L to R: Tracy; Jacqueline Joines, executive director for college advancement; and Tom Wright, Foundation board member and donor relations committee chair.
 
Ag Economy Barometer
Producer Sentiment Increases to 135




The Ag Economy Barometer measures the health of the U.S. agriculture economy with an index value based on a survey of agricultural producers on economic sentiment. A score of 100 means producer sentiment is unchanged from the six-month baseline research period; a score higher than 100 means sentiment improved from the base period; a score lower than 100 means sentiment declined versus the base period.
Learn More About the Barometer's Latest Reading
 
Essentials   Raffle & Reactions
Enter to Win One of 10 Jump Starter Units
Drawing to be held December 6

Register to win a combination 900 amp jump starter, 300 psi air compressor/inflator, and LED work light. It includes two 12V power adaptor outlets, an on/off safety switch for jumper cables, and automatic shut-off.


Congratulations to the winners of the farm first aid kits following Issue 7:
  • Andrew Bertolino of Montgomery County
  • Andrew Klein of Clay County
  • Becky Sander of Sangamon County
  • Bo Bramlet of Pope County
  • Dennis Guyer of Crawford County
  • Justine Schulte of Calhoun County
  • Judy Zielinkski  of St. Louis County, Missouri
  • Larry Luth of Edgar County
  • Lindsey Apple of Bond County
  • Lisa Mott of Shelby County
In Issue 7 of Essentials, readers were asked to report their harvest season results. Here are the results from 332 respondents:
 
Growing Connections
Congratulations to Bill Graff of Logan County


Photo by Holly Spangler, Prairie Farmer

Bill Graff, FCI member, was recently appointed as the Illinois State Director of the Farm Service Agency by President Trump. Graff will return to his post after being previously appointed to the position by President Bush in 2001. FSA State Directors help implement USDA policies in planning, organizing, and administering FSA programs and run the day-to-day activities of the state FSA office.

 
Milestones
Honoring FCI Staff Service


A special tribute to employees who reached significant milestones in their years of service to members and rural communities with Farm Credit Illinois since August.

Farm Credit Illinois | 877.327.6345 | i[email protected] | www.farmcreditIL.com
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