ESSENTIALS E-NEWS: Enter to Win One of Ten RTIC Ramblers

Issue 6

December 2020

Farm Credit Office Access

By Appointment or Call Upon Arrival

In conjunction with other COVID-19 mitigation measures in central and southern Illinois, access to Farm Credit Illinois offices is only by appointment through Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. FCI offices will be staffed from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm weekdays.

TO CONDUCT BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS:

Schedule an office or on-farm appointment
Call the office phone number posted when you arrive for indoor service
Use the myFCI secure member portal
Place documents in an FCI Drop Box at any office 24/7

2021 Fielding Forward

Crop Insurance Learning Series

Prepare for the Next Growing Season

Three live virtual meetings, facilitated by Jeff Nalley of Cromwell Ag Radio, will provide timely updates from industry experts and the latest on the federal crop insurance program.

Registration Opens Jan. 1

Virtual Farm Estate Planning Series

Coming January 26 & February 9 from 9:00 - 11:00 am

Put your estate plan in motion or give it a refresh. The sessions will provide clarity on the complex topics of farm business succession. Bring questions and equip yourself with a clear set of next steps.

Registration Opens Jan. 1

KOHL-laborations

Post-Harvest Action Plan

This year has certainly been one for the record books! The black swan pandemic – with all its economic, financial, consumer, and social implications – has accelerated many changes. Put 2020 in the rearview mirror while considering how big picture variables impact your future business plans.

Planning for 2021

SBA Releases PPP Loan Information

Following Court Order

Last month, the Small Business Administration was ordered by a federal judge to release the names, mailing addresses, and loan amounts for all individuals and entities that obtained either Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Relief (EIDL) COVID-related loans. The data was publicly released Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. No Farm Credit institution, including Farm Credit Illinois, had a role in releasing the borrower information.

Because data releases like this sometimes lead to fraudulent activity, FCI recommends all borrowers who obtained a PPP or EIDL loan closely scrutinize any communications regarding SBA loans to ensure authenticity. Borrowers are also encouraged to take other measures to limit potential misuse of the information, such as monitoring their credit reports for unusual activity.

Attention Youth: Scholarships & Grants Available

Apply Now Online

Scholarships - Apply

Community Improvement Grants - Apply

$100,000 Giving Tuesday Gift to Illinois Food Banks

Match Programs Increase Donation Totals

FCI gifted a second $100,000 to the four Feeding Illinois food banks serving central and southern Illinois on Giving Tuesday. This donation continues supporting families in need as the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic linger throughout the nation. We are grateful to the food banks and volunteers for working to eliminate hunger in Illinois.

#GivingTuesday $100,000 Donation to Area Food Banks

Food Banks Harvest $100,000 Gift

No Lender Fees

FCI Delivers Cooperative Advantage

Looking for a lender who will lower your cost of borrowing money? Don’t just search for low interest rates; avoid upfront fees that impact how much you pay for a loan. As a farmer-owned cooperative, Farm Credit Illinois understands that every dollar counts – so we said goodbye to lender fees at closings.

Ready to Talk?

Crop Insurance Reminders

Contact Your Agent with Questions

DECEMBER 10 - Corn & Soybean End of Insurance Coverage

Request an extension or appraisal for any crops left standing in the field

DECEMBER 15 - Wheat Acreage Reporting Date

Signed acreage report due for all 2021 planted wheat

DECEMBER 24 – Corn & Soybean Notice of Loss Deadline

Notice submitted after the deadline can be denied payment

FEBRUARY 15 – Corn & Soybeans Production Report Due for Area Plan Policies

Signed and completed production report due to agent

Contact Your FCI Crop Insurance Agent

T.I.P. Technology & Information Protection

Holiday Season Watch Outs

With increased online shopping, it’s important to be cautious this holiday season. To avoid theft of packages off your porch or your personal information online, following these tips will protect you and keep your holidays bright.

Holiday Season Shopping

Raffles & Reactions

Enter to Win One of Ten 64 oz. Ramblers

Drawing to be held Dec. 30

Keep your drinks hot or cold with a 64 oz. RTIC rambler whether you're doing outside chores or in the house planning for next year's crop.

Enter to win

Congratulations to the winners of the bluetooth headsets following Issue 5:

Megan Bertolino of Montgomery County
Paulette Brock of Champaign County
Kevin Brown of Scott County
Tim Hamblin of Williamson County
Brandi Heins of Jackson County
John Hubele of White County
Kyle Meece of Piatt County
Ken Richert of Logan County
Scott Robling of Warrick County, Indiana
Norman Yeley of Clark County

In Issue 5 of Essentials, readers were asked which digital communication platforms they were comfortable using. Here are the results from 898 respondents:

Ag Economy Barometer

Producer Sentiment Pulls Back to 167

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