News

At Alabama Ag Credit, we believe in neighbors helping neighbors, especially when disaster strikes. In the wake of the devastating floods that swept through the Texas Hill Country over the Independence Day weekend, we are humbled to have played a small part in supporting relief and recovery efforts for the families and communities affected.

Alabama Ag Credit is proud to announce that Austin and Brittany Steen, owners of Hiccup Farm in Troy, Alabama, represented the association at the 2025 Farm Credit Young Leaders Program in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Our stockholders have elected two local agriculture leaders to continue serving on the board of directors for our financial cooperative. The elected board members, who are stockholders themselves, are responsible for establishing policies, providing strategic direction, and overseeing all major institution functions for the association.

At Alabama Ag Credit, we are proud to invest in the next generation of ag leaders by providing hands-on, real-world experience across our organization. From marketing to credit and everything in between, our internship program is designed to inspire, educate, and empower future professionals in agriculture and finance.

Sweet Grown Alabama is proud to announce an exciting partnership with Alabama Ag Credit that will make it easier than ever for Alabama farmers to join the state’s agricultural branding program. Through an expansion of Alabama Ag Credit’s Vendor Voucher Program, new members can now receive financial assistance to cover Sweet Grown Alabama membership fees.

Our scholarship program is a valuable benefit available to members, designed to support their families as they pursue higher education. Children or grandchildren of member-borrowers can apply if they are attending an accredited college, university, or technical/vocational institution in the United States, working toward a certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree.

The suicide rate of farmers is three and a half times that of the general population. Recognizing the impact mental health challenges can have on rural communities, Alabama Ag Credit, as part of the Farm Credit system, prioritizes supporting organizations focused on providing resources on managing farm stress.

As a leading agricultural lending cooperative and we are proud to announce the distribution of $12.3 million in cash patronage dividends to our member-borrowers. This distribution effectively reduces our eligible members’ interest rates by almost 1%.

Financing a rural home is different than financing a home in the city, so you’ll have to keep certain considerations in mind. Here’s what you need to know before you buy that little slice of paradise out in the country.

Overall, Alabama's land prices increased 3.2% year-over-year, reaching an average of $3,409 per acre statewide—a new high for the state.

Nick Hartley has officially joined Alabama Ag Credit as our Chief Executive Officer. With over 16 years of experience in the Farm Credit System, Nick brings exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to serving rural communities.

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 JumpStart Grants. From a competitive pool of 67 applications, five recipients were selected to receive $10,000 each to invest in their startup farming operations.

Alabama Ag Credit, together with its partners is proud to announce a collective contribution of over $315,000 in relief aid to support communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The borrower-lender relationship is a two-way street. Both parties are trying to reach the same goal from a different direction. Both want to ensure the long-term viability of their businesses, and both have high expectations of the other.

Doug Thiessen has notified the Board of Directors of his intention to retire from his role as president and chief executive officer. Thiessen will continue to serve until his successor is appointed, with his departure scheduled no later than March 31, 2025.

Our stockholders have elected two local agriculture leaders to serve on the board of directors for our financial cooperative.

“Nearly seventy percent of the state of Alabama is covered in trees. People from all walks of life own timberland in Alabama, and as a result, financing timberland and related forestry operations is the largest segment of our $1.3 billion loan portfolio. So, we care about what is happening within the forestry industry, and we partner in many ways with those that are connected to it.”

Buying a rural property—whether it’s land, a farm, or a house out in the country—is a major undertaking that requires a lot of planning. To make the right choice, it’s important that you understand the pros and cons of each loan type.

Our members, Adam & Sarah Temple, of Ashford, AL, took their interests in agriculture to Capitol Hill on June 22.

We would like to thank our members who voted and participated in this year’s Board of Directors Elections. Ballots were tabulated by an independent third party, and the results have been certified and provided to the Association.