Josh Housekeeper joins MidAtlantic Farm Credit

For more information contact:
Sandy Wieber, Sr. VP of Marketing
swieber@mafc.com
800.333.7950



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2010


(Lancaster, PA) – Bill Kitsch, commercial loan manager, has announced the hiring of Josh Housekeeper as a loan officer for MidAtlantic Farm Credit’s Penn Region. He will work from the cooperative lender’s Lancaster office. According to Kitsch, Housekeepers’ primary responsibility will be new business development and servicing of existing accounts.

“Josh is an experienced sales person and brings a lot of knowledge to the marketplace. He’ll be a real asset to our current customers as well as developing new business relationships,” states Kitsch.

Josh graduated from Solanco High School in Quarryville and Delaware Valley College in Doylestown. He earned a degree in agri-business. He grew up on his family’s livestock and crop farm and currently resides in Nottingham with his wife and two children.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit is one of the largest agricultural lenders on the east coast. They are part of the national Farm Credit System, a cooperative lender with more than 500,000 borrowers and a portfolio of over $160 billion.

Results of Elections announced by MidAtlantic Farm Credit

For more information contact:
Sandy Wieber, VP Marketing
800.333.7950 or swieber@mafc.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2010


(Westminster MD) – MidAtlantic Farm Credit, an agricultural lending cooperative, recently announced the results of their annual election of board and nominating committee members.

The following were elected to serve on the cooperative’s board of directors: Ralph L. Robertson, Jr. of Westminster, MD; Walter C. Hopkins of Lewes, DE; Fred N. West of Frankford, DE; Brian L. Boyd, Lebanon, PA; Fred R. Moore, Jr. of Eden, MD; and T. Jeffery Jennings of Luray, VA.

Elected to serve on the 2011 nominating committee were:
Susan B. Arnold, Salisbury, MD; Charles R. Garber, New Market, VA; Guy M. Gochenour, Woodstock, VA; Brian T. Johnson, Westover, MD; Christopher T. Kirk, Laurel, DE; Michael H. Lewis, Rocky Ridge, MD; Alan W. Schmidt, Sudlersville, MD; Jason E. Scott, Cambridge, MD; Jon E. Stutzman, Kutztown, PA; Robert J. VanWingerden, Detour, MD; Joel E. Wharton, Millsboro, DE; and Charles R. Zimmerman, Myerstown, PA.


MidAtlantic Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. The co-op has over 10,500 members and approximately $2.3 billion in loans outstanding. MidAtlantic has branches serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. For more information, visit mafc.com.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit awards over $13,000 in scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2010

(Westminster, MD) – Over 100 applicants vied for scholarships recently offered by MidAtlantic Farm Credit.

Sandy Wieber, senior vice president of marketing, says that the number of applications received this year was the second highest ever received. “The response to our program is overwhelming. I am always impressed with the talented youth in our ag communities,” says Wieber. It’s obvious that our members have great families, and very impressive children.”

The recipients of this year’s scholarships are:

• Brent Ashley, son of Richard & Annette Ashley of Felton, DE
• Jacob Bassler, son of Ralph & Stacey Bassler of New Windsor, MD
• Rachel Burkhart, daughter of Mark & Karen Burkhart of Martinsburg, WV
• Miriam Henry, daughter of Thomas & Martha Henry of Holtwood, PA
• Kristy McDaniel, daughter of Farren & Brenda McDaniel of Shenandoah, VA
• Travis Moore, son of Bill & Kim Moore of Churchville, MD
• Brooke Dudrow, daughter of Richard & Deborah Dudrow of Easton, MD
• Cobey England, son of Jeff & Judy England of Mount Airy, MD
• Kourtney Ginn, daughter of Kimberly McDonald of Winchester, VA
• Rebecca Shaw, daughter of Steven & Karyn Shaw of Williamsburg, PA
• Heather Stutzman, daughter of Jon & Holly Stutzman of Kutztown, PA
• Noah Vincent, son of Raymond Vincent of Laurel, DE

MidAtlantic Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. The co-op has over 10,500 members and approximately $2.3 billion in loans outstanding. MidAtlantic has branches serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. For more information, visit mafc.com.

AMERSON NAMED PRESIDENT OF AGFIRST

AMERSON NAMED PRESIDENT OF AGFIRST
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) — AgFirst Farm Credit Bank CEO Andy Lowrey announced today that Leon T. (Tim) Amerson has been named president and chief operating officer of the bank. AgFirst is one of five banks in the nationwide Farm Credit System and is the largest financial institution headquartered in South Carolina.

Amerson, a native of Sumter, S.C., has been the bank’s chief operating officer since 2006. Prior to that, he served as AgFirst’s chief financial officer. As president and COO, Amerson will be responsible for AgFirst’s lending, risk management, finance, accounting, operations and technology departments. Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Tom Welsh will continue to report to CEO Lowrey and will remain responsible for AgFirst’s legal, legislative, planning, human resources, marketing, board and corporate services, and bank facilities departments.

In announcing Amerson’s promotion, Lowrey said, “This is an important step in the bank’s succession planning.” Noting Amerson’s depth of experience in the bank’s treasury and finance areas, he added, “Tim is uniquely qualified for this position. His talent and dedication have long been recognized by me and the board.”

Tim Amerson received a B.S. in Business Finance from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Before joining AgFirst in 1987, Amerson worked with the National Bank of South Carolina. At AgFirst, he has served in several positions within the bank’s finance and operations departments. Amerson and his wife, Marie, live in Sumter, S.C., and they have three children.

About AgFirst Farm Credit Bank (www.agfirst.com): AgFirst Farm Credit Bank provides funding and financial services to 22 Agricultural Credit Associations in 15 eastern states and Puerto Rico. These associations, operating as Farm Credit and Ag Credit associations, provide real estate and production financing to 80,000 farmers, agribusinesses, and rural homeowners. AgFirst reported assets of $30.9 billion as of December 31, 2009.

AgFirst is part of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of agricultural and rural lending institutions cooperatively owned by their borrowers. Farm Credit helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm through its constant commitment to competitive lending, expert financial services and a feeling of partnership with its customers. The Farm Credit System reported combined assets of $215.4 billion on December 31, 2009.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit to hold Stockholder Meetings

(Westminster, MD) – Customers of MidAtlantic Farm Credit are invited to attend one of the cooperative lender’s stockholder meetings scheduled in April. Registration for the meetings begins at 6:15 p.m. and dinner is served at 7:00 p.m. Meetings will be held:

• April 6 at The Fountains, Salisbury, MD
• April 7 at Modern Maturity Center, Dover, DE
• April 12 at Yoder’s Restaurant, New Holland, PA
• April 13 at Walkersville Fire Hall, Walkersville, MD
• April 14 at Millwood Station, Winchester, VA

Eligible stockholders can participate in the election of directors and nominating committee members at the meeting. In addition, mail-in ballots will be sent to all eligible voting stockholders’ on April 21, with election results announced by June 7, 2010. MidAtlantic President, Bob Frazee invites all stockholders to attend the meeting most convenient to them. MidAtlantic Farm Credit is one of the largest agricultural lenders on the east coast. They are part of the national Farm Credit System, a cooperative lender with more than 500,000 member owners and a portfolio of over $165 billion in the United States.

FARM CREDIT DROPS HOT NEW COUNTRY RAP VIDEO

WESTMINSTER, MD— Farm Credit pays homage to rural America with a country rap video. That’s right, a country rap video. Word.

The video showcases the mad creative skills, courage (one guy attempts a back flip on his motorcycle–emphasis on attempts!), and dedication of folks who entered the first-ever Keepin’ It Rural Video Contest. Contest co-sponsor MidAtlantic Farm Credit has awarded cash prizes totaling $6,000.

The contest winners are Debbie Brozio from Lake Alfred, Fla., (third place), David Knight from Pittsboro, N.C., (second place), and the rapper himself, Josh Anderson, from Greensboro, N.C., (first place).

“We were floored by the quality of the entries we received,” says Mike Mooney, Farm Credit’s contest manager. “People put so much time and effort into their videos, and we felt honored that they’d share part of their lives with us. Lots of hip farmers out there.”

It’s not too late to get in on the action. MidAtlantic Farm Credit is currently running the second-ever Keepin’ It Rural Video Contest and has added a new photo contest, too. Folks can get the details, and enter the contests, at www.ikeepitrural.com.

The new Farm Credit country rap video can be viewed on the Keepin’ It Rural channel on YouTube, at http://www.youtube.com/keepinitrural#p/u/0/NQ_uk0XJ7HE.

The video and photo contests are open to residents of the 15 states included in the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank district. They are: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio.

About MidAtlantic Farm Credit

MidAtlantic Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. The co-op has 10,500 members and $2.2 billion in loans outstanding. MidAtlantic has branches serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. For more information, visit www.mafc.com.

Media contact:
Sandy Wieber
MidAtlantic Farm Credit
410.259.2625


How to get rap video file: Immediate download (.MOV format) is available for media/press from www.ikeepitrural.com/press. Please contact Donna Camacho at dcamacho@agfirst.com or(803) 753-2251 for password information.

Crop insurance deadline approaches

WESTMINSTER, MD – MidAtlantic Farm Credit advises farmers not to miss the March 15 deadline for securing crop insurance for the 2010 growing season.

The closing date applies to farms growing spring crops, including corn and soybeans. By that time, all new policies, changes to existing policies, or cancellations must be filed.

The eligibility requirements for enterprise units have changed for the 2010 crop year said Kathi Levan, MidAtlantic Farm Credit Crop Insurance Manager. Enterprise units combine all acres of a crop in a county into one unit regardless of ownership, share or practice. There are strong premium subsidies for enterprise units, making coverage more affordable for farmers.

To qualify for an enterprise unit, the crop must meet the following:

•There must be a minimum of 50 acres
•The unit must include acreage from at least two sections or farm serial numbers(FSNs)
•At least two FSNs in the enterprise unit must contain the lesser of 20 acres or 20% of the total acreage in the EU.

All policyholders should make sure their name, entity and SSN/EIN are listed correctly on their insurance forms, Levan said.

In addition, growers who held Farm Credit crop insurance coverage for last year’s crops must file their 2009 production reports by April 30.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit provides crop insurance to more than 600 policy holders in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

For information about crop insurance call Kathi Levan at 888.339.3334

About MidAtlantic Farm Credit
MidAtlantic Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. The co-op has 10,500 members and $2.2 billion in loans outstanding. MidAtlantic has branches serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. For more information, visit www.mafc.com.

Media contact:
Sandy Wieber
MidAtlantic Farm Credit
410.259.2625