The Emergence of Retail Agriculture Gary Matteson, Farm Credit Council VP Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach
Farm Credits YBS Mission Congress: sound and constructive credit Regulator: wide latitude, but must set goals 84 Associations: all independently run New loans made in 2010 to: Young: $7.3 billion Beginning: $10.3 billion Small: $13.1 billion
Credit Enhancements Adjusted underwriting standards Interest rate concessions Fee waivers/payments Educational Assistance Financial skills Leadership training Business plan development Capital Pools Farm Credit YBS Programs
Realignment to Retail Agriculture Formerly: alternative agriculture Now: –Popular –Economically significant –Unconfined as to product or region
Popular… Rank of farming activity, including market types, by farming as primary or other occupation
Economically significant… organic, direct, local $8 billionorganic, direct, local $8 billion cotton, rice $7 billioncotton, rice $7 billion National Ag Statistics Service, 2007
Unconfined as to product or region…
Field Guide to the New American Foodshed
A project of: