About the Farm Credit System:

Farm Credit provide loans, leases and financial services to farmers, ranchers and rural businesses across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. Established in 1916, they have a national footprint, however, all of their lenders are local. There are over 70 independently owned and operated Farm Credit organizations providing services in the communities where they live and work. Each local Farm Credit organization is a cooperative that is owned by its customers, and each has an understanding of agriculture in their area.

Combined, Farm Credit organizations provide more than $220 billion in loans, leases, and related services, which is more than a third of the credit needed by U.S. agriculture. This capital helps nearly 500,000 borrower-owners plant and nurture seeds, purchase and care for livestock, buy land and equipment like harvesters and combines, build barns and milking parlors, and expand storage, packing and processing facilities. Through their CoBank division, they also finance agricultural cooperatives, communications, electric, power and water providers who deliver essential infrastructure services to America’s rural communities.

There are three Farm Credit cooperatives providing financial services to farmers and rural customers in Virginia. Colonial Farm Credit is headquartered in Mechanicsville, Virginia and serves eastern Virginia. Farm Credit of the Virginias is headquartered in Staunton, Virginia and serves western Virginia. Horizon Farm Credit is headquartered in Westminster, Maryland and serves the northern Valley of Virginia.