Crop Insurance Sales Closing Day

Monday, March 1st, should be on every farmer’s calendar. March 1 is the sales closing day for crop insurance. What’s that? Sales closing day is the final day to make any changes (adding crops, entity changes, etc.) to an existing crop insurance policy or to write a new policy on spring crops.

ArborOne’s relationship managers are out making sure all customers and potential customers have made necessary updates.

"This is an important touch of our customers," says Andrea Benton, an ArborOne crop insurance coordinator. "It ensures that they and their operations are adequately protected for the 2010 crop year."

About ArborOne Farm Credit
ArborOne Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; recreational property loans; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. 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. ArborOne covers the twelve counties of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. For more information, visit www.ArborOne.com.

More Than Loans for Land and Livestock - ArborOne Farm Credit

ArborOne Farm Credit is the cover story for the February Issue of the Greater Pee Dee Business Journal. In an in-depth article by Dan McCue accompanied by Benton Henry's photographs, ArborOne and its employees are introduced to readers.

President and CEO Jack Shuler is quoted, "Everyone here is dedicated to serving rural America..." And that is just what ArborOne Farm Credit does.

To read this article and view the pictures, please follow this link.

Website to feature articles by Dr. David Kohl

ArborOne Farm Credit is pleased to now offer quarterly articles by well-known agricultural economist Dr. David Kohl.

David Kohl has traveled over seven million miles throughout his professional career and conducted more than 5,000 workshops and seminars for agricultural groups such as bankers, Farm Credit, FSA, and reulators, as well as producer and agribusiness groups. He has published four books and over 1,000 articles on financial and business-related topics in journals, extension and other popular publications. Kohl regularly writes for Ag Lender and Corn and Soybean Digest.

Dr. Kohl received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University.

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy Dr. Kohl's articles.

RAIN VI Conference - January 29th

"ADDING VALUE TO THE BUSINESS OF AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA"
The Business of Agriculture in South Carolina is big, and folks in the agribusiness industry as all other industries in today’s economy are looking for ways to add value and increase profits. It is for this reason Carolina AgriSolutions Growers Association "CASGA", Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development, SC Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, Palmetto Institute, SC Tobacco Growers Assoc. and many others are taking part in the RAIN VI Conference to be held on Friday, January 29th at the Lake House on Clemson’s Sandhill Research and Education Center. (900 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC).

The focus of the 6th annual RAIN conference is to bring together farmers, agricultural leaders and others interested in the future of South Carolina agriculture. We will discuss and learn how to: develop and market enhanced value-added agricultural products and services; preserve and sustain agriculture for the overall quality of life and profitability in South Carolina and rejuvenate agriculture in the region.

The keynote speaker for the RAIN VI Conference will be Rowland Alston host of "Making it Grow!" He will bring an informative and enlightening message on "The Business of Agriculture in SC, Making it Grow". We will also hear from Tim Will, Executive Director of Foothills Connect, who has helped build a successful CSA program connecting small growers in the Rutherford County area of N.C. with restaurants and direct markets (www.FarmersFreshMarket.org). The SC Commissioner of Agriculture, Hugh Weathers will discuss the 50 / 20 vision for SC Agribusiness. Other topics on the agenda are: Agritourism, Muscadine and Value Added Initiatives, impact and survey studies, processing facilities and much more.

An outstanding "SC Fresh on the Menu" lunch from SpottedSalamanderCatering.com will be served, as well as an afternoon social featuring local beverages and products from the members of SC Specialty Foods Association.

Lots of things are happening with value added agriculture in South Carolina. We hope you will join us on Friday, January 29, 2010. Pass the word to others who may have an interest. Register by January 25th for the early bird registration - $30. For more information about RAIN VI (directions / hotel / etc.) visit the RAIN Blog: www.rainconference.blogspot.com or contact Jody Martin at 843-662-8423 or jodyamartin@gmail.com

Bright Forecast Predicted for ArborOne Farm Credit Customers

Florence, SC (December 7, 2009) – ArborOne Farm Credit, an agricultural lending cooperative, today announced the retirement of $1.39 million of the 2001 Surplus held by the company to be paid to its member-customers. ArborOne Farm Credit is forecasting over $4 million in net earnings for 2009.

As a member of the Farm Credit System, ArborOne is a member-owned cooperative which means our customers are our owners. We return a percentage of our profits to our member-customers through patronage refunds. The ability to pay these patronage refunds is a key indicator of the financial strength of ArborOne Farm Credit. Patronage has been paid every year since 1988. A portion of this patronage is paid in cash and the balance, or surplus, is left on account to capitalize the association. The revolvement of $1.39 million in Surplus represents the balance held from 2001.

"The downturn in the general economy impacted the entire financial industry this year and as such we were not immune, however our earnings are better than we anticipated earlier in the year," said ArborOne Farm Credit President Jack Shuler. "The association remains financially strong, weathering this economic storm and has credit available to farmers, agricultural business owners, landowners and other rural borrowers."

About ArborOne Farm Credit
ArborOne Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; recreational property loans; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. 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. ArborOne covers the twelve counties of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. For more information, visit www.ArborOne.com.

Tradition and Innovation - Lawson Farms

Tradition and innovation go hand in hand at Lawson Farms.

The Lawsons have been farming in Darlington County for six generations. Lawson Farms was started in 1834 with 333 acres in the Oates Community of Darlington County. In the 175 years since that beginning, the farm has grown to more than 2,400 acres. The family has adjusted to changing times and has diversified wisely. Diversification is nothing new to Lawson Farms. His mother, Betty H. Lawson, preached diversification to him from a young age when she ran the farm single-handed for thirteen years. Her lessons stayed with Laurie and his late wife Betty of 53 years and they have passed these lessons on to their children and grandchildren.

Lawson Farms grows traditional row crops such as soybeans, corn, sweet potatoes, and wheat. Tobacco was the original cash crop and they still grow as much as ever. Timber is also an important part of the operations. This timberland is a registered safe harbor for the endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker. The Lawsons’ commitment to conservation is also evident in their expanded sustainable practices through techniques such as no-till farming.

In 2002, Lawson Farms added a turf operation, which grows several varieties including Centipede, the drought resistant Empire Zoysia, Palmetto St. Augustine, and Tifway 419 Bermuda. After requests from a family friend for turf with "Lawson" quality, Lawson Turf has been heartily embraced by contractors statewide. Most of the turf is sold locally and includes Charlotte, Columbia, Myrtle Beach and everywhere in between.

Jim Lawson likes to say, "We’re 80 miles from everywhere in the middle of nowhere."

Mr. Laurie Lawson was with the farm full-time until 1993, when he was appointed the State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), then went on to work for Clemson University as the Assistant to the Vice President of Public Service and Agriculture. He was re-appointed on November 13, 2009, as the State Executive Director for FSA by the Obama Administration. Mr. Laurie Lawson and his sons William and Jim are Clemson University graduates. William and Jim, run Lawson Farms together. William heads the turf operation and Jim is in charge of tobacco; although they both know the business well enough to switch places. The newest family member to become a full-time part of Lawson Farms is grandson Fields Norwood, 23, and a December 2008 Clemson graduate. He is the son of Betty Coke Lawson Thompson, and is the sixth generation of Lawson’s to work on the farm. There are nine more grandchildren to continue the tradition. Lawson Farms is a part of each family member’s life regardless of their profession. Son Marvin, grew up on the farm but serves as Darlington County Probate Judge.

Looking to the future of the economy and its affect on agriculture, Lawson Farms will continue the family farming operation for many years to come.

Pictured left to right: Mr. Laurie Lawson, Jim Lawson, Fields Norwood and William Lawson at the Lawson Farms office.

Lawson Named SC State Executive for FSA

Mr. Laurie C. Lawson has been appointed by the Obama administration as the South Carolina state executive director for the Farm Service Agency at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Deeply involved in South Carolina agriculture and a longtime friend of ArborOne Farm Credit, congratulations Mr. Lawson.

Read the full SCNow.com story.