Association News: Blog

While sustainability is a buzzword in today’s society, it has been a genuine focus and way of life for farmers through many generations. Tidewater Grain is no different when it comes to practicing innovation and stewardship during the pursuit of sustainability. Tidewater Grain, started by two duck...

AgCarolina Farm Credit recently announced a $49 million dollar patronage refund for our member-owners. This patronage distribution reduces interest costs for our borrowers by approximately 1.75%. Farm Credit is unique in that it follows a cooperative model and distributes its profits to our members...

Farmers are known to work and care for the land, but sometimes they need a little help from the sky. That’s where T&M Aerial Spraying comes in. Tommy Newkirk has been flying since the mid 90’s, and when farmers started asking if he would be willing to get involved with aerial application, Tommy...

“I couldn’t wait for the school week to be over” said Blalock. “It meant I got to spend Saturday working on the farm with Dad”. Some Saturday’s were spent in the field driving a tractor or scouting crops. Other times you could catch him hauling grain or heading to sell tobacco at the market. No...

Tidewater Grain is a small family and farmer-owned specialty grain producer in Oriental, North Carolina. The farm was founded by Tommy Wheeler and Al Sprull, who were both born and raised in North Carolina and also fellow members of a local duck hunting club. The two friends started out with just...

Tatum Eason has a heart for agriculture and is determined to carry on the legacy of those that came before. From Rocky Mount, NC, Tatum has a diversified operation comprising of beef cattle, hay, cotton, mulch, and dirt. They have over 15 module trucks that they custom haul for over 36 different...

“This is what I love” beams Grandma as she wraps her arms around her family on the concrete slab in front of the tobacco barns. The farm may bring the Betts family together, but the love and laughter the family shares is stronger than any challenge that may lie ahead. A farm that started 50 years...

One of the highlights of the Innovative Young Farmer Award each year is the assurance that the future of agriculture is in good hands. This year’s winner, Archie Griffin, of Griffin Farms, Inc., in Beaufort County, combines several attributes that not only earn him the title of Innovative Young...

Owning a Barndominium is something you’ve always dreamed of, but the steps to make it all happen aren’t super clear. Fortunately, there are several ways you can finance a Barndominium and Farm Credit specializes in loans for exactly these types of properties. What is a Barndominium? A Barndominium...

You’ve found your dream property in the perfect rural setting. Before you run out and make an offer, make sure you consider these tips to improve your buying experience as you realize your rural dreams. Location Regardless of where you buy, real estate has always been about location, location...

When looking for land in the country, all buyers inevitably have the same question: how am I going to pay for this property? For some buyers it is their first time buying land, and they soon find that the process is very different than buying a house in a subdivision. Rural homes with acreage have...

We recently announced that we have another record-breaking patronage refund for our customer-owners. We were able to reduce interest costs for our borrowers by approximately 2.76% by returning profits. Farm Credit is unique in that it follows a cooperative model and distributes its profits to our...

Being able to share profits with our customers through patronage is something we get excited about. Most businesses don’t do this, but when you borrow from Farm Credit, you become a customer-owner, and therefore, are entitled to profits of the Association as declared by fellow farmers that are...

Get excited! Patronage distribution day is right around the corner, it’s almost your lucky day as we distribute a record-breaking patronage! This year we are handing out $31 Million of our profits to you, our customer-owners. “For the second year in a row, we are able to deliver a record patronage...

When a snowflake shows up big and bold on the weather station for North Carolina, it’s a big deal for this southern state. It also means a few things. It typically means milk and bread fly off the shelves of the grocery store. Schools and businesses close. Folks make sure generators are on standby...