Author: Matthew Marr

Fort Worth, TX – March 21, 2022

Input costs are expected to be variable in 2022, and that’s putting it lightly. Some inputs like fertilizer have risen 60% to more than 100% from year-ago levels and are expected to remain high for the next 18-24 months. While seed and chemical costs appear steady to slightly higher.

“When considering a farmer’s operating line, the variability, or perhaps volatility, in cost is the biggest concern we’re seeing,” said Elizabeth Long, Area Manager at Ag Resource Management (ARM). “An operating line renewal is beneficial because ARM can close these lines and make funds available to farmers today, especially with an all-in program. So, I can close an operating line today, and our customer can write a check tomorrow to their input supplier.”

The typical ARM process to complete an operating renewal is three business days from start-to-finish, so the customer has access to their cash much quicker than they would from a traditional lender who must go to a board for approval.  Thus, it’s easier to work with ARM to get cash in-hand quicker and take delivery on fertilizer and chemicals in a timelier manner.

ARM recommends farmers process their annual operating line renewal anytime from December through March because an earlier operating line renewal also offers buying power. The opportunity to purchase inputs early and get them stored or ready to apply is especially critical this year.  Traditional lenders may require details like gross farm income from a tax return which likely won’t be available until mid-March. ARM works differently, making their decisions more heavily weighted on level of crop insurance coverage.

“We are all bracing for interest rates to go up, and we are already seeing traditional lenders raise their real estate interest rates by 75 basis points,” Long explained. “ARM’s interest rate is fixed for the duration of the operating line. The interest rate movement that’s going to happen with traditional banks and with the farm credit system will not affect our customers because the rate is fixed for the year. This is an important point to consider as it’s clear that rates will go up in 2022.”

ARM offers premium hands-on service, and its team is invested in its customer’s business. Traditional lenders renew operating lines, and then you won’t see or hear from them until the following year.

“If something’s happening in your operation, there should be two people you call — the first person should be your crop insurance agent and the second is me,” Long said. “Let me know what’s going on, because there are things that we can do on your operating line to fix or save your operation if it gets to that point. For example, if there’s a hail storm that hits your corn crop, and it’s laying flat in the field in August, that’s a big problem, but we’ll talk and work through it together to find solutions to keep you farming.”

Get started with your nearest ARM team today by calling 855-905-0291 or visiting armlend.com/locations.

 

 

 

 

To meet the custom financial needs of American farmers, Ag Resource Management (ARM) has expanded the financial solutions it offers. ARM now provides new operating loan products with broader risk-based pricing.  Additionally, ARM has new dairy operating loans, crop storage loans, real estate loan services, and equipment loan services.

ARM remains the lender farmers can depend on for the seasonal operating loans and crop insurance services it was built upon. Today ARM has evolved into a company that touches every segment of production agriculture, and is a trusted lender of choice to all farmers. We offer competitive rates and structures to meet the increasing demands our industry expects. We are a trusted partner to farmers in good and bad times.

ARM clients are seeing speed and convenience as two primary benefits. Farmers can go to one source with deep ag expertise to obtain their operating loan, crop insurance and real estate loan. They work efficiently with one ARM loan officer vs. coordinating between a group of different lenders with varying processes and loan requirements.

Ryan Buckles, Area Manager Springfield, IL

“For the past 12 years, we’ve primarily been helping farmers to face tough financial situations. We would take on higher risk loans when other lenders could not,” said Ryan Buckles, Springfield, Illinois ARM Area Manager. “Due to the market change and evolving customer needs and strong customer performance, we are able to deliver new risk-based pricing on operating loans that will enable us to help every farmer enhance their balance sheet.”

Michael Carey, Area Manager
Morris, IL

“Now, ARM can be a competitive and viable option for operations that have stronger balance sheets. This is due to our capital partners evolving with the performance of our loans and the performance of our business,” said Michael Carey, Area Manager at ARM. “We are able to offer new financial services and loans to operations that now have less risk than they had a year or two ago.”

ARM understands the pressure that farmers are under to preserve the family farm. Traditional lenders often take months to finalize lending options for farmers, but ARM meets farmers’ funding needs by eliminating the wait. ARM can outline a farmer’s options the same day they meet with a farmer, with loan approvals typically occurring within days.

“When our farmers succeed, we succeed,” said Buckles. “We can make the process easy for farmers while reducing their stress. Our ultimate goal is to build a long-term relationship with our customers and create a total lending solution for every farmer and farming operation.”

Visit armlend.com/locations to get started with your nearest ARM team.

 

 

 

 

 

February 28, 2022 – Fort Worth, TX

One of most frequent questions that Ashley Arrington, Real Estate Division Manager at Ag Resource Management (ARM), gets asked as she’s talking to farmers is “Where are interest rates heading?”

While long-term fixed rates have already started to see an uptick, prime hasn’t jumped higher just yet.

“We’ve seen a little bit of an increase on the short-term loans, but nothing like we have seen on a 30-year fixed loan which is somewhat of a predictor of what we think the market’s going to do over time. We expect rates are going to rise higher in the long-term, than the short-term interim,” said Arrington.

The next question she’s asked is “What can I do about rising interest rates?” None of us have the power to stop rates from increasing, but you can consider proactive actions to help protect your financial interests. Think back to 2012-2013 – that was the last up cycle in commodity prices, and a lot of land was purchased around that time. Many of those loans are now coming up for renewal, so those are important to look at right now.

“Even if it is another year or two before your loan matures, it’s a good time to take a look and explore your options, regardless of if it costs more in the short-term,” she said. “If you’re locked in at 3.8% but your loan doesn’t mature for another 18 months, it’s worth looking at locking in at 4%, which is 20 basis points higher. Because in 18 months, there’s a good chance that rates are going to be a lot higher. The indication from the Federal Reserve is that there could be as many as four to five rate hikes this year, and they have said that it may not be a 25-basis point (0.25%) hike at a time – it could be 50 basis points (0.5%) at a time.”

For example, if you’ve been renting ground and have spoken to the landowner about purchasing the ground in the next few years, now may be the time to make the purchase. If you wait two to three years then make a move to purchase and finance it, the interest rate could be significantly higher. Land values are also high, and land values and interest rates are typically correlated.

Interest rates are headed higher due to inflation in the market. Higher inflation is impacting everything from the housing market to items you buy at the grocery store to input costs for crop farmers. Inflation is inherently tied to interest rates, and they work like checks and balances for each other. Historically, when land prices hit a certain level, interest rates are going to move higher.

“We’re seeing a lot of inflation in the market right now, and the only thing keeping land prices at bay is interest rates. If there’s a rate hike of 100 basis points from where they are now, we may see the top end of the land value bubble. Look to get land purchases completed and refinancing done ahead of that,” Arrington said. “Speaking to experts in the industry, many say when we hit a hike of 200 to 250 basis points, that’s the trigger for the land value bubble to pop.”

Rented land should also be monitored as interest rates move higher. Rents will inevitably move higher. More and more institutional land buying is occurring, and those buyers want to rent their land while seeing a strong ROI. If they finance a portion of the purchase, then their payment will go up so rental rates may start to climb.

“We’ve seen an increase in rental prices, not because of interest rates, but because of higher land and commodity prices,” she noted. “Next year, we’ll probably see increases related to interest rates, especially with farmland that is changing hands.”

To protect your financial interests, make plans to look at:

1) Refinancing any maturing loans – run the numbers and see if it makes economic sense to refinance before rates go up

2) Planned purchases – any purchases for the farm like land, equipment, vehicles, etc. that you had planned to purchase in the next three years

3) Operating loans – review your operating loan and ensure your lender offers fixed rate loans

4) Rented land – rental rates could easily go higher., so plan accordingly

5) Overall financial situation – do a stress test with what you have. For example, if you have real estate loans, what happens if rates do go up 200 basis points – how does that stress your cash flow?

Learn more about our real estate loan services by contacting your nearest ARM location.

Ag Resource Management, LLC (ARM) is proud to announce the appointment of Teddie Hamilton to Area Manager for Dexter, MO. In his new role, he will continue ARM’s strategic growth throughout Southern Missouri, Western Tennessee, and Western Kentucky.

Teddie is no stranger to the ARM family, most recently serving as a Regional Risk Manager for the company.  Hamilton commented, “I’m thankful for all of the support I have had during my three years with ARM, and I’m excited for the future of the Dexter office!” He is a native of Eastern Arkansas where he developed his love for agriculture and serving his community. Hamilton is a graduate of Arkansas State University and the Barret Graduate School of Banking. Prior to joining ARM, he worked in community banking having held several different positions during that time.

Southeast Regional Manager Butch Bassie commented, “Teddie exhibited outstanding leadership and desire to grow while performing in his previous roles as a Loan Officer and most recently a Regional Risk Manager. We are very excited about his promotion and look forward to his success at the Dexter location.”

Over the past year ARM has evolved to become a complete solution for every farmer with crop finance, crop insurance, real estate, equipment, and crop storage services all under one roof. To get your farming operation on the path to growth and success, contact Teddie at (337) 250-4488, by email at thamilton@armlend.com, or by visiting armlend.com.

 

Land In Demand: ARM Launches Agricultural Real Estate Referral Program

Ag Resource Management (ARM) is no stranger to innovation in agricultural lending, so when farmers and other agribusiness operators asked ARM for assistance with real estate loans, ARM responded with a unique ag real estate referral program that is designed to simplify the loan process and help customers secure a higher first-time success rate of approvals.

Ashley Arrington, Real Estate Division Manager, is leading ARM’s agricultural real estate program. In less than a year, she’s built and organized ARM’s real estate program, bringing in more than $60 million in loan approvals to-date. Ashley helps to improve farmers’ real estate loan application experience by leveraging her long experience in  agricultural banking and providing farm financial consulting services to assist farmers in applying for real estate loans.

“ARM’s goal is to create a path with flexible loan options for our customers, so we started with analyzing what percentage of loans were being approved the first time compared to the percentage of loans that had to be presented multiple times before they were approved,” said Arrington. “We designed a unique approach of partnering with multiple leading agricultural real estate lenders with whom we have a clear understanding of their lending approach, so that we can review a customer’s needs and match the financial package with the right real estate lender the first time.”

Rather than a farmer putting together a loan package on their own, often not knowing what’s needed to secure a real estate loan, ARM provides a detailed list of what’s required and reviews the information. Based on the customer’s financials and product needs, ARM places the customer with the best real estate loan partner, thus, increasing the likelihood of approval and eliminating the need to approach bank after bank with the loan package.

“One of our goals is to simplify the process for everyone, so customers collect their financials and provide it to us, and then we perform the preliminary underwriting process and work with the chosen lender until the deal closes,” she said. “The customer – whether it’s a farmer, processor, cotton gin, grain elevator, etc. – can get on with their work while ARM facilitates and manages the entire real estate loan process.”

Farmers can now go to ARM to obtain their operating loan, crop insurance and real estate loan and only work with one ARM loan officer which offers a lot of value especially during the busiest times of the season. ARM’s innovative approach also evens the playing field with farmers and ag businesses in rural areas which have a limited presence of banks by bringing them products more prevalent in areas with a higher concentration of lending options.

“Farmers and agribusinesses can maintain their business and relationship with their local bankers while working with ARM,” she said. “This allows customers to remain diversified and it’s a win-win for the local bank, for the customer and us. ARM is always available to help with refinancing, another real estate loan or answer any questions.”

Some may think that since their community bank or closest farm lender turned them down that their options are limited or nonexistent. Also, some community banks have a cap on how much they can lend per relationship, which can be prohibitive for some ag businesses—but this is where ARM can help.

Reach out to your nearest ARM office to get started by visiting armlend.com/locations.

 

Ag Resource Management, LLC (ARM) is proud to welcome Mike Motis to the company as Area Manager for Hastings. In this role, he will continue ARM’s strategic growth throughout the greater Nebraska market.

Mike comes to us with over two decades of experience working in the agriculture industry, most recently as a Vice President and Senior Field Team Lead with Bank of The West. “My mission and goal for 2022 is to grow the business and develop relationships with new contacts within my network that will lay the foundation for expanded success,” says Motis. He continues, “In the near term I will begin leveraging over 20 years of experience covering the Hastings office trade area into future growth and expanded profitability for ARM.”

“He brings with him a wealth of experience from his time at John Deere Financial, and most recently, Bank of the West covering the Nebraska and Kansas territories,” says Jay Landell, Northern Regional Manager for ARM. Landell continues, “He has a good understanding of ag finance and the area our Hastings office covers. We are looking forward to Mike growing our presence in Nebraska.”

Mike enjoys raising cattle and show pigs, competing in BBQ cookoffs, hunting, and gardening in his spare time. He and his wife have four grown children and two granddaughters. They live near Geneva. Reach out to Mike to learn more about how he can help your farming operation reach its goals by calling 402-235-6482 or visit armlend.com/location/hastings-ne/.

November 29th, 2021—Sioux Falls, SD

 

Ag Resource Management, LLC (ARM) is proud to welcome Taylor Gibson to the company as Area Manager for Sioux Falls. In this role, he will continue ARM’s strategic growth throughout the South Dakota market.

Taylor grew up on a farm in Northeast South Dakota and has several years of working experience in the agriculture industry. Most recently, he managed implement sales throughout the Dakotas and Minnesota for CNH Industrial. Taylor earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in finance from South Dakota State University. He lives in the Sioux Falls area with his wife and extended family.

“Taylor comes to us with a wealth of knowledge in the ag space,” says Jay Landell, Northern Regional Manager for ARM. Landell adds, “We are excited to have Taylor on board and look forward to more great things in Sioux Falls!”

Gibson is replacing former Area Manager, Gerald Kruger, who was appointed to a new role as ARM’s Director of Market Channel Development. Kruger will continue nurturing the company’s relations with various channel partners across the United States. Reach out to Taylor to learn more about how he can help your farming operation reach its goals by calling 605-800-1968 or visit armlend.com/location/sioux-falls-sd/.

 

 

Ag Input Costs Are On The Rise. ARM Has The Solution.

After seeing years of tightening margins, declining commodity prices and eroding equity,  Ag Resource Management (ARM) developed the Ag Input Loan to help bring equity back to farmers who need it through a partnership with ag retailers and ag input distributors. Retailers have long-standing relationships with their customers, but they may be concerned about the credit quality or their cashflow and aren’t able to carry the farmer’s unsecured trade credit for the season. ARM can partner with the distributor, then take the distributor’s input sales and convert that to a secured loan transaction. This makes it part of an overall budget that ARM manages and monitors throughout the growing season.

 “Ag Resource Management pioneered the concept of monetizing crop revenue streams. By combining the math and science of determining both yield and price market values and their relative insurance values, ARM can reliably predict a farm’s potential revenue stream.” -Gerald Kruger, Director of Market Channel Development at Ag Resource Management

The retailer can then secure the sale of inputs to the long-term farmer-client and wait until the crop is sold for payment. They benefit from not having to carry accounts receivable on an unsecured trade credit status. They’ve now become part of a secured loan transaction because of their partnership with ARM.

As a forward-looking capital provider, ARM does not rely on land or equipment equity to make a loan decision. Rather, the loan decision is based on the farm’s capacity to generate an income stream from a growing crop. To do that, ARM uses a proprietary financial model to apply appropriate discounts, which generates a risk-adjusted crop loan that syncs with the farm’s budget. In the event of a crop failure, the revenue stream is protected with a well-structured crop insurance policy that maximizes farm revenue.

Once established, ARM sets up a systematic process to help manage risk on the loan by maintaining a close working relationship with the farmer. For example, ARM helps the farmer acquire the proper amount of insurance, spend capital on the inputs required to realize the highest potential yield and pay the loan when the crop is harvested. This in-depth involvement in the operation increases the chance of success.

Offering the Ag Input Loan benefits the retailer in two ways: they maintain the long-term relationship with that farmer, and they can offer a credit product that allows them to compete with other ag retailers that are trying to sell to the same farmer. However, the retailer has the advantage of shared risk with ARM, working under a well-documented credit structure.

ARM may also be able to help farmers who have filed bankruptcy.  ARM does this under special provisions and protection provided by the bankruptcy court.

To learn more, contact your nearest Area Manager or visit us at armlend.com/partners/retailers.

PARTNERING WITH BANKS

Bankers know the challenges presented by struggling farming operations. Look to Ag Resource Management (ARM) as a partner for creating strategies that manage risk for you and your farmer customers.

A troubled loan puts a bank in a precarious position: It must either refuse a request for additional funding or extend more capital into a loan that’s already troubled. Neither scenario holds much appeal.

ARM can help banks address efficiency and performance by managing some of the risk in their ag loan portfolio. ARM can offer alternative financing that allows farmers to plant their crops, move forward with the season and continue generating income — and the bank won’t have to advance further capital.

Banks have historically made operating loans based on real estate assets, but many farmers now own only a small piece of land and lease most of their acres. Because ARM relies on this season’s crop for collateral, ARM can take on the operating loan while banks continue to manage equipment and real estate term debt.

“Sometimes bankers need somebody to stand with them in order to provide the farmer an operating loan to farm that year — that’s where ARM comes in.” -Gerald Kruger, Director of Market Channel Development

BENEFITS FOR BANKERS

Partnering with ARM offers bankers many benefits:

    • Improve the balance sheet and financial performance.
    • Maintain relationships using a sustainable plan and without increasing commitment in a regulatory environment that may advise exiting the relationship.
    • Continue existing relationships in a tough landscape for finding new customers.
    • Reduce reputational risk. Offering a path forward shows that a bank wants to offer value to and help its farmers, thereby avoiding the appearance of marginalizing its farming client base.

ARM assistance creates a path forward for a troubled farming operation. Often, these clients just need to get through a rough spot. ARM can bridge the gap and give the farmer time, while helping the bank preserve the long-term relationship with that customer.

If the path forward for a farming operation is bleak, then ARM’s involvement for a year can offer everyone time to plan an orderly liquidation. The farmer and the bank usually come out better given the extra time. 

To learn more about how ARM’s solutions can work for you, contact your nearest Area Manager or visit armlend.com/partners/lenders.

Are you at the Farm Science Review? Look for the ARM team at 527 Land Avenue. Area Managers Larry Davis and Elizabeth Long chatted with Ohio’s Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net to talk harvest, crop insurance, agricultural finance, grain markets and more.