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{{Organization 
|OrganizationName= Agricultural Credit Association
|OrganizationType= Co-operatives
|Mission= Agricultural Credit Associations (ACAs) aim to provide farmers, ranchers, and rural residents with dependable, short-, intermediate-, and long-term credit to support agricultural operations, housing, and related businesses, thereby promoting the growth and sustainability of rural America.
|OrganizationExecutive= Various (e.g., President, CEO)
|Employees= 
|Budget= 
|Website= 
|Services= Agricultural Loans; Rural Housing Loans; Farm-Related Business Financing
|ParentOrganization= Farm Credit System
|CreationLegislation= Agricultural Credit Act of 1987
|Regulations= 
|HeadquartersLocation= 
|HeadquartersAddress= 
}}

'''Agricultural Credit Association (ACA)''' is a type of institution within the [[U.S. Farm Credit System]], focused on providing credit services directly to farmers, ranchers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, rural residents for housing, and certain farm-related businesses. ACAs are structured to merge the capabilities of Federal Land Bank Associations (FLBAs) and Production Credit Associations (PCAs), enabling them to offer a wide range of credit products.

It includes:

*[[AgStar Financial Services]]
* [[Northwest Farm Credit Services]]
* [[Farm Credit of New Mexico]]

==Mission==

The mission of ACAs is to deliver financial solutions that support the agricultural community and rural residents. By offering short-, intermediate-, and long-term loans, ACAs help farmers and rural businesses invest in their operations, improve their housing, and contribute to the economic vitality of rural areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fca.gov/about/what-we-do/fcs-institutions |title=Description of FCS Institution Types |publisher=Farm Credit Administration |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>https://www.fca.gov/bank-oversight/description-of-fcs-institution-types</ref>

==Parent organization==

Each Agricultural Credit Association is part of the Farm Credit System, a cooperative network that supplies credit and financial services to agriculture and rural America.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.farmcredit.com/ |title=Farm Credit System |publisher=Farm Credit System |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>https://www.fca.gov/bank-oversight/about-banks-and-associations)</ref>

==Legislation==

The creation of Agricultural Credit Associations was authorized by the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, which facilitated the merger of Federal Land Bank Associations with Production Credit Associations to create ACAs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fca.gov/about/what-we-do/fcs-institutions |title=Description of FCS Institution Types |publisher=Farm Credit Administration |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>https://www.fca.gov/bank-oversight/description-of-fcs-institution-types)</ref>

==Partners==

* Various Farm Credit Banks for funding
* Other Farm Credit System institutions for cooperative initiatives

==Number of employees==

Specific employee numbers for ACAs vary as they are multiple entities within the Farm Credit System, and exact figures are not uniformly published.

==Organization structure==

The structure of an ACA typically includes:

===Leader===

Leadership roles within ACAs include titles like President or CEO, often depending on the specific association.

===Divisions===

* Loan Origination and Servicing for handling loan applications and management.
* Member Services for supporting members with additional financial needs.

==List of programs==

* Short-term Loans for operational needs.
* Intermediate-term Loans for equipment or livestock.
* Long-term Loans for real estate and large capital expenditures.

==Last total enacted budget==

Since ACAs are part of a broader system and operate on a cooperative model, individual budgets for each association are not publicly detailed.

==Staff==

Staff numbers vary by individual association; however, collectively, they form part of the Farm Credit System's workforce, which supports agriculture across the U.S.

==Funding==

ACAs are funded through the Farm Credit System, where they receive capital from Farm Credit Banks or Agricultural Credit Banks, which in turn raise funds through debt securities in financial markets.

==Services provided==

ACAs provide various credit services including short-, intermediate-, and long-term loans to farmers, ranchers, and rural homeowners. They also offer financing for farm-related businesses and cooperative services, aiding in the sustainability and growth of rural economies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fca.gov/about/what-we-do/fcs-institutions |title=Description of FCS Institution Types |publisher=Farm Credit Administration |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>[](https://www.fca.gov/bank-oversight/description-of-fcs-institution-types)

==Regulations overseen==

ACAs do not oversee regulations but operate under the regulatory framework of the Farm Credit Administration, which supervises and regulates the Farm Credit System.

==Headquarters address==

Each ACA has its own headquarters, typically located within the region they serve. No single address can be provided for all ACAs.

==History==

The concept of Agricultural Credit Associations emerged with the restructuring of the Farm Credit System under the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987. This act allowed for the merging of existing Federal Land Bank Associations and Production Credit Associations into ACAs, enhancing the ability to offer comprehensive financial services to the agricultural sector.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fca.gov/about/what-we-do/fcs-institutions |title=Description of FCS Institution Types |publisher=Farm Credit Administration |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>[](https://www.fca.gov/bank-oversight/description-of-fcs-institution-types)

==External links==

* [https://www.fca.gov/ Farm Credit Administration]
* [[wikipedia:Farm Credit System]]
* [https://www.farmcredit.com/ Farm Credit System]
*{{CRS|article = Farm Credit System|url = https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21278.pdf|author= Jim Monke}}

==References==

<references />

[[Category:Farm Credit System]]
[[Category:Agricultural organizations based in the United States]]


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