U.S. farm banks increased agricultural lending by 5.3 percent, or $5.5 billion, to $108 billion in 2018, according to the American Bankers Association’s annual Farm Bank Performance Report. The report — an analysis by ABA’s economic research team based on FDIC data — examines the performance of the nation’s 1,772 banks that specialize in agricultural lending. ABA defines farm banks as banks whose ration of domestic farm loans to total domestic loans is greater than or equal to the industry average.
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The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index for April stood at growth neutral for the month. According to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region depending on agriculture and/or energy, the RMI has now remained at, or above, growth neutral 50.0 for five straight months.
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Producer sentiment weakened slightly in late winter, according to the March Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reading. The barometer declined 3 points to a reading of 133, down from 136 in February.
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The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index for February fell but remained above growth neutral, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
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