What We Do

Fourteen agricultural and rural bankers from around the country volunteers their time to provide guidance and recommendations to ABA staff through this committee. Members are nominated by the state bankers associations and represent regions of the country. The ABA Chairman appoints all committee members, and they serve for up to three years. The committee meets three times per year.

Our Priorities

• Advocacy. We are engaged in all Congressional and Administrative initiatives related to agricultural or rural credit. ABA staff experts provide banker driven recommendations and testimony to policy makers, agricultural trade associations, and others involved in federal agricultural policy.
• Monitor the Farm Credit System. The Farm Credit System is a tax advantaged, retail lending government sponsored enterprise that competes directly with our members. We carefully monitor and comment on Farm Credit System developments within the System, their regulator, on Capitol Hill, and the administration.
• Industry Relations.  ABA staff have extensive contacts inside and outside the Washington agricultural community and leverages these contacts to help bankers solve their business challenges.
• Public Relations.  ABA staff provide the public and the media with a positive view of the agricultural banking industry through public speaking, interviews, industry contacts, research, and background materials.
• Education.  The ABA's Agricultural Bankers Conference is the premier agricultural banking event in the country.  For 50 consecutive years we have provided educational and motivational training for agricultural and rural bankers and others during a two and a half day event.  The Conference is held in November each year.
• Information.
• ABA publishes and distributes the member-only Ag Banking e-mail bulletin, a quarterly summary of news and issues that affect agricultural lenders, It also features Bert Ely's Farm Credit Watch column.
• Special Reports.  The Center provides the banking industry and the public with economic research, policy recommendations, comment letters, and other materials that help bankers meet ongoing business challenges.
• Public speaking.  Center staff members are available to speak at state bankers organizations and other industry events to keep the membership and the public informed about important federal agricultural credit policy and program developments.