Source: Maggie Hamm, CAROLINA FARM CREDIT, 7/6/11

Statesville, NC – Carolina Farm Credit is now accepting applications for the third class to participate in an e-learning financial and business planning course.  The Ag Biz Planner curriculum includes financial and business planning, budgeting and other money matters essential to a farm’s success.

Carolina Farm Credit is offering the Farm Credit University on-line program in conjunction with the Farm Credit Associations in North Carolina and Virginia including AgCarolina Financial, Cape Fear Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias, and Colonial Farm Credit.  Participants will have the opportunity to chat and benchmark with producers from the other associations throughout the program and network at a conference at the conclusion of the program in Raleigh, NC.

Farm Credit’s e-learning program targets young, beginning, small, and minority farmers throughout the state.  Participants will be assigned a Carolina Farm Credit loan officer to serve as their mentor throughout the course.  Highlights of the program include modules that cover business and personal financial planning, understanding income statements, cash flow, and the smart use of credit on the farm.  Each participant will have completed a business plan for their operation at the conclusion of the class.  

Carolina Farm Credit will accept up to five participants for the program which will begin in October 2011 and run through March 2012.  Applications, a course outline, and program information are available at www.carolinafarmcredit.com. Applications will be accepted through September 1, 2011. Individuals selected for the program will be notified after September 15.  The course will conclude with a group conference in Raleigh, NC March 19-20, 2012.

Tuition for Ag Biz Planner is $500: Carolina Farm Credit will pay $250 and upon acceptance into the program, each participant will be asked to pay one half of the tuition ($250).  $150 will be refunded to the participant upon successful completion of the 10 modules and presentation of their business plan. Carolina Farm Credit will also cover hotel  meal and speaker fees during the final conference in Raleigh. Each participant will be responsible for their own transportation to the meetings.

Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing short, intermediate, and long-term financing to full and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses and also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 36 service centers.  Other financial services available are credit life insurance, crop insurance, appraisal services, leasing programs and financial planning.

Carolina Farm Credit serves over 8,900 members with loans outstanding totaling more than $1.28 billion.  The association’s territory covers the western half of North Carolina, with service centers located in Albemarle, Asheboro, Asheville, Boone, Burnsville, Carthage, Concord, Ellerbe, Graham, Hendersonville, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lenoir, Lexington, Lincolnton, Marshall, Mocksville, Monroe, Murphy, Newton, Pilot Mountain, Reidsville, Roxboro, Rural Hall, Salisbury, Shelby, Siler City, Sparta, Spindale, Statesville, Taylorsville, Wadesboro, Waynesville, Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, and Yanceyville.
Directors for Carolina Farm Credit are Thomas E. Porter, Jr., Chairman, Cabarrus County; Joseph “Joe” Lail, Vice-Chairman, Cleveland County; John M. Barnard, Iredell County; E. Bernard Beck, Randolph County; W. Rex Bell, Iredell County; Mark A. Bray, Stokes County ; Herbert R. Cheeks, Clay County; David M. Coltrane, Randolph County; Charles L. "Butch" Deal, Macon County; Bobby Joe Gambill, Alleghany County; W. Stephen “Steve” Love, Alamance County; Bobby J. “Bud” Matthews, Yadkin County; R. Dwayne Myers, Wilkes County; Clark M. Newlin, Alamance County; Tony. L. Ragan, Lee County; Lewis E. Smith, Lincoln County; Vickie N. Smitherman, Yadkin County; L. Kim Starnes, Rowan County, Dr. Alton Thompson, Guilford County.