AgTrust Farm Credit Distributes Record $32.3 Million in Patronage to Customer-Owners
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fort Worth, Texas (March 13, 2025) – AgTrust Farm Credit is pleased to announce a record-breaking $32.3 million patronage distribution to its eligible customer-owners, reinforcing its commitment to supporting agriculture and rural communities. This all-cash distribution effectively reduced the interest rate paid by borrowers in 2024 by an average of 1.31 percentage points.
With this latest distribution, AgTrust has now returned a total of $204.8 million to its customer-owners over the last 10 years. As a member-owned cooperative, AgTrust operates with a core mission—to invest in its borrowers and the agricultural industry, ensuring financial strength and long-term sustainability for its members.
A Cooperative That Gives Back
The patronage program is a direct reflection of AgTrust’s commitment to returning earnings to those who make its success possible—its customer-owners. Unlike traditional lenders, AgTrust’s cooperative structure allows members to share in the financial benefits of the organization, reducing borrowing costs and reinvesting in the communities they serve.
For customer-owners like Jake Alexander, a 5th-generation rancher from Fort Worth, Texas, patronage has become an integral part of his operation. “The first time I went into AgTrust, we talked about what patronage was, and I didn’t think too much about it,” Alexander said. “Then that first check we got back—I was surprised, kind of impressed. And as our loans have gotten bigger, our patronage has gotten a lot bigger. It’s helped us buy equipment, diesel, and put money right back into what we’re doing.”
Each year, AgTrust’s board of directors carefully evaluates the financial health of the cooperative to determine the appropriate level of patronage distribution while maintaining the strength of the organization. This record-setting return highlights AgTrust’s continued financial success and dedication to the farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses who rely on its services.
AgTrust Farm Credit is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, offering specialized financial solutions for those in agriculture, whether they are lifelong producers or just beginning their journey in farming, ranching, or rural landownership. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, AgTrust operates branch offices in Abilene, Albuquerque, Cleburne, Clovis, Corsicana, Denton, Fort Worth, Georgetown, Hillsboro, Lampasas, Las Cruces, New Boston, Paris, Roswell, Sherman, Stephenville, Sweetwater, Waco, and Weatherford.
For more information about AgTrust’s patronage program, visit AgTrustACA.com.
Media Contact:
Julie Porter Mayfield
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
817-223-1569