Rod McGaughey, Carthage, was featured in the most recent issue of Country Spirit magazine, which is published quarterly by 1st Farm Credit Services for its 8,5000 clients.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Rod McGaughey, Carthage, was featured in the most recent issue of Country Spirit magazine, which is published quarterly by 1st Farm Credit Services for its 8,5000 clients.
The cooperatively owned agricultural financial services organization is headquartered in Normal and serves 42 counties in northern, central and western Illinois.
The article focused on McGaughey's role as a director on the board of 1st Farm Credit Services, ACA. He has been director for 17 years.
McGaughey owns 300 acres and rents 140 acres, growing corn, soybeans and hay. He also sells about 45 Angus feeders annually. He has been farming for 31 years and has been a 1st FCS Client for 23 years.
McGaughey says his role as a 1st Farm Credit Services director is to ensure that the organization performs as expected and remains viable now and in the future. "Directors set policy, plans and operating objectives," he explains. "It is our responsibility to see that stockholder/client interests are not overlooked and that management continues the processes that lead to long-term success."
In the article, McGaughey identifies what he considers one of the most important issues facing agriculture: "The cost/price squeeze seems to be always with us," he observes. "Commodity prices are the same or less than when I began farming in 1972. But land costs, machinery and the cost of living have increased dramatically. Seed, fuel and fertilizer keep rising too."
"Ironically," he continues, "interest on a Farm Credit loan is the only farming expense I can think of that's the same or less than in those Happy Days of the 1970s."
The 1st Farm Credit Services office serving Hancock County is located at 1204 Buchanan, Rte. 136, Carthage, and can be reached toll-free at 1-800-396-6221. Mark Ray serves as the financial professional in the office, Dustin Walker is the crop insurance specialist and Tiffany Long serves as the office's client service representative.
Other area 1st Farm Credit Services offices are located in Aledo, Macomb, Monmouth, and Quincy.
1st Farm Credit Services offices also can be reached by phoning toll-free 1-800-444-FARM, or through the organization's Internet web site at www.usfarmcredit.com.
1st Farm Credit Services is the leading provider of farm real estate financing; operating loans with enhanced cash management options; equipment and building leasing and loans; farm appraisals; and Revenue Assurance (RA), multi-peril, crop hail and credit life insurances.
Farm Credit Services, rural America's client-owned partner for more than 85 years, helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm through its constant commitment to competitive lending, expert financial services and advice, and a feeling of partnership with its clients.