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Despite ongoing economic stress, Farm Credit Illinois CEO encouraged by industry resilience

The CEO of Farm Credit Illinois says the ag economy continues to show signs of stress.

Kelly Hunt says some difficult conversations took place during the cooperative’s loan renewal season.

“We’re probably seeing some of those extensions come out of the season a little bit more so than we have in the past.”  She says, “It’s just a lot of uncertainty. There are a lot of the same conversations that we have been having now for two, three years.”

Despite that, she tells Brownfield…

“I think that the way that we’re working with our members, and what we’re seeing our members do, and their ways of making adjustments where there needs to be adjustments made, I think I have a pretty positive outlook on how they do navigate and end up coming out of this downturn,” she says.

Hunt says those adjustments range from taking additional steps to manage risk, diversifying operations, and fine-tuning operating budgets and efficiencies.

AUDIO: Kelly Hunt – Farm Credit Illinois