Pub. 8 2013-2014 Issue 4

November | December 2013 27 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. activities, such as taking deposits, providing cash manage- ment services, and offering credit cards. CoBank’s $725 million loan to Verizon is another issue that should be addressed at that oversight hearing. In clos- ing, Keating said that “it is not the goal of this letter for the committee to require ‘farmers to pay more for credit,’ but that Congress has a responsibility to examine anachronisms in federal tax expenditure policy. . . . Government ought not to pick winners and losers in the marketplace, whether it is in the agricultural economy or elsewhere. Fair competition in the marketplace will ensure the availability and affordability of agricultural credit.” The committee should hold that hearing. FCA Asks FCS for Suggestions on Reg Relief On July 18, the FCA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments, presumably from FCS institu- tions, on regulatory burden. Specifically, the FCA issued “this notice in order to consider whether our existing regulations are inefficient or burdensome. We seek public comment on the appropriateness of the requirements we impose on [FCS] institutions. . . . We ask for comments on our regulations that may duplicate other requirements, are ineffective, are not based on law, or impose burdens that are greater than the benefits received.” After the comment period closes on Nov. 15, FCW will report on the more interesting suggestions for reducing the FCS’ regulatory burden. ABA Ag Bankers Conference I will participate in this year’s ABA National Agricultural Bankers Conference on Nov. 10-13 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis on a panel with Curt Everson, president of the SouthDakota Bankers Association, and JoeWitt, president of theMinnesota Bankers Association. We will discuss, natural- ly, the FCS. I look forward to seeing many FCW readers at the conference. You will find information about the conference at www.aba.com/Training/Conferences/Pages/AGR.aspx. Report FCS Lending Abuses Bankers are continuing to send FCW reports of FCS lending abuses such as FCS loans for rural estates, weekend getaways, and hunting preserves. Email reports of similar lending abuses in your market to green-acres@ely-co.com . Please provide as much detail as possible about any loan that violates the spirit, if not the law, governing FCS lending.  To contact Bert Ely, email bert@ely-co.com , phone (703) 836-4101, fax (703) 836-1403, or send mail to P.O. Box 320700, Alexandria, Va. 22320. If your bank belongs to the American Bankers Association (ABA), you can enjoy a free email subscription to Farm Credit Watch or you can read it monthly online at www.aba.com . To receive Farm Credit Watch by email or to manage your subscription, visit ABA Member Email Bulletins at www.aba.com/Tools/Ebulletins/Pages/default.aspx. For other inquiries, please contact Barbara McCoy at the ABA at (800) BANKERS or bmccoy@aba.com . • Fixed interest rates from 3 to 30 years • MetLife does the underwriting, appraisal, and prepares the loan documentation • Local representative to handle the loan from application to closing Mike Borowski Southern Nebraska Cell: 402.525.2757 Email: mborowski@metlife.com www.metlife.com/ag Turn to Metlife Agricultural Investments for your client’s agricultural real estate loan needs. To see how you can grow your business with MetLife Agricultural Investments, contact Duane Divis Northern Nebraska Cell: 402.640.0777 Email: ddivis@metlife.com MetLife provides an outlet for banks to offer long-term, fixed rate agricultural real estate loans to their existing and prospective clients. Whether your clients are looking to expand their operation or refinance an existing mortgage, together we can tailor a loan to fit their needs with MetLife as your preferred lender. Agricultural Investments Nothing contained herein should be construed as a commitment by MetLife or any of its affiliates to enter into any specific financing transaction. © 2013 METLIFE, INC. PEANUTS © 2013 Peanuts Worldwide