Farm Credit Services

Rooted in experience.

The Farm Credit team at Maynard Nexsen is experienced in handling all aspects of legal needs for Farm Credit institutions.  We recognize the privilege it is for us to provide these services in support of the mission of the Farm Credit System in providing reliable credit and financial services to agriculture and rural communities.  Our team is ready to assist Farm Credit institutions on regulatory and compliance matters, internal investigations, loan documentation, origination and structuring, participations and syndications, bankruptcy, foreclosure, borrowers rights, board governance, and other legal needs that arise.  If you need help connecting with a Farm Credit attorney to advise your institution, reach out to Sarah Batson, the team leader for Farm Credit Services.  

Maynard Nexsen Farm Credit capabilities include:

Bankruptcy Board Duties and Functions Board Elections Board Investigations Borrower Rights Bylaws Capital Regulations Collections Contract Review and Negotiation Criminal Referrals Borrower Eligibility and Scope Data Privacy and Security and Incident Response Employment and HR Enforcement Actions Environmental Issues Estate and Succession Planning Ethics/Whistleblower Examinations Flood Insurance Foreclosures General Litigation Intellectual Property Internal Investigations

Investments, including Rural America Bond Program Lending Law Compliance Litigation Loans (ABL, Capital Markets, Commercial, Construction, Real Estate, Servicing, Syndications) Mergers and Acquisitions Nominations/Elections Operations/Segregation of Duties Patronage Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Policies, Procedures and Handbooks Privacy Rights Regulatory Compliance Consultation Restructuring/Workouts Shareholder Disclosure Standards of Conduct Subpoena Responses Supervisory Letters Unincorporated Business Entities

Farm Credit Team:

Sarah Batson - Team Lead	Suzi Grigg
David Kinman	Erica Barnes
Lisa Sumner	Rebecca Jennings Capece
Jay Hennig	Amy Mull
Kyle Brannon	Bridget Blinn-Spears

Maynard Nexsen attorneys have handled all aspects of agribusiness credit for Farm Credit institutions in 40 states. Our Farm Credit Practice Group has deep, firsthand experience in agriculture and rural business lending of all types, with a focus on serving the needs of lenders in the Farm Credit system, including:

• Representing Farm Credit institutions in the documentation of more than $100 million in operating and real estate financing for various dairy operators across the United States
• Representing Farm Credit institutions in the documentation of more than $150 million in ranch financing
• Representing Farm Credit institutions in the documentation of more than $150 million in operating, construction and real estate financing for various greenhouse and nursery operators across the United States
• Representing Farm Credit institution in the documentation of a $200 million processing facility construction financing
• Representing Farm Credit institution in the documentation of a $300 million pork processing facility construction financing
• Representing Farm Credit institutions in the documentation of more than $500 million in operating financing for various poultry producers and processors across the United States
• Representing Farm Credit institutions in the documentation of more than $1 billion in operating financing for various cattle feeders across the United States
• Representing Farm Credit institutions in the documentation of more than $1 billion in financing of timber tract purchases and timber processing operators across the United States
• Investigating and advising Farm Credit institution in connection with a $2 million check kiting scheme by borrower
• Representing Farm Credit institution in a $5 million workout/bankruptcy of sweet potato grower and processor
• Representing Farm Credit institution in related Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of processor and grower resulting in sale of strawberry packaging plant/land netting sufficient proceeds to repay the $3.4 million debt owed to the institution
• Supervising and conducting numerous investigations involving Farm Credit regulatory compliance

Farm Credit lending has a unique history, complex regulatory requirements and a vital place in our nation’s economy. Maynard Nexsen lawyers have decades of experience helping Farm Credit institutions structure deals — from simple loans to complex capital markets transactions in excess of $1 billion. These include construction and development loans, large operating loans in all segments of agriculture and term debt for timber and agricultural property, among others.

Our attorneys know that when drawing up the documents for a large Farm Credit transaction, standard credit agreements include many elements that simply do not apply in the unique world of Farm Credit. We structure cutting-edge agreements that are customized for Farm Credit institutions and based on our expansive knowledge of the agricultural finance sector.

Beyond transactions, Maynard Nexsen has extensive knowledge of the organizational and operational needs of Farm Credit institutions. These include drafting and revising bylaws, policies and procedures, as well as advice on employment law, standards of conduct, whistleblower matters and criminal referrals. We also serve as general counsel to various Farm Credit institutions.

We represent Farm Credit institutions in their interactions with the Farm Credit Administration and other governmental entities, and have assisted many institutions under regulatory supervision. This work includes conducting internal investigations involving multi-disciplinary attorneys, addressing sensitive personnel matters, guiding clients through criminal referrals and prosecutions, regulatory compliance issues and employee trainings.

Maynard Nexsen lawyers frequently assist Farm Credit lenders on loan defaults, distressed loans and borrower rights issues, as well as loan restructurings and forbearances, collections, foreclosures and bankruptcy matters.

Maynard Nexsen attorneys understand the rural markets that agribusiness lenders serve. Our practice group leader grew up on a farm. Another of our practice area members grew up in rural Texas and worked as a Farm Credit loan officer. We focus on this area of law because we are personally committed to it and know, from firsthand experience, how important it is.

Understanding the landscape.

While deeply involved in Farm Credit work, our attorneys are also familiar with the broader landscape of rural business and agricultural finance. In addition to working with Farm Credit institutions, our attorneys sometimes represent other agricultural businesses and suppliers.

One of the reasons our attorneys understand Farm Credit and agribusiness issues is because of their long involvement in issues and policies affecting that sector. For example, Maynard Nexsen attorneys conceived of and designed the Rural America Bond Program, which has provided low-cost financing for many crucial rural projects.

Our Farm Credit lawyers also stay abreast of the critical issues that affect rural economies and farmers’ livelihoods: Trade and tariff issues, labor and immigration matters, diseases that sometimes affect specific crops and livestock, changes to environmental regulations and the potential of new agricultural products, such as industrial hemp.

Because Maynard Nexsen is a multi-specialty firm, our Farm Credit attorneys can tap other lawyers who specialize in trade, environmental law, finance, estate and succession planning, as well as communications professionals who specialize in media relations, brand strategy and crisis communications.

News

Insights

Video Training Series: Farm Credit Tips

The Farm Credit system has a unique history, complex regulatory requirements, and a vital place in our nation’s economy. Maynard Nexsen lawyers have decades of experience helping Farm Credit institutions structure lending deals and providing advice on standards of conduct, board governance, employment matters, fraud investigations, Borrower Rights, and criminal referrals to name just a few areas.

We’ve developed a series of practical videos to help Farm Credit institutions and their employees better understand and navigate some of these areas.