Cooperative sets new record with $14M patronage payment

RIDGELAND — Southern AgCredit recently returned a record level of net earnings to its customer/owners in Mississippi and Louisiana.

This marks the 17^th consecutive year of the co-op’s patronage program.

Southern AgCredit customers received a check for their portion of the $6.9-million cash patronage, plus a statement detailing their share of a $7.3-million patronage allocation that is eligible for future payment in cash.

The combined $14.2-million patronage surpasses the record patronage set by the lending organization last year.

Joe Hayman, Southern AgCredit CEO, said, “Because we are a cooperative, our customers collectively own the business. We are committed to sharing our earnings with them, thereby reducing the effective interest rate on their loans. On average, this distribution amounts to approximately a 1.00 percent rate reduction”

Every year, the Southern AgCredit board of directors reviews the association’s financial position and determines how much of the earnings can be returned as a patronage. This year, the board approved a patronage to be paid as 48 percent cash and 52 percent allocated equities. Borrowers are not taxed on allocated equity funds until the funds are paid to them in cash.