Farm Credit Services of America and CoBank Donate $50,000 to Support Nebraska Beef Cattle Producers

LINCOLN, NE (June 1, 2023) - Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) and CoBank recently donated $50,000 to the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund to support beef cattle producers as they recover from the recent fires.

“FCSAmerica exists to serve agriculture. This mission is especially critical as we work to support Nebraska cattle operators impacted by spring wildfires,” said Mark Jensen, president and CEO of FCSAmerica. “Our donation to the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund is aimed at helping impacted producers recover as quickly as possible so they can move their operations forward.”

“It is CoBank’s mission to serve and support rural America, including its agricultural producers. Cattlemen and ranchers are stewards of the land, working tirelessly to care for livestock to provide a safe and healthy product,” said Marcus Wilhelm, Central Region President. “Our hearts go out to those affected by the wildfires, and we hope our donation to the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief fund will aid in a quicker recovery – allowing producers to get back to their operations and livelihoods.” 

Officers of the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund stated, “Our strongly held values of community and compassion are what unites us as Nebraskans. The generosity of CoBank and Farm Credit Services of America is appreciated by Nebraska’s cattle producers as we work to recover from recent wildfires. From purchasing supplies to fix fences to replacing lost feed, their donation will have a great impact on cattle producers, and we are thankful for their willingness to step up during challenging times.”

Background
The Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund will remain activated and accept donations until further notice by leadership of the Disaster Relief Fund. 

The Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations made to the Disaster Relief Fund may be tax deductible – a receipt will be sent upon deposit of funds. Those donating should consult with their tax advisor for final determination.

Funds will only be distributed to producers who experienced property loss or damage in areas where a fire was reported through the Nebraska Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Watch Center. As of today, disaster declarations have been issued for Jefferson (Rock Creek Fire), Cherry (McCann Fire), Garfield (Lowry Fire), and Custer and Blaine counties (Cooksley Complex Fire). Membership in Nebraska Cattlemen is not required for applicants to receive relief. Applications may be submitted from today until further notice. Relief funds will not be distributed until the application period closes. 

Individuals who would like to donate either online or by mailing a check, please visit www.nebraskacattlemen.org/disaster-relief-fund.

For any questions, please contact the Nebraska Cattlemen office at (402) 475-2333 or email at disasterrelief@necattlemen.org

About CoBank 
CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 76,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

For more information about CoBank, visit the web site at www.cobank.com.

About Farm Credit Services of America
Farm Credit Services of America is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of rural America, including the special needs of young and beginning producers. With $41 billion in assets and $7.2 billion in members’ equity, FCSAmerica is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Learn more at fcsamerica.com.