Farmers receive $4.2M in assistance

Ag-LINK program reduces interest rates on lines of credit.

Farmers from Clark and Champaign counties received more than $4.2 million from a state agricultural program that reduces interest rates on operating loans and lines of credit.

Thirty-six Clark County and 15 Champaign County farms were among 700 statewide to be approved for the 2012 Agricultural Linked Deposit Program, known as Ag-LINK, the Ohio Treasurer’s Office said Thursday.

Clark County farmers received more than $3.13 million and Champaign County farmers received more than $1.1 million. Their awards ranged from $20,000 to $100,000.

Pleasant Twp. grain and livestock farmer David Stickney said the award has helped his business relieve the strain of ever costlier expenditures like fuel and fertilizer.

His business received $100,000 in the 2012 program and has been a recipient for several consecutive years.

“It meant a whole lot more in years past,” he said, explaining that the farming economy is better than in the past. “Farmers are generally better off when everybody else is having difficulty.”

More than $59 million was awarded among farms statewide.

The annual program, which has been in existence for 27 years, allows Ohio farmers to apply for reductions on new or existing loans or lines of credit up to $100,000.

Ohio farmers often seek to finance their operating costs for feed, seed, fertilizer and fuel, according to the treasurer’s office.

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