Server: Netscape-Enterprise/2.01 Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 18:07:13 GMT Content-type: text/html Ag Services Customer Information

Welcome to the Ag Services Customer Information Page!


Current Program Information


Ag Services of America, Inc.

COMPANY HISTORY

Since 1986, Ag Services of America, Inc. has been helping farmers become more successful by combining several aspects of crop production into one convenient package.

At Ag Services, we provide farmers the ability to purchase a wide variety of brand name farm inputs from a single source at competitive prices combined with financing for those purchases.

Our credit is available to qualified applicants by obtaining a first lien on their growing crop and by receiving an assignment of a farmer's multi-peril crop insurance.


Program Value

* Our program is much more than simply supplying & financing inputs *

Our Company's growth over the past decade has been the result of hard work and commitment by our employees to servicing the needs of our customers. We now have over 115 employees with one mission:

"Providing farmers with the most convenient form of crop input supply and finance
with the highest quality and most economical products and services."

Inputs which can be available through our program include:

Seed
Chemicals
Fertilizer
Cash Rents
Fuel Expenses
Irrigation Expenses
Crop Insurance

We also offer additional services as part of our total package at

NO EXTRA COST TO OUR CUSTOMERS:


1997 Program

This section should help explain some of the aspects of our 1997 Program. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our sales and marketing department at 1-800-395-8505.


INTEREST RATES

All interest rates for the 1997 season will be variable based on the prime rate as indicated in the Midwest Edition of the Wall Street Journal. Exceptions may be granted in those states where state law determines what interest rate may be charged. Interest for product and non-product charges will begin when delivery is made or service is rendered.

To begin the application process, please request an application and fill it out completely. Make sure to sign it before returning it to our Cedar Falls office along with the appropriate application fee.

CREDIT CRITERIA
    The following list is the general criteria required for a line of credit with Ag Services of America:
  1. First-lien position on growing crop.
  2. Assignment of Multi-Peril Crop Insurance.
    • MPCI is required to receive an operating loan.
  3. Assignment of FSA farm Program payments.
    • Typically the producer keeps the first half and Ag Services will take assignment of the second half.
  4. Farm management skills, character, and honesty.



APPLICATION FEE
NUMBER OF ACRES FEE
499 or LESS................……..$ 75
500 TO 999.................……..$125
1,000 TO 2,499.............……$175
2,500 TO 4,999.............……$225
OVER 5,000.................…….$275

The application fee must be paid before consideration will be given to any submitted application, unless later payment is consented to by Ag Services. The application fee will be refunded in full if the application is rejected. The application fee will be retained by Ag Services if the customer is approved and elects not to use the approved extension of credit or withdraws the application before approval. Applicants which request or require multiple entities will be assessed initially for each entity pursuant to above guidelines. If the application is submitted for 499 acres or less and additional acres are added at a later date, the customer will be billed for the additional fee. Associated legal and filing fees related to securing all collateral (crops, machinery, equipment, real estate, etc.) required by Ag Services will be charged to the customer. Acres used to compute application fees are crop acres only. (Set-aside acres are defined as non-crop acres.)


3% PROGRAM FEE

A 3% Program Fee is assessed to each customer based on the approved credit limit. The fee is adjusted quarterly for any changes to the customer's credit limit or if actual crop input charges exceed the credit limit. Each customer will have the opportunity to earn back all or a portion of the Program Fee based on when payment in full is received per the following dates:

SPRING AND WHEAT ACCOUNTS (COMBINED)

PERCENT EARNED BACK

North

  • 3% if full payment received by DEC 1
  • 2% if full payment received by DEC 21
  • 1% if full payment received by JAN 15

South

  • 3% if full payment received by DEC 18
  • 2% if full payment received by JAN 8
  • 1% if full payment received by JAN 31

WHEAT ACCOUNTS ONLY

PERCENT EARNED BACK:

  • 3% if full payment received by AUG 1
  • 2% if full payment received by AUG 21
  • 1% if full payment received by SEPT 15

Map indicating northern and southern states.

*No interest is charged on the Program Fee if the account is paid by the above due dates.

* NO EXTENSION ON THESE DATES WILL BE GRANTED *


Product and Distribution

Ag Services of America has an entire department dedicated to coordinating the supply of your products. Each customer is assigned a Product Manager that will work with you throughout the entire year. Each Product Manager specializes in a particular region of the country in order to better assist customers in that area.

Our products staff, including Nationally Certified Crop Advisors, can review your operation, provide agronomic advice, offer soil sample analysis, and recommend a strong fertility program based on their education, experience, and our access to a network of industry specialists.

We work with you to provide individual advice and information based on sound agronomic and economic principles.

AGRONOMIC SUPPORT WITH CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO:

Production Goals
Soil Capability / Productivity
Historical Climate & Weather Patterns
Research-Based Recommendations
Proven Crop Protection Programs
ECONOMIC COUNSELING BASED ON:

Return Per $1 Invested in the Crop
Working Together for Bottom-line Profitability
Budget Analysis & Monitoring
Practical, Cost-effective Product Recommendations

The product program is designed to assist in your crop production system. Our "One-Stop-Shop" concept allows you to coordinate your seed, chemical, and fertilizer needs at one competitive, convenient location. Additionally, the program enables you to customize your package with any one, or all, of our primary service components. Our product program consists of the following components:


PRODUCT SELECTION & DECISION SUPPORT

The Ag Services of America products staff customizes our agronomic support to your individual operation. Having customers in 26 states allows our Product Managers to view production practices and crop management decisions in many different regions. Combining our vast information and experience offers our customers an excellent resource for their own crop management decisions.

Having the position of financing and supplying our customers insures that we will work with farmers to analyze the cost-benefit of their decisions.

The Product Program includes input and counseling in the following areas: soil testing and fertility management, practical pesticide use, site-specific seed selection and individualized crop consulting.

PRECISION AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY

Agriculture today is becoming increasingly technical. Ag Services of America is committed to keeping our customers on the leading edge of technology and change. We have invested time and resources into site-specific agriculture information gathering, information processing and recommendations.

  • Ag Services will work with you to identify your goals and needs. We can customize the technology to your production system.
  • Ag Services can arrange the purchase and financing of any equipment needed. Our arrangements with equipment suppliers also includes any needed technical support and assistance.

Once you have the basic equipment, the Product Department includes many other services and opportunities for your precision farming operation. The general Ag Services' Precision Farming Program will involve field mapping, information layering, data processing and decision-making support.


DIRECT SHIP

Our Direct Ship Program is designed to provide our customers with a way to handle all of their product needs in a convenient, efficient, cost effective, and timely manner.

Direct Shipment involves the distribution of products, such as fertilizer and ag chemicals, from a wholesale storage location or manufacturer warehouse directly to your farm. Products are handled only once during loading, thereby, maintaining the quality of the product while keeping costs down. In many cases, we can arrange "same day" delivery and Ag Services will, generally, get products to a farm on or ahead of schedule with as little as one to two days advance notice.


Crop Insurance

Ag Services of America, Inc. offers Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI), as well as other products for your protection and convenience as part of our full service supply and finance program.

Although you do not have to purchase your crop insurance through our office, you will be required to carry MPCI in order to receive financing from Ag Services of America. Many of our customers enjoy the convenience of allowing our licensed agents to coordinate their insurance needs along with the other crop inputs we supply.

Most Ag Services of America District Sales Managers are also licensed crop insurance agents, and would be happy to answer any questions you might have. If there is not a District Sales Manager available in your area please feel free to direct your insurance questions to:

Sharon Semke or Amy Mead
Ag Services of America, Inc.
PO Box 668
Cedar Falls, Ia 50613
1-800-395-8505

CROP PROTECTION PLANS AVAILABLE

MULTI PERIL CROP INSURANCE
HAIL INSURANCE
MARKET VALUE PRICE PROTECTION


Application Process

We greatly appreciate your interest in Ag Services of America. We hope that you will give us the opportunity to show you our superior service, convenience and flexibility, along with a staff that truly understands agriculture.

To begin the credit approval process simply call, write or E-mail our office and we will be happy to send you an application. Please fill it out completely and return it to our Cedar Falls office. Once we receive your application, you will receive a letter indicating the Product Manager and Credit Manager assigned to your individual account. Within a few days, you will be contacted by both of these individuals who may request additional information and at that time can answer any questions you might have.

Please feel free to contact your Credit and Product Managers at any time by calling 1-800-395-8505.

Once again, we would like to thank you for your interest in Ag Services of America, Inc.


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