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American AgCredit increases Cash Patronage Distribution American AgCredit increased its cash patronage distribu- tion for 2018 to a full 1%, resulting in a record $86 million cash back to our loyal customers, and $26 million more than last year. The na- tion's fih largest agricultural lending cooperative, American AgCredit also announced today a record net income of $169.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. "Our Association had an out- standing year in 2018—not just in our financial results, but in the significant progress we are making in positioning our company for competitive and sustainable success," said Byron Enix, Chief Ex- ecutive Officer. "Our focus on improving our internal efficiency set the stage for our record net earnings year along with our increase in cash patronage distribution." The Association produced aer-tax net income of $169.4 million in 2018, compared to $159.1 million in 2017 and $104.5 million in 2016. The $10.3 million increase in net income from 2017 was primarily due to a $12.6 million increase in net interest income as a result of strong organic loan growth and a $17.4 million increase in non-interest in- come. The 2018 net interest income was $267.7 million, compared to $255.1 million in 2017 and $212.5 million in 2016. The 2018 increase of $12.6 million represents a 4.9% increase over 2017 and was primarily due to strong growth in loan volume. Average earning as- sets grew by $663.0 million during 2018, representing an annual growth rate of 7.5%. "Our accrual loan growth rate of 7.5% enabled the Association to exceed $10.9 billion in assets," added Chief Financial Officer Vern Zander. "Because of our efforts, we are able to share more profits than ever before." Though it's easy to look at the tech industry and think this increasingly influential sector is what makes the world go round, something closer to the very core of the Earth may be what's driving your economy. The agricultural sector plays a strategic role in a nation's economic development and prosperity. From the earliest days, agriculture has been heralded as playing a crucial role in North American culture. Farmers who grow produce and raise livestock for meats and other products have long exemplified what it means to work hard and take initiatives to be self-sufficient. The symbiotic nature of agriculture and the economy is noticeable when examining the ups and downs of each. This is because food produc- tion and the potential of ag- riculture extends beyond the fields and local food stands. These resources impact sup- ply chains and other markets. A strong agriculture base influences other employment sectors like food manufactur- ing, biotechnology, hospitality, machinery building, and much more, while a weak agriculture can adversely affect those sectors. While it can be difficult for residents of developed nations to visualize agricul- ture's effect, one only needs to turn to impoverished and developing nations to see just how big an impact agricul- ture can have on an economy. Agriculture provides food and raw materials, eventually creating demand for goods produced in non-agricultural sectors. Also, food provides nutrition that can serve as the foundation of a healthy nation. Earning a living in agriculture strengthens pur- chasing power, which fuels other markets. Eventually, farming can pave the way for development, including roads, markets, shipping ser- vices, exporting, and many other sectors. Agriculture is an important economic building block. An especially important sector, the agricultural industry, when supported, can con- tribute greatly to sustained economic growth. Agriculture and the economy