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COLUMBUS, Ohio - A total of 1,671 farmers in 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties will receive interest rate reductions on their spring operating loans from the Ohio Treasurer’s Agricultural Linked Deposit program.

“We have been working hard to get the word out about this important program,” said State Treasurer Richard Cordray. “In recent years, participation had fallen off in some parts of Ohio, but we think it is important for farmers all over the state to receive the support that the Ag-Link program provides. Last year, 12 counties didn’t submit any applications, and I’m glad to be able to say that we have gotten that number down to just one in 2008.” The last time the Treasury received applications from this many counties was 1999, noted Cordray.

The Treasury approved $125 million in requests from farmers and their lenders this year, the maximum allowed by law. Funds will be invested in local banks around Ohio and through the Farm Credit System, which will then loan the money to participating farms with a 2.15 percent interest rate reduction.

Applications were approved for 1,671 agricultural concerns of all types, from crops and livestock to dairy, produce, nurseries and tobacco. Honorably discharged veterans and farmers whose operations were damaged by last year’s severe flooding were given preference. The largest farm whose application was approved is almost 6,200 acres, and the average approved farm is 745 acres.

“We’ve been talking all year with farmers and lenders alike about this program, and have worked directly with the Farm Union and the Farm Bureau. It is gratifying to see that those efforts have paid off in the form of increased variety among the program participants.” The Treasury received 2,686 applications requesting more than $209 million, said Cordray.

Cordray said that applicants who were not approved for this year’s Agricultural Linked Deposit program may still apply for the Ohio Treasury’s GrowNOW linked deposit program. GrowNOW is similar to the Agricultural Linked Deposit program, and provides a 3 percent interest rate reduction to Ohio small businesses. Many farms may qualify for both.

Click here to see the list of awards by county.

For more information, visit www.OhioTreasurer.gov.

• 2686 Applications were received. 1,671, or more than 62 percent, were approved.

• In 2007, applications were received from 76 of Ohio’s 88 counties. This year, 87 counties submitted applications, and at least one from each was approved.

• 2,124 applications were from full-time farmers, 562 from part-time farmers.

• The most applications came from Putnam, Hancock, and Seneca counties, and the most approved applications were from these counties as well: 111, 100 and 78, respectively.

• Putnam County’s 111 approved applications were not only the most in any Ohio county, but also represented the largest amount of money, $8,326,595.

• Belmont, Carroll, Gallia, Hocking, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mahoning, Portage, Summit and Tuscarawas counties each submitted only one application. All were approved.

• Every application was approved from 20 counties: Adams, Ashtabula, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Gallia, Hamilton, Harrison, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mahoning, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Pike, Portage, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Vinton.

• 551 of the 576 first-time applicants were approved for funding.

• The average interest rate for the approved farmers’ loans was 6.862 percent before the Ag-Link reduction of 2.15 percent. After the reduction, these farmers will be able to borrow at an average of 4.712 percent.

• The Agricultural Linked Deposit Program was created in 1985 by State Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow.