In this issue, read about how California pistachio growers are looking to the future to solve today’s problems. Learn the lifecycle of a loan and how to present your project to your lender. Also read Dr. Kohl's article about farms and ranches that are generating a profit with minimal losses vs those with mounting losses.

In this issue, read about what some Farm Credit West customers are doing to manage farm labor shortages and housing costs in Ventura County. Also, with changes to the tax code coming, learn four ways to reduce your 2017 tax bill.

In this issue, read about how one Arizona rancher splits time between the Air National Guard and his small cattle ranch. Next, learn why you shouldn't let tax law uncertainty delay your succession planning. We also share the results of the Farm Credit West director and nominating committee elections!

In this issue, read about what one Northern California family is doing to share the good news about farming. Also, read up on how to prepare for a commodity market downturn and understand what benchmarking is and why it is so important. We also share information on the 2017 Director and Nominating Committee Elections.

Amidst our celebration of our centennial anniversary, Farm Credit West remains committed to meeting the demands of the future. In this issue, we provide updates on the financial health of the association, describe the role of the Local Advisory Committee, and provide tips on how to protect your financial identity against Cybercrime. We provide an in-depth interview with Diana Clark, and get her perspective on changes in the Almond industry.

In this issue, we explore how Farm Credit West, together with our customers, has achieved success in tumultuous times. We explore how the Farm Credit system is structured, how to mitigate the risk of drought in your operations, and tips for navigating the farm loan process for the first time. We also provide a snapshot of how Farm Credit West is involved in your communities, from supporting veterans to volunteering at a local school’s Farm Day.

On July 17, the Farm Credit system celebrated their 100 year anniversary. In this issue of Spotlight, we reflect our success, and what our history means for you, our customer owners. We provide a synopsis of how Farm Credit celebrated their centennial both locally and in Washington D.C. We also reflect on how the Farm Credit system has, and continues to be, a critical and reliable source of financing for the American Farmer.