The Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation is an integral part of the Farm Credit System, a leading provider of loans, leases and services to rural communities and U.S. agriculture. The Farm Credit System is a Government Sponsored Enterprise created in 1916 by an act of Congress, dedicated to assuring a steady source of financing to qualified borrowers. Per the USDA the System funds approximately 40% of all U.S. farm business debt. The Funding Corporation provides consulting, accounting, and financial reporting services to the System, including oversight of the System’s Data Warehouse and Financial Reporting. These services include the preparation of the System’s annual and quarterly combined financial statements. The Funding Corporation also manages the System’s investor relations program, and manages rating agency relationships. Finally, as the Farm Credit System’s fiscal agent, the Funding Corporation is responsible for financing the System’s loans, leases and operations via the issuance of highly rated notes and bonds. These securities are issued through a select group of dealers who distribute them to domestic and world-wide investors.