The Boards of Directors of AgStar Financial Services, Badgerland Financial and 1^st Farm Credit Services are exploring a merger of the three Farm Credit associations.

"A merger has the potential to help both our members and our organizations continue to grow into the future," says a press release from Badgerland Financial.

Badgerland Financial serves 33 Wisconsin counties in southern Wisconsin. AgStar Financial Services serves 69 counties in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. 1^st Farm Credit serves the northern 42 counties of Illinois.

AgStar Financial Services, Badgerland Financial and 1st Farm Credit Services are exploring a merger.

"Currently, our organizations are early in the process of evaluating this potential collaboration with the guidance and assistance of staff and industry experts," according to the press release. "Once our research is complete, all three Boards of Directors will decide whether to move forward. If a merger is deemed appropriate, as cooperatives owned by our member-borrowers, our stockholders will receive further communications and have the opportunity to vote on the proposal."

Rochelle Ripp Schnadt, a spokesperson for Badgerland Financial said if the board agrees, and members vote to move forward with a merger, "we could be looking at an April 1, 2017 date. This date is preliminary and largely dependent on the other steps involved in the study process."