MetLife agribusiness

NEW YORK-BASED MetLife said it issued more than $1.5bn in agricultural commitments last year. The insurer’s specialist unit, MetLife Agricultural Investments, provides mortgage loans on farms, ranches, timberland and agribusiness facilities throughout the US. In 2009, it gave more than 450 timberland, livestock and farm operation- related loans, despite the industry seeing stricter credit requirements and a decline in prices and real estate values. “MetLife has remained a strong player in the agricultural lending industry, despite a difficult economic environment,” Dan O’Neill, managing director of MetLife Agricultural Investments, said. Metlife Agricultural Investments has four offices across the US; in California, Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois.