Serving agricultural lenders for more than 30 years
The notification system that protects your agricultural liens.
Central Notification System Inc. (CNS) is a Texas nonprofit corporation formed by agricultural lenders as a vehicle to prenotify buyers of Texas farm products of their outstanding liens. CNS sends a comprehensive list of liens on Texas farm products to a comprehensive list of buyers. This gives you far greater lien preservation coverage in a much more efficient process than you could provide yourself. CNS also provides you monthly reports of Food Security Act of 1985 compliance.
What is CNS?
Central Notification System Inc. (CNS) is a Texas nonprofit corporation that was formed by agricultural lenders as a vehicle to prenotify buyers of Texas farm products of their outstanding liens.
CNS is designed to replace individual lenders' prenotification systems made necessary by the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. Section 1631). This federal law allowed agricultural buyers to take their purchase free of any liens unless the lienholder gave the purchaser the described notice within one year prior to the purchase.
CNS was designed to make the prenotification process easier and more efficient than other available methods of prenotification. Instead of each lender sending each buyer a notice for each lien, CNS sends a comprehensive list of liens to a comprehensive list of buyers. CNS takes the guesswork out of your notification requirements and preserves the lien on your collateral when it is sold.
How does it work?
CNS gathers its data from lending institutions who subscribe to CNS. The debtor and lien information is entered into a database maintained by CNS. CNS compiles that data and publishes this information in the applicable CNS Catalog. Buyers who receive the CNS catalogs are required to jointly pay their purchase to the lender and the producer. This preserves your lien in the proceeds of the sale. CNS subscribers receive monthly reports, which will provide regulators with proof that you are in compliance with the federal Food Security Act.
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Subscribe
Lending institutions subscribe to CNS.
- 2
Submit lien data
Debtor and lien information is entered into a database maintained by CNS.
- 3
CNS publishes the catalog
CNS compiles the data and publishes it in the applicable CNS Catalog.
- 4
Buyers of your collateral jointly pay their payment to you.
This preserves your lien in the proceeds of the sale of your collateral.
- 5
Monthly reports
You receive monthly reports that prove Food Security Act compliance to regulators.
How many buyers are notified?
CNS maintains three catalogs of farm products, each with its own registered buyer list. The buyer lists are updated continuously based on information provided by our subscribers.
Livestock
Approximately 700 buyers
Categories include Cattle and Calves, Horses, and all animal products.
Grains
Approximately 800 buyers
Categories include Wheat, Corn, and all plant products except cotton.
Cotton
Approximately 400 buyers
A nonprofit built by lenders, for lenders
CNS has served agricultural lenders for more than 30 years. It was formed by a group of agricultural lenders who recognized the benefit of cooperating in compliance with the requirements of the federal Food Security Act of 1985. CNS continues to operate as a member-focused Texas nonprofit cooperative today.
Kent Ries, an attorney, serves as President of CNS. The CNS home office is in Amarillo, with a branch office in Austin.
How do I join?
Send us your information below, or call and we will walk you through it.
- The CNS home office is in Amarillo with an Austin branch office. You can obtain detailed information about the program by calling or emailing us.
- There is no specific criteria to be a subscriber institution, other than your status as an agricultural lender.
- You may begin your service at any time, as the monthly fee for the service is based on the volume of your usage in the catalogs.
Are you a buyer of Texas farm products?
As a buyer of Texas farm products, you can ask to be added to the CNS mailing list. Send us your information below, or contact us and we will get you added.
Frequently asked questions
Who can become a subscriber?
There is no specific criteria to be a subscriber institution, other than your status as an agricultural lender.
What does it cost?
The monthly fee for the service is based on the volume of your usage in the catalogs. Contact us and we can give you the details for your institution.
When can I start?
You may begin your service at any time. Reach out and we will get you set up.
What is the Food Security Act notice?
Under the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. Section 1631), an agricultural buyer can take a purchase free of any liens unless the lienholder gave the buyer the described notice within one year prior to the purchase. CNS provides that notice on your behalf.
How do I stay compliant?
CNS subscribers receive monthly reports that provide regulators with proof that you are in compliance with the Food Security Act.
Does this system only cover Texas?
Texas is a direct notification state, so Texas farm products are covered by CNS. It is the location of the farm product that governs whether your bank should use direct notices like CNS or follow a central filing system in another state. The location of the lender, buyer, or borrower does not matter with regards to how you notice buyers of your lien.
Get in touch
You can obtain detailed information about the program by calling or emailing us. You can also send us your information using the form and we will follow up.
Amarillo (Main)
PO Box 3100
Amarillo, Texas 79116
Austin
222 West Ave #1511
Austin, Texas 78701
Addresses are for mailing and contact only.