Farm Operating Loans
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
Program Accomplishments
There were 14,023 direct and 11,444 guaranteed loans made in fiscal year 2001. Farm operating loans provide credit to: (1) Establish beginning farmers; (2) assist farmers suffering from the price/cost squeeze, which will enable them to remain on the farm and refinance secured and unsecured debts; and (3) expand farming operations.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Loan funds may be used to: (1) Purchase livestock, poultry, fur bearing and other farm animals, fish, and bees; (2) purchase farm equipment; (3) provide operating expenses for farm enterprise; (4) meet family subsistence needs and purchase essential home equipment; (5) refinance secured and unsecured debts subject to certain restrictions; (6) pay property taxes; (7) pay insurance premiums on real estate and personal property; and (8) finance youth projects.
Use restrictions are shown under Applicant Eligibility.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Except for youth loans, individual applicants must: (1) Not have caused a loss to the Agency after April 4, 1996, or received debt forgiveness on more than 3 occasions prior to April 4, 1996 to receive a guaranteed loan; (2) have the necessary education and/or farm experience or training (1 year's complete production and marketing cycle within the last 5 years); (3) do not exceed the limitation on the number of years that assistance may be received; (4) possess the legal capacity to incur the obligations of the loan; (5) be unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere at reasonable rates, and terms; (6) project the ability to repay the loan; (7) be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; (8) after the loan is closed, be an owner/tenant operator of a family farm; and (9) comply with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions of Public Law 99-198 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (FSA); Certain corporations, cooperatives, partnerships and joint operations ("entities") operating family-sized farms are also eligible for farm operating loans.
In brief, entity applicants must meet some of the same eligibility requirements as individual applicants.
In addition, if members, stockholders or shareholders of the entity are related by blood or marriage, at least one stockholder, shareholder partner or joint operator must operate the family-sized farm.
In the case when members are not related by blood or marriage, the majority interest holders in the entity must actually operate the family-sized farm to be eligible.
The entity must be authorized to operate a farm in the State in which it is located.
Limited resource applicants must meet the above requirements.
In addition, they must have a low income and show a need for increased farm income.
In the case of limited resource entities, all the partners, joint operators, members, or stockholders must be citizens and the entity must be the owner-operator of the family farm with at least one partner, joint operator, member or stockholder operating the farm.
Assistance is authorized for eligible applicants in the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and to the extent the Secretary determines it to be feasible and appropriate, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands.
To be eligible to obtain a direct loan, a borrower must agree to abide by any "borrower training" requirements.
Applicants/borrowers requesting guaranteed loan assistance must meet all lender requirements.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Applicants/borrowers are the direct beneficiaries and must meet the applicant eligibility requirements. Families, individuals, and entities who are farmers, ranchers or aquaculture operators are the beneficiaries.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must prove that credit is not available elsewhere for the requested purposes. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None required.
However, an informal conference with the local county office staff is recommended.
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No.
A-102 and E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Applicants file Form FSA 410-1, Application for Direct Loan Assistance, with supporting information, at the local county office of the Farm Service Agency for direct loans or Form FSA 1980-25 with the prospective lender for loan guarantees. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedures
Certification as to eligibility is made by the local county committee (unless that responsibility has been delegated to the Agency credit officials) and an approval determination is made by a FSA official as to loan feasibility and soundness, and whether there is adequate collateral to secure any loan.
Deadlines
None.
Authorization
Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, Subtitle B, Sections 311-317, Public Law 92-419, 7 U.S.C. 1942; Agriculture Act of 1961, Title III, Public Law 87-128.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The loan approval official approves or disapproves a completed application within 60 days on a direct loan application and 30 days on a guaranteed loan application.
Appeals
Applicants for direct and guaranteed loans, may appeal adverse action taken. The applicant is given an opportunity to appeal the decision to the National Appeals Division. The applicant may, in the final step of the appeals process, request a review by the Director, National Appeals Division, Washington, DC. For guaranteed loans, both the lender and the applicant must request the appeal.
Renewals
Applicants may reapply at any time. Applicants denied assistance through the appeal process must establish that substantial change has occurred, since the denial decision.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
The selected criteria identify essential elements considered necessary to compare the needs of the various States, and to make the best use of available program funds. This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Loans are scheduled for repayment over periods up to 7 years, but when justified, loans may be consolidated or rescheduled for up to 15 additional years. The interest rate for guaranteed loans is negotiated between the lender and borrower. If eligible, FSA may provide interest rate assistance on guaranteed loans at the rate of 4 percent. The interest rate for direct loans is determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Various States have USDA certified Agricultural Loan mediation programs, which are designed to assist farm borrowers and their creditors in resolving financial disputes through the process of mediation.
Where a State has such a farm credit mediation program, the lender shall participate in accordance with the rules of that system.
FSA is not bound by any agreements developed in mediation or findings of the mediation unless FSA agrees to them in writing.
Audits
Not applicable.
Records
Records on production, income, expenses during the period of the loan.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-4140-0-3-351; 12-1140-0-1-351.
Obigations
(Direct Loans) FY 07 $643,500,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported. (Unsubsidized Guaranteed Loans) FY 07 $1,025,610,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Direct loans up to $200,000; guaranteed loans up to $731,000 (amount adjusted annually for inflation); direct average loan size approximately $47,365 and guaranteed average loan size approximately $157,339 for fiscal year 2001.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
7 CFR, Part 1941, Subpart A and Part 762. Farm Service Agency Fact Sheets; FSA Handbook 2 FLP; Program Aids 1610 "Farm Service Agency Producer's Guide to Loan Programs"; 1620 "Lender's Guide to FSA Loan Programs"; and 1630 "Rural Youth Loans".
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Contact the appropriate FSA State Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Director, Loan Making Division, Ag Box 0522, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 720-1632.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
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