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Winter months in Delaware can be long and cold, and for several years, farmers have faced propane storage shortages. FSA’s Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides funding for on-farm liquified petroleum tanks.
FSFL low-interest financing can be used to build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment, storage and handling trucks. Liquified petroleum tanks are covered for eligible commodities for the use of fuel for grain dryer equipment.
Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissory note/security agreement, while loans exceeding $100,000 require additional security.
You do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including conventional operations, small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers.
To learn more about FSFLs and how these loans can help with your on-site propane tank storage needs, contact your Delaware USDA Service Center at fsa.usda.gov.
To assist Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) borrowers experiencing financial hardship from the pandemic and other challenges in production agriculture, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering a one-time annual installment payment deferral option. No fees or prepayment penalties apply for borrowers who choose this FSFL loan flexibility option.
Eligible borrowers can request a one-time only annual installment payment deferral for loans having terms of three, five, seven or ten years. The installment deferral option is not available for 12-year term loans.
The FSFL installment payments will remain the same, except for the last year. The original loan interest rate and annual payment due date will remain the same. However, because the installment payment deferral is a one-year loan term extension, the final payment will be higher due to additional accrued interest.
Borrowers interested in exercising the one-time annual installment deferral option should contact FSA to make the request and to obtain, complete and sign required forms.
FSFLs provide low-interest financing for producers to store, handle and transport eligible commodities.
More Information
In addition to offering flexibilities for FSFLs, FSA has also made other flexibilities to help producers impacted by the pandemic, including relaxing the loan-making process for farm operating and ownership loans and implementing the Disaster Set-Aside provision that enables an upcoming installment on a direct loan to be set aside for the year. More information on these flexibilities can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus. For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for specific conservation practices under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Continuous Signup.
In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and to plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. The program’s long-term goal is to re-establish valuable land cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are 10-15 years in length.
Under continuous CRP signup, environmentally sensitive land devoted to certain conservation practices can be enrolled in CRP at any time. Offers for continuous enrollment are not subject to competitive bidding during specific periods. Instead they are automatically accepted provided the land and producer meet certain eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap.
For more information, including a list of acceptable practices, contact your Delaware USDA Service Center at fsa.usda.gov or visit fsa.usda.gov/crp.
The Farm Loan team in Delaware is already working on operating loans for spring 2023 and asks potential borrowers to submit their requests early so they can be timely processed. The farm loan team can help determine which loan programs are best for applicants.
FSA offers a wide range of low-interest loans that can meet the financial needs of any farm operation for just about any purpose. The traditional farm operating and farm ownership loans can help large and small farm operations take advantage of early purchasing discounts for spring inputs as well expenses throughout the year.
Microloans are a simplified loan program that will provide up to $50,000 for both Farm Ownership and Operating Microloans to eligible applicants. These loans, targeted for smaller and non-traditional operations, can be used for operating expenses, starting a new operation, purchasing equipment, and other needs associated with a farming operation. Loans to beginning farmers and members of underserved groups are a priority.
Other types of loans available include:
Marketing Assistance Loans allow producers to use eligible commodities as loan collateral and obtain a 9-month loan while the crop is in storage. These loans provide cash flow to the producer and allow them to market the crop when prices may be more advantageous.
Farm Storage Facility Loans can be used to build permanent structures used to store eligible commodities, for storage and handling trucks, or portable or permanent handling equipment. A variety of structures are eligible under this loan, including bunker silos, grain bins, hay storage structures, and refrigerated structures for vegetables and fruit. A producer may borrow up to $500,000 per loan.
Ask USDA is now available as a tool for FSA customers to ask questions about FSA programs and services.
Ask USDA, available at ask.usda.gov is similar to AskFSA, which was decommissioned Sept. 21, but it also provides information for all USDA programs. Ask USDA allows USDA customers to search for and read answers about FSA programs and services in the same location as they read about other USDA programs and services.
Customers are able to submit questions through email, chat, and phone if they need more information. This improved customer service approach provides a one-stop shopping experience that covers all of USDA’s many programs.
We would like to introduce to you our new program technician, Joshua (Josh) Coffin. Josh is employed in our Kent County office. He was born and raised in Kent County and attended Wilmington University, where he received his bachelor's degree in psychology. He currently resides in Dover with his soon-to-be-wife, daughter, and black lab.
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| 90-Day Treasury Bill |
2.625% |
| Farm Operating Loans — Direct |
3.875% |
| Farm Ownership Loans — Direct |
4.125% |
| Farm Ownership Loans — Direct Down Payment, Beginning Farmer or Rancher |
1.500% |
| Emergency Loans |
3.750% |
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Farm Storage Facility Loans (7 years)
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3.375% |
| October 31 |
Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) & Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) application deadline for the 2022 program year (10/1/21 - 9/30/2022) |
| November 7 |
County Committee Election Ballots mailed |
| November 20 |
Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) application closing deadline for perennial fruits and vegetables (apples, blueberries & peaches) |
| December 9 |
Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) deadline to purchase coverage |
| December 15 |
Small grain reporting deadline to FSA |
| March 15 |
ARC/PLC election and enrollment deadline |
| May 15 |
Peas and potato reporting deadline to FSA |
| July 15 |
Spring planted crop reporting deadline to FSA |
| August 15 |
FCIC processing beans crop reporting deadline to FSA |
| **Any crops planted after the deadline have 15 calendar days from the day of planting to report to the county office. |
| USDA Offices Closed |
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| Friday, November 11, 2022 |
Veterans Day |
| Thursday, November 24, 2022 |
Thanksgiving Day |
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