On August 7, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, demonstrate USDA’s commitment to improving farm profitability through farm loans designed to provide important financing options used by producers to cover operating expenses and purchase land and equipment.
Farm loan policy changes outlined in the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, are designed to better assist borrowers to make strategic investments in the enhancement or expansion of their agricultural operations.
The three most notable policy changes include:
- Establishing a new low-interest installment set-aside program for financially distressed borrowers. Eligible financially distressed borrowers can defer up to one annual loan installment per qualified loan at a reduced interest rate, providing a simpler and expedited option to resolve financial distress in addition to FSA’s existing loan servicing programs.
- Providing all eligible loan applicants access to flexible repayment terms that can increase profitability and help build working capital reserves and savings. By creating upfront positive cash flow, borrowers can find opportunities in their farm operating plan budgets to include a reasonable margin for increased working capital reserves and savings, including for retirement and education.
- Reducing additional loan security requirements to enable borrowers to leverage equity. This reduces the amount of additional security required for direct farm loans, including reducing the frequency borrowers must use their personal residence as additional collateral for a farm loan.
These changes provide borrowers with the financial freedom and flexibility needed to improve profitability and resilience. They create opportunities for saving towards long-term needs and making strategic investments.
On Wednesday, July 31, the Biden-Harris Administration announced it has issued payments to more than 43,000 eligible applicants under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP), which aims to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination prior to January 2021.
Information about how award decisions were made, the geographic distribution of the awards, and more can be found on the program website at 22007apply.gov.
Anyone who applied but has not received a letter by August 6, 2024, is encouraged to call the DFAP call center at 1-800-721-0970. The call center is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern, excluding Federal holidays.
Applicants can also email info@22007apply.gov (NOTE: This email is for inquiries only. Please do not email documents or other information.)
If you have an established DFAP account, your application status will soon be updated online. Check this website for the update date, and then log-in at https://forms.22007apply.gov. (If you did not apply online, you cannot get your application status online.)
The FSA Program Discovery Tool is now LIVE on the FarmRaise FSA Educational Hub. 👉 Check it out now!
This tool allows users to find information about FSA programs in an easy-to-navigate directory, and filter by type of program, target demographic, and other criteria. Whether you are looking for funding, resources, or programs specific to the livestock or crops that you raise, this tool guides you to the FSA programs that match your goals and needs.
In addition to the FSA Program Discovery Tool, the hub offers how-to videos, visual aids and other interactive tools that educate producers about FSA programs and prepares them for submitting applications for program participation. Visit the FarmRaise FSA Educational Hub today and see the rich assortment of educational tools and resources that are available to cooperators and the agricultural producers you serve!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in partnership with the Cornell Small Farms Program and Rooted has developed the Promise of Urban Agriculture courses to provide critical information for building or supporting successful commercial urban farms. The Promise of Urban Agriculture courses represent an innovative and holistic approach to support robust urban farming businesses and communities by addressing city planners, policymakers, and farmers alike.
The courses, now available on the Cornell Small Farms Program website, educate participants through unique video content and materials about topics including, Accessing Urban Land for Farming, Urban Farm Planning and Management, and Sources of Urban Farm Income. Upon completion of these courses, participants will know the important factors involved in building viable urban farms, understand relevant policy and planning tools, be aware of economic opportunities and risks, and distinguish between effective nonprofit and for-profit business structures.
This project is informed by The Promise of Urban Agriculture, a 2019 national study of commercial farming in urban areas conducted by AMS and the Cornell Small Farms Program. This study interviewed urban growers, planners, and other experts across the United States to investigate how commercial urban agriculture thrives. With this information, the project team created The Promise of Urban Agriculture courses, educating both growers and planners, on urban agriculture and the impact of city plans and policies. The Promise of Urban Agriculture courses are available online at the Cornell Small Farms Program website and are free to those who register for the courses in the first six months (July 22, 2024 – January 24, 2025). Following those six months, participants will be charged a nominal fee.
On August 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is awarding nearly $4.1 million to organizations and outreach efforts to educate underserved, small-scale, and organic producers on farm risk management and climate-smart farm practices. The funding from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides assistance through its Risk Management Education Partnerships for organizations, such as nonprofits and land grant universities, to develop training and resources for producers about risk management options.
This nearly $4.1 million investment builds on the $13 million that RMA has already provided in partnerships since 2021. RMA advertised available funding in January 2024 and reviewed 41 applications.
This year’s partnership projects will reach every state in the nation, including eight state-specific, four regional, and three national programs. Out of the 15 organizations receiving funding, six are new partners and nine are current or former partners, including non-profits and university extensions, among others.
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting your RMA Regional Office.
June Tax Education Webinar
FSA National Outreach Office (OO)
1400 Independence Ave SW Stop 0511 Rm 3086
Washington, DC 20250-0511
FSA Outreach Webpage
Linda Cronin, Outreach Director Email: fsaoutreach@usda.gov
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