2008 National Training for FLP is a Success
The 2008 National Training for Farm Loan Programs took place in Nashville, Tenn., from Dec. 2, 2008 through Dec. 5, 2008. More than 275 FSA employees attended the training, which focused on requirements for implementing the 2008 Farm Bill and on FLPs’ new marketing campaign. This year’s training consisted of a general session for all participants on the first and last day. It also included two full days of breakout sessions addressing issues related to loan making, loan servicing and program development. A fourth breakout session was dedicated solely to the FLP marketing initiative. Carolyn Cooksie, Deputy Administrator for FLP, hosted the event.
Cooksie opened the general session and discussed the week's objectives. Dr. Jamie Jenkins, Tennessee FSA State Executive Director, welcomed everyone to Nashville and highlighted Tennessee's many agricultural products and acknowledged the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy.
FSA Administrator Teresa Lasseter noted FLPs’ recent accomplishments. She mentioned that FLP has provided record levels of assistance to beginning and minority farmers, in addition to achieving dramatic improvement in the timeliness of direct loan processing. Lasseter also discussed the overall strength of the loan portfolio, noting that loss and delinquency rates are at all time lows. Lasseter closed her discussion by thanking the employees for their outstanding work during her tenure as administrator.
Lasseter and Cooksie presided over the awards ceremony, congratulating FLP employees for their outstanding performance during the past year. In fiscal year 2008, 23 states met all eight FLP goals, and four states received special recognition for their accomplishments in loan making and loan servicing. The complete list of award winners is at the end of this article.
In addition, Debbie Dufour, Maine Farm Loan Chief, and Mitch Whittle, Kentucky Farm Loan Chief, were recognized for completing the Farm Loan Chief Mentoring Program. Kelly Losey, from the Michigan State Office, was recognized for designing the winning poster in the “FSA’s Got Talent!” poster contest.
Steve Connelly, Deputy Administrator for Field Operations, addressed field office issues. Dave Lavway, acting Deputy Administrator for Management, and Dennis Taitano, Director of Budget and Finance, addressed various administrative and managerial issues as well as the budget outlook. John Johnson, Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, provided an in-depth discussion of farm program changes resulting from the 2008 Farm Bill.
David Grahn, Office of the General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, Rural Development, and Stephanie Masker, Office of the General Counsel, Attorney-Advisor, provided an update on litigation impacting FLP and reviewed document retention requirements.
The FLP Division Directors provided updates during the general session and held two days of breakout sessions. Jim Radintz addressed Loan Making issues; Veldon Hall discussed Loan Servicing and Property Management Division issues; and Nancy New reviewed Program Development and Economic Enhancement Division topics.
Frank Rodgers, Tennessee Farm Loan Chief, and Lynn Voigt, Oregon Farm Loan Chief, provided an overview of the FLP Outcome Measurement initiative and accomplishments to date, which included development of a new mission statement for FLP and outcome measures.
Chris Beyerhelm, Assistant Deputy Administrator for FLP, discussed FLPs’ new marketing plan, identified the reasons for undertaking the initiative and highlighted actions necessary to help ensure customer needs are met. Beyerhelm also provided participants with an update on the Knowledge Bank Organizational Assessment.
A speech by Dr. Edmond Seifried was a highlight of the training. Seifried, a professor of economics and business at Lafayette College in Lafayette, Pa., provided a highly informative presentation entitled "2009: A Slow Down, Recession, or Worse." He addressed a broad range of topics, including an overview of key economic indicators and how to interpret them; the housing market crisis and how it happened; interest rate outlook; the emergence of hyper oil prices as a major determinant of economic growth; and an economic outlook for the overall U.S. economy and the agricultural sector.
The following awards were presented:
• Nebraska Farm Loan Programs was recognized for outstanding efficiency and productivity by achieving the highest dollar amount and number of direct loans obligated, per 1165 employee, while significantly exceeding all direct loan making goals.
• Ohio Farm Loan Programs was recognized for issuing the highest number of
guaranteed loans nationally, per 1165 employee, in fiscal year 2008, while maintaining a guaranteed delinquency rate below the national average.
• Wyoming Farm Loan Programs was recognized for outstanding performance in 2008 for maintaining a low direct loan delinquency rate of 5.8 percent while reducing the direct loan loss rate to zero percent for a combined improvement of 103 percent from the previous year.
• South Carolina Farm Loan Programs was recognized for outstanding performance during 2008 for maintaining a very low guaranteed loan delinquency rate of 0.04 percent with a guaranteed loan loss rate of 0.02 percent, a combined improvement of 181 percent from the previous year.
• To the Farm Loan Programs staff in each of the following States for meeting all eight of the fiscal year 2008 Farm Loan Program goals:
CALIFORNIA NEW JERSEY COLORADO NORTH DAKOTA GEORGIA OHIO ILLINOIS OREGON INDIANA PENNSYLVANIA IOWA SOUTH DAKOTA KANSAS UTAH KENTUCKY WASHINGTON LOUISIANA WEST VIRGINIA MICHIGAN WISCONSIN MINNESOTA WYOMING NEBRASKA
