USDA Now Accepting Applications for Farm Loans Online

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan.

USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs to Increase Equity

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating its farm loan programs to better support current borrowers, including historically underserved producers. These improvements are part of USDA’s commitment to increase equity in all programs, including farm loans that provide important access to capital for covering operating expenses and purchasing land and equipment.    

USDA Designates Multiple Iowa Counties as Disaster Areas Due to Drought

A Secretarial Disaster Designation has been issued for three (3) counties in Iowa as primary disaster areas for drought. Additionally, fifteen (15) Iowa counties are contiguous to the disaster area. This determination will allow the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Loans to be made available to eligible family farmers with qualifying production and physical losses in the primary and the contiguous counties to the declared disaster area.

New Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to Meet March 23-24

Contact:
FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host the first public meeting of the inaugural Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on March 23-24, 2022.  The public – including urban producers– is encouraged to attend.      

Missouri Disaster Designation Impacts Four Iowa Counties

A Secretarial Disaster Designation has been issued for 10 counties in Missouri as primary disaster areas due to drought. Additionally, four (4) Iowa counties are contiguous to the disaster area. This determination will allow the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Loans to be made available to eligible family farmers with qualifying production and physical losses in the primary and the contiguous counties to the declared disaster area.

Secretarial Declaration Number: S5426
Emergency Loan Application Deadline: February 5, 2024

USDA Offers Annual Installment Deferral Option for Farm Storage Facility Loan Borrowers

Contact:
FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2020 – 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.