Financial Assistance Application Process Opens for USDA Farm Loan Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the opening of the financial assistance application process for eligible farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs USDA to provide this assistance. Since the law’s passage, USDA has worked diligently to design the program in accordance with significant stakeholder input. 

USDA Issuing Approximately $270 Million in Pandemic Assistance to Poultry, Livestock Contract Producers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun issuing approximately $270 million in payments to contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry who applied for Pandemic Assistance. Earlier this year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) identified gaps in assistance including in the initial proposal to assist contract growers.

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

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.

Hawaii County Farm Service Agency Emergency Conservation Program Application Deadline Extension Announced

(HILO, Hawaii), November 24, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Hawaii County Executive Director Keisan Tamura announces a deadline extension to file applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), the new deadline is January 11, 2022.  Applications for the Emergency Conservation Program are to address damages directly affected from the wildfire (disaster ID 1785) which occurred in the Waimea area on July 30, 2021. ECP signup will began on September 13, 2021, and will end on January 11, 2022.

USDA Designates 10 Massachusetts Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts.

USDA Announces Availability of Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans for Producers in Seven East Texas Counties Affected by Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Physical loss loans through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

Impacted Area: Texas