Farm service agency (FSA) Loans
Direct Operating Loans
These loans can be used for general farm operating expenses, such as:
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Livestock purchases
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Small facility repairs
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Farm equipment
Microloans
These small loans involve less paperwork, and are targeted for small or beginning farmers. They can be used for:
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Operating Costs
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Specialty crops
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Non-traditional operations
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Beginning farmers
Direct Farm Ownership Loans
Farm ownership loans can be used for:
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Purchasing new or additional farmland
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Building or repairing buildings
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Soil and water conservation
Guaranteed Loans
The FSA allows traditional lenders (i.e. banks) to lend to family farmers that do not qualify for typical commercial loans. They protect the lender from loss and allow the farmer to expand and maintain their operation.
Youth Loans
Youth in 4-H, FFA, or other organizations can receive an FSA loan for projects that are:
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Agriculture related
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Income producing
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Educational
Minority and Women Farmers and Ranchers Loans
A portion of FSA farm ownership and operating loans are directed towards socially disadvantaged farmers (women and racial/ethnic minorities). Loans can be used for:
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Purchasing or enlarging farmland
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Construction of buildings
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Purchasing equipment or livestock
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Soil and water conservation
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Debt refinancing
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loans
These specialty loans are targeted towards farmers with less than ten years of experience. They can receive microloans or full scale loans.
Emergency Loans
Farmers can recover production and physical losses caused by disaster like:
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Drought
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Quarantine
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Flooding
Native American Tribal Loans
These loans are designated specifically for American Indian/Alaska Natives to:
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Acquire land within a reservation
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Increase current farming operations
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Improve financial prospects
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Improve farm production
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Preserve cultural farmland
To learn more about FSA Loans:
Contact your local office to learn about eligibility, deadlines, etc.