Farm Service Agency Loans

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Taylor in Beginning Farmers, Farming Resources, Financing, Funding // 0 Comments

New on the National Farmers Union (NFU) Beginning Farmer Forum: Farm Service Agency Loans

Beginning farmers face high upfront costs but may not yet have the capital to pay for them, often making loans a necessity. However, without collateral to offer or the ability to prove future profitability, they may have a hard time acquiring a traditional loan.

That’s where the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) comes in. Through their direct and guaranteed loan programs, FSA helps beginning producers access loans so they can purchase farmland, update their facilities, pay for inputs, and afford other expenses keep them competitive and profitable.

Check out this post about Farm Service Agency Loans on the NFU Beginning Farmer Column. You can also join the Beginning Farmer Forum for more on the conversation!

By providing access to credit, Farm Service Agency Loans offer opportunities to family-sized farmers and ranchers to:

Start, improve, expand, transition, market, and strengthen family farming and ranching operations
Beginning farmers, racial and ethnic minority farmers and women producers
Value-added, direct sale, organic, and specialty crop operations
Young People actively involved in agricultural youth organizations needing financial assistance for income-producing, educational, agricultural projects
Urban farmers and roof-top producers
Operations using alternative farming methods such as hydroponics, aeroponics, vertical farming, and freight container farming

The Beginning Farmer Forum is presented by the National Farmers Union (NFU). NFU represents family farmers, fishers and ranchers across the country, with formally organized divisions in 33 states. The key to the success and credibility of the organization has been Farmers Union’s grassroots structure in which policy positions are initiated locally. The policy process includes the presentation of resolutions by individuals, followed by possible adoption of the resolutions at the local, state and national levels. Members and staff of the Farmers Union advocate these policy positions nationwide.

National Farmers Union believes that good opportunities in production agriculture are the foundation of strong farm and ranch families, and strong farm and ranch families are the basis for thriving rural communities. Vibrant rural communities, in turn, are vital to the health, security and economic well-being of our entire national economy.