U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas Farm Service Agency

PO Box 2900

College Station, Texas - 77841

(Marlin, TX), February 26, 2013 -USDA Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loan Manager, Terri Trevino, announced that FSA will discuss the new Microloan program at a workshop sponsored by the Travis County AgriLife Extension Service in Austin on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. The workshop will focus on FSA's new Microloan Program that features a simpler and more flexible application process.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Travis County East Service Center located at 6011 Blue Buff Road in Austin.

The cost of the workshop is $15 and participants can register online at the following AgriLife Extension Conference Services website: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/events/details.cfm?id=1226. Light refreshments will be served at the workshop.

The workshop will cover the new Microloan program that expands access to credit for small farmers and ranchers, beginning and socially disadvantaged producers and military veterans who seek to begin, enhance or expand agricultural operations. Microloans feature a simpler application process and require less paperwork than traditional operating loans. This loan program is useful to specialty crop producers and operators of community supported agriculture (CSA). Eligible applicants can apply for a maximum loan amount of $35,000.

Microloan funds can be used for initial start-up expenses such as hoop houses to extend the growing season, essential tools, irrigation, delivery vehicles, and annual expenses such as seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents, marketing, and distribution expenses.

"Unfortunately, small farmers often have no other option but to rely on credit cards and personal loans that carry high interest rates to finance their agricultural operations," said Trevino. "The new Microloan program will serve as a valuable alternative because of the low interest rates and flexible application process. I strongly encourage all producers who are considering applying for an FSA farm loan to make plans to attend the workshop."

For more information about the workshop, please contact Terri Trevino at 254-883-5577, extension 2 or terri.trevino@tx.usda.gov.

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