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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently opened 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 Announces Availability of Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans for Kentucky Producers Affected by Natural Disasters

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: Kentucky

Biden Administration Appoints Jim Barber to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in New York

Contact:
FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021— The Biden Administration recently appointed Jim Barber as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA New York Farm Service Agency (FSA). Barber joined the New York FSA team on Dec. 13, 2021. 

USDA Offers Disaster Program Flexibilities for Flood-Impacted Producers in the Northeast

Bangor, ME Aug. 15, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) have authorized policy flexibilities for key disaster assistance programs and crop insurance to aid Northeast agricultural operations that have been significantly impacted by recent flooding in 2023.   

USDA Designates 31 New York Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas; 8 Pennsylvania Counties as Contiguous

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.