A3B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 26,2002
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Farm Service Agency
Provides Loans For Socially
Disadvantaged Persons
WASHINGTON, D.C. The
USDA’s Farm Service Agency
(FSA) can make and guarantee
loans to socially disadvantaged
applicants to buy and operate
family-size farms and ranches.
Funds specifically for these loans
are reserved each year.
A socially disadvantaged farm
er is one of a group whose mem
bers have been subjected to ra
cial, ethnic, or gender prejudice
because of their identity as mem
bers of the group without regard
to their individual qualities. For
purposes of this program, socially
disadvantaged groups are
women, African Americans,
American Indians and Alaskan
Natives, Hispanics, and Asians
and Pacific Islanders.
Direct loans are made to appli
cants by FSA and include both
farm operating and farm owner
ship loans.
Guaranteed loans also may be
made for ownership or operating
purposes, and may be made by
any lending institution subject to
Federal or State supervision
(banks, savings and loans, insur
ance companies and units of the
Farm Credit system). Typically,
FSA guarantees 90 or 95 percent
of a loan against any loss that
might be incurred if the loan
fails.
Farm ownership loan funds
may be used to purchase or en
large a farm, purchase easements
or rights of way needed in the
farm’s operation, erect or im
prove buildings such as a dwell
ing or bam, promote soil and
water conservation and develop
ment, and pay closing costs.
Farm operating loan funds
may be used to purchase live
stock, poultry, farm and home
equipment, feed, seed, fuel, fertil
izer, chemicals, hail and other
crop insurance, food, clothing,
medical care, and hired labor.
Funds also may be used to install
or improve water systems for
home use, livestock or irrigation,
and other improvements.
Individuals, partnerships, joint
operations, corpora
tions, and cooperatives
primarily and directly I
engaged in farming
and ranching on fami
ly-size operations may
apply. A family-size
farm is considered to be one that
a family can operate and manage
itself.
In addition to being members
of a socially disadvantaged
group, individual applicants
under this program must meet all
requirements for FSA’s regular
farm loan program assistance. To
be eligible, an applicant must,
among other requirements:
• Have a satisfactory history
of meeting credit obligations;
• Have sufficient education,
training, or at least one year’s ex
perience in managing or operat
ing a farm or ranch within the
last five years for an operating
loan, or, for an ownership loan,
have three years experience in
operating a farm or ranch;
• Be a citizen of the U.S. (or a
legal resident alien);
• Be unable to obtain credit
elsewhere at reasonable rates and
terms to meet actual needs;
• Possess the legal capacity to
incur the obligations of the loan.
In the case of corporations, co
operatives, joint operations, or
partnerships, the stockholders,
members, or partners holding a
majority interest must meet these
same eligibility requirements.
The borrowing entity must be au
thorized to operate a farm or
ranch in the state where the actu
al operation is located. In addi
tion, the entity must be owned by
U.S. citizens or legal resident
aliens, and the socially disadvan
taged members must hold a ma
jority interest in the entity.
If the individuals holding a
majority interest in the entity are
related by blood or marriage, at
least one stockholder, member, or
partner must operate the family
farm or ranch. If they are not re
lated by blood or marriage, those
holding a majority interest must
operate the farm or ranch.
Repayment terms for direct
operating loans depend on the
collateral securing the loan and
usually run from one to seven
years. Repayment terms for di
rect ownership loans can be as
National Junior Summer Spectacular
Set July 3-6 In Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Get
ready for the fifth annual Nation
al Junior Summer Spectacular in
Louisville, Ky., July 3-6.
NJSA members from across
the country will be joining to
gether at the Kentucky Expo
Center in Louisville for one of the
largest youth purebred gilt shows
in the world.
In addition to the gilt show,
educational contests will be held
for all members of the National
Junior Swine Association
(NJSA). Junior members will
have the opportunity to compete
for top honors, both in and out of
the show ring. Contestants can
participate in a photography con
test and a speech contest in addi
tion to the four other contests of
fered at the Spectacular a
breeding gilt show, a showman
ship contest, a judging contest
and a Skillathon. The four main
contests will contribute points to
ward the sweepstakes contest.
Gilts may begin arriving at the
Kentucky Expo Center after S
p.m. on Tuesday, July 2. All gilts
must be in place by noon on
Wednesday, July 3. Contest reg
istration and junior gilt show
check-in will take place from 8
a.m.-noon on Wednesday. All
photography contest entries must
long as 40 years. Guaranteed
loan terms are set by the lender.
• Interest rates for guaranteed
loans are established by the lend
er.
• Guaranteed loan applica
tions are made with the lender.
In cases where a lender is not
known to an applicant, personnel
at the county offices will help
find one and will help with an
application, either for a di
rect loan or a guaranteed
loan
Persons who think they
might be eligible are urged
to contact their Farm Serv
ice Agency County Office.
be checked in by noon. The
speech contest will begin at 2
p.m. for the junior, intermediate
and senior divisions.
On Thursday, exhibitors can
participate in showmanship at 8
a.m. At 1 p.m., the speech contest
results will be announced and the
winning speeches will be pres
ented in the show ring. At 1:30
p.m., the breeding gilt show will
begin.
Friday morning, participants
can compete in a Skillathon from
8 a.m.-noon. Then, juniors will
participate in a judging contest at
1 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., all NJSA
members will be treated to a
pizza party during the NJSA an
nual meeting. At this meeting,
candidates will be elected to the
NJSA board of directors and
awards will'be presented to the
winners in the photography con
test, judging contest and Skilla
thon.
This exciting event will con*
elude on Saturday morning with
a 7 a.m. breakfast and a 7:30 a.m.
Inspiration Service with Ray Per
ryman. At 8:15 a.m., the awards
will be presented to the outstand
ing winners of the sweepstakes
contest. Then, at 9 a.m., the
NJSA will hold its annual cal
endar auction to raise money for
the NJSA Scholarship Fund.
After the calendar auction, jun-
Foraging Around, the official publication of the Pennsylvania Forage and
Grassland Council, scheduled February 9 in Lancaster Farming, is scheduled to
include a feature on rotational grazing for poultry in addition to
work by other leading graziers. A preview and schedule of the ||/
upcoming Pennsylvania Forage and Grazing Conference is also
scheduled, in addition to news and views of the Council.
iors can get ready to bid on their
favorite gilts and boars from the
Summer Type Conference show
held in conjunction with the Na
tional Junior Summer Spectac
ular.
Exhibitors and contestants
must be members of the NJSA,
and must be 21 years or younger
as of Jan. 1, 2002, to compete in
the activities. NJSA memberships
can be made via the NSR Web
site at www.nationalswine.
com, under Junior Association/
Membership Application, or by
calling the NSR office at (765)
463-3594.
Registered Duroc, Hampshire,
Landrace and Yorkshire gUts are
eligible for the Breeding Gilt
Show. These gilts must be far
rowed on or after Dec. 1, 2001.
All gilts must be transferred or
registered in the junior member’s
name, farm name or family name
60 days prior to the date of the
show.
Each exhibitor is limited to two
gilts. Entries are due May 31,
2002. For entries or more inform
ation about the National Junior
Summer Spectacular, contact the
National Swine Registry, do
Jennifer Shike, P.O. Box 2417,
West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417,
access the Internet at www.na
tionalswine.com, or call (765)
463-3594.