Microloans for Beginning Farmers; Congress Wraps Up

Posted on December 23, 2014 by in Beginning Farmers, Financing // 0 Comments

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS

It’s a Wrap—This Congress is Over—Final Bills and Letters

Both the House and Senate have now finished, bringing this Congress to a close. A new Congress — the 114th — begins in January. Take a look at the government spending and tax subsidy bills, as well as three congressional letters to USDA Secretary
Tom Vilsack, in this this summary of some important end of
session activity…

SPECIAL REPORT

Farm Microloans Big in 2014

USDA’s Farm Service Agency has been a long-standing resource
to new farmers. Last year, FSA launched a new streamlined farm loan program to specifically target the credit needs of smaller
farms – including those just starting out and those selling to local and regional markets. This microloan program officially launched in January of 2013, and has made over 8,400 loans in every state throughout the country, freeing up approximately $161 million in financing to new, minority, and small farmers…