(NAFB) — Lawmakers are urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to make temporary flexibilities on Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans permanent for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a bipartisan letter signed by farm-state Senators, they urge Perdue to “take action to ensure the continuity of our country’s food supply and support rural areas during the coronavirus.” The senators seek …
Farmers Turning to Riskier Loans to Stay in Business
(NAFB) — Weather challenges, trade tensions, and long-term financial struggles continue to make life difficult in the U.S. agricultural sector. The Wall Street Journal says those headwinds are forcing an increasing number of farmers and ranchers to take on high-interest loans from lenders outside of the ag sector, just to stay in business. The more traditional farm banks are offering …
Deadline Approaching in Florida for SBA Working Capital Loans
ATLANTA (SBA)- The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations that Aug. 12 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans in Florida as a result of Hurricane Michael on Oct. 9 – 11, 2018. This disaster declaration includes the following counties: Baker, Columbia, …
Governor Ron DeSantis Awards First Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan for Agricultural Producers Following Hurricane Michael
(TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Office of Governor): Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Department of Economic Opportunity has awarded the first Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan for agricultural producers following Hurricane Michael to John P. Jordan Farm in Bascom, Florida. The Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan was activated to provide relief to Florida farmers whose crops were damaged by the storm. “Hurricane …
Ag Lenders Worried About Farmers
Depressed commodity prices, poor weather, and trade war ramifications aren’t just worrying for the nation’s farmers. The second quarter Agriculture Credit Conditions Survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis says ag bankers are worried as well. The report, which covers April through June, says farm income, spending on capital equipment, and household purchases all decreased. Nearly half of the …
Large Livestock Loan Drive Rise in Farm Lending
The Federal Reserve’s Agricultural Finance Databook says lending activity in the agricultural sector increased slightly in the second quarter of 2018. The overall number of non-real estate farm loans was roughly two percent higher than at the same time in 2017. The slight increase was supported primarily by larger loans for livestock. In the short term, The Kansas City Fed …
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available in Georgia
Disaster Loans Available in Georgia Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration for March Freeze The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations located in Georgia as a result of the freeze on March 8-23, 2018. The loans are available in …
Ag Bankers Report Shows Increase in Lending
Agricultural lending from U.S. banks increased nearly six percent in 2017, according to a new report by the American Bankers Association. Ag lending increased $5.9 billion to $106 billion last year from farm banks, which are defined as banks whose ratio of domestic farm loans to total domestic loans is greater than or equal to the industry average. Total farm …