Buscar

Translate

Facts About Getting USDA Farm Loans

By Jaclyn Hurley


As a farmer, you can apply for various kinds of agricultural loans but they need to know how to obtain one. To obtain a farmer loan from an agency, you may be required to own a land or use the money from the loan to purchase land. The US Department of Agriculture, abbreviated a USDA is in charge of developing and executing federal government policy on forestry, food and agriculture. You can get a loan from the Farm Service Agency of this department.

USDA farm loans can help you improve your existing farmland, finance closing costs, build farm structures, complete conservation projects or purchase new land. If you apply for a farm ownership loan, you will be expected to pay it within a time frame of less than 40 years. If you get a farmland operating loan, you will be expected to pay it within a time frame of less than seven years.

The FSA also offers loan guarantees through its farm loan program. This allows people who are unable to get financing elsewhere to purchase, sustain or expand their farms. Loan officers from the Farm Service Agency often assist farmers to apply for loans. Applicants should seek the assistance of business advisers as they develop a business plan which they need to submit to the lender.

Your business plan should be detailed and should show how your cash flow will look in the future. This will help your lender know the amount of money you need and how much you can be able to pay back. To create a well projected business plan, you can read through a copy of Business Plans for Agricultural Producers.

The situations of farmers differ and this means that the process you will follow when applying for funding may not be similar to the one followed by other ranchers or farmers. Prior to applying for a loan, you should start by determining the type of funding you require. You may opt for different kinds of funding if you want to use the funds for different purposes.

Farmers who need to purchase or enlarge their farms or meet the costs of water and soil conservation can apply for farm ownership loans. Those who need to purchase equipment or livestock or meet the costs of minor repairs can get a farm operating loan. Ranchers and farmers who have suffered huge losses as a result of natural disasters that affected their farming operations can get an emergency loan.

You can also borrow a conservation loan if you have any approved conservation plan that you want to complete. Once you get a loan from the USDA, you will be required to pay back the principal alongside the interest. The interest rate and the loan term are the factors that determine the total amount you have to pay. The interest rate can be variable or fixed.

The USDA also has a microloan program. With this program, disadvantaged producers, veterans and small scale farmers can borrow 35,000 dollars or less. This is a good financing option if you are starting out. It will provide you with the funding you need to start profitable farming operations and increase your equity. Once you repay a microloan, you can qualify for commercial credit that can help you expand your operations.




About the Author:



 
ITS ALL ABOUT Finance © 2012