The Department of Agriculture has announced a new online application for Direct Loan customers. USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small says the agency is trying to make things more convenient for U.S. producers.
“America’s farmers are working incredibly hard to make sure that we have the food and the fiber and the fuel all across the country. As you may know, about 26,000 producers every year submit direct loan applications to USDA, but often farmers end up leaving incomplete applications on the table or withdrawing their direct loan applications. So, we’ve been digging into how to make those loans more accessible to hardworking farmers.”
She says it’s a great option for farmers who might not have the time to stop into their local FSA office.
“So, farmers can still go into an FSA office, talk with their loan officer, and get the assistance they need there. But if they have trouble finding time to do it during business hours or want to have more time to research on their own, now they have a way to apply for a loan online or through their cell phones. So, this is a tool that allows farmers to go to farmers.gov to apply online. It also allows farmers to then track the progress of their loans to see whether and how quickly it will be approved.”
USDA is rolling out the new application site in stages.
“For individual farmers, it is being launched today. Now, it’ll take a little bit of time as FSA works to build out the same opportunity for legal entities or married couples applying jointly, but as of today, an individual farmer is able to apply.”
For more information, visit farmers.gov.
Source: NAFB News Service
