Emergency Loans
FSA provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters, or quarantine. The emergency loan program is designed to assist farming operations by improving their financial viability which will allow them to return to private sources of credit as soon as possible.
General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
10.404
Federal Agency/Office
Farm Service Agency, Department of Agriculture
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
E - Direct Loans
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113-79, 7 U.S.C. 1961, Statute 128,838
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, Subtitle C, Sections 321-330, Public Law 92-419, 7 U.S.C. 1961- 1984; Public Law 96-438; Public Law 97-35; Public Law 98-258; Public Law 99-198; Public Law 100-233; Public Law 100-387; Public Law 101-624.
Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-334
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
General Eligibility for Emergency Loans Emergency loans may be made to farmers and ranchers who: I. Own or operate land located in a county declared by the President or designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as a primary disaster area or quarantine area. All counties contiguous to the declared, designated, or quarantined primary counties also are eligible for emergency loans. A disaster designation by the FSA Administrator authorizes emergency loan assistance for physical losses only in the designated and contiguous counties; II. Are established family farm operators and have sufficient farming or ranching experience; III. Are citizens or permanent residents of the United States; IV. Have suffered at least a 30 percent loss in crop production or a physical loss to livestock, livestock products, real estate, or chattel property; V. Have an acceptable credit history; VI. Are unable to receive credit from commercial sources; VII. Can provide collateral to secure the loan; and VIII. Have repayment ability
Beneficiary Eligibility
Individual/Entity, Socially Disadvantaged (SDA)/Non-SDA; SDA applicant or farmer is an individual or entity who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. SDA group is a group whose members have been subject to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups consist of: American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and women.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must establish that substantial physical property damage and/or severe production losses, caused by the designated natural disaster or quarantine area, has occurred. To qualify for loss loans, the applicant must be unable to get credit elsewhere and demonstrate repayment ability on the loan. For production loss loans, applicants must demonstrate a 30 percent loss in a single farming enterprise. Applicants may receive loans up to 100 percent of production or physical losses. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. No loan will be made until all Federal and state statutory and regulatory environmental requirements have been complied with.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Application Form FSA 2001 provided by the Farm Service Agency must be presented, with supporting information, to the FSA county office serving the applicant's county. FSA personnel assist applicants in completing their application forms. Applications must be submitted no later than 8 months from when the disaster or quarantine area is declared or designated.
Award Procedure
If an emergency loan is approved, FSA will notify the applicant in writing of: o the approved use of loan funds o the interest rate o the term of the loan o the collateral that will be required to pledge to secure the loan o when the money is expected to be available o any pre-loan closing requirements o Responsibilities as an FSA direct loan borrower. The applicant will need to sign and return the letter accepting the loan conditions. Loan closing will be scheduled as soon as possible after loan approval. Normally, loan funds are provided within 15 days of approval. If the application for a guarantee is approved, FSA will provide written notification to the lender. FSA receives funding for loans and guarantees on a fiscal year basis, and the demand for some loan types may exceed the level of funding received. When this occurs, a loan can be approved subject to the availability of funding, but it cannot be closed until additional funding is received.
Deadlines
Applications for emergency loans must be received within eight months of the county's disaster or quarantine designation date.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Within 60 calendar days after receiving a complete loan application, the Agency will complete the processing of the Direct loan request and notify the applicant of the decision reached, and the reason for any disapproval.
Appeals
FLP applicants and borrowers have the right to request reconsideration, file appeals, and enter into alternate dispute resolutions about adverse decisions. If a loan is not approved, FSA will provide written notification of opportunities to request: Reconsideration Applicants are provided with the opportunity to meet with the FSA loan officer to present additional information and explain why you believe FSA's decision may be in error; Mediation A process for resolution of a disagreement. A trained neutral mediator assists two or more parties who disagree by looking at the issues, considering all available options, and attempting to agree on an acceptable solution; Appeal to the Department of Agriculture National Appeal Division (NAD) An independent organization within USDA, where you may present evidence which demonstrates why you believe that FSA's decision may be wrong.
Renewals
Applicants may reapply for an FSA loan at any time. Applicants who were given a denial of a loan request will be advised of potential actions or alternatives that might resolve or help resolve the issues that resulted in the denial of the loan request. Applicants previously given a loan denial must establish that substantial change has occurred, since the denial decision.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
Emergency loan funds may be used to:
I. Restore or replace essential property;
II. Pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year;
III. Pay essential family living expenses;
IV. Reorganize the farming operation; and
V. Refinance certain debts.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Applicants must furnish 3 year history of farm production, if available, when production losses are claimed. Otherwise, FSA records of acres grown and proven yields, county or State production averages, or combinations of the above records when approved, are used. Applicants must maintain accurate financial and production records during the period of the loan.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Loans for crop, livestock, and non-real estate losses are normally repaid within one to seven years, depending on the loan purpose, repayment ability, and collateral available as loan security. In special circumstances, terms of up to 20 years may be authorized. Loans for physical losses to real estate are normally repaid within 30 years. In certain circumstances, repayment may be made over a maximum of 40 years.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Consult the appropriate FSA State office where the property is located. For a list of FSA State offices with telephone numbers and addresses, visit FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov to locate nearest office.
Headquarters Office
James Jackson
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250 US
james.jackson@usda.gov
Phone: 202-692-4940
Website Address
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/index
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-4212-0-3-351
Obligations
(Direct Loans) FY 22$29,000,000.00; FY 23 est $4,000,000.00; FY 24 est $4,000,000.00; FY 21$4,000.00; FY 20$37,668,000.00; FY 19$13,170,000.00; FY 18$12,713,000.00; FY 17$15,131,000.00; FY 16 est $74,554,000.00; FY 15$13,383,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The maximum emergency loan amount may not exceed $500,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
7 CFR Parts 764; FSA Handbook 1- FLP. 2-FLP, 3-FLP & 1-APP. Farm Service Agency Fact Sheets; FSA Program Aids 1610 "Farm Service Agency Producer's Guide to Loan Programs"; FSA Program Aids 1620 "Lender's Guide to FSA Loan Programs; FSA Brochure FSA-BK-01 "Your Guide to FSA Farm Loans"; All information is available on FSA website at: www.fsa.usda.gov.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.