New York county beginner, minority and women farmers eligible for loans

12/12/2011

Beginning farmers, women and minorities in Steuben County, New York, will all be eligible for USDA loans from its Farm Service Agency as part of the FSA's goal to promote greater involvement in the occupation, the Steuben Courier reports.

In order to qualify for loan assistance, applicants must have satisfactory credit, sufficient education and/or training to ensure "reasonable prospects of success," be citizens of the United States and are unable to obtain credit elsewhere at reasonable rates.

The USDA offers loans to beginning farmers - those who have limited experience with no more than 10 years of managing experience - across the country. According to the FSA's website, the agency disperses a portion of its direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loan funds to beginning farmers.

Steueben County was also recently recognized as a disaster area by the USDA due to heat and draught last July and August, The Associated Press reports. The disaster loans are available to both farm and nonfarm entities to help pay for damage recovery to a farm's property. Additional counties declared eligible include Ontario, Wayne, Schuyler, Seneca and Yates.