Farmers and ranchers must have access to capital and technical assistance to remain sustainable. Efforts are underway across all USDA programs to increase farmers and ranchers’ access to capital. This project aims to provide technical assistance to under-resourced farmers and ranchers that will increase participation in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loan Programs (FLP) in the critical areas of the western and southern regions. Native Agriculture Financial Services (NAFS) was created out of the dire need for farmers and ranchers to have the resources to access capital. A team of former ag extension agents along with experts in legal, finance, and agricultural lending will use current digital fact sheets, webinars, and videos developed by USDA/FSA farm loan programs and address barriers to capital by building relationships and trust. NAFS has developed a robust FSA FLP technical assistance network to exist alongside NAFS’ own technical assistance efforts, that will be sustainable for farming generations of the future. Ensuring farmers and ranchers are fully versed in FSA FLP efforts to modernize and strengthen support to borrowers is the overarching goal of this project. Outcomes include:
- Farmers and ranchers know which FSA FLP resources and products are available.
- Farmers and ranchers understand the loan application process.
- Farmers and ranchers can gather application documents.
- Farmers and ranchers have the skill set to develop an application.
- Farmers and ranchers understand farm record keeping, business and strategic planning, legal and tax issues, financials and state and federal farm programs.
- Farmers and ranchers understand what is expected of them after they become borrowers.
- Farmers and ranchers understand how to access and use loan servicing resources.
Email NAFS TAPN advisors here for assistance with farm record keeping.
