Suggested Event
Jun 15, 2021 to Jun 17, 2021
The $4 billion in debt relief authorized to Black farmers and other socially disadvantaged farmers will begin in June, according to a notice of funding availability announcing the loan payments offering aid approved under the COVID-relief inspired American Rescue Plan earlier this year. It is estimated 16,000 farmers could be eligible for the assistance.
USDA expects payments to begin in early June and continue on a rolling basis. Eligible direct loan borrowers will begin receiving debt relief letters from FSA in the mail on a rolling basis, beginning the week of May 24. After reviewing closely, eligible borrowers should sign the letter when they receive it and return to FSA. (View a more detailed timeline here.)
Black farmer loan forgiveness to begin in June feedstuffs.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from feedstuffs.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
For Farmers Surviving the Pandemic, Timely Federal Grants and CDFIs Made All the Difference
May 07, 2021
Last winter, farmers in Maine may have had little hope of still being in business in the spring of 2021, given how their businesses were rocked by the pandemic. But for many, their fortunes quickly changed when Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI), Maine’s longtime community development financial institution (CDFIs), stepped in to administer millions of dollars in 2020 CARES Act assistance to farmers across the state.
In just 25 days during December 2020, CEI administered $17.4 million in CARES Act funding to 437 farmers, producers and processors across the state. The grants ranged between $1,000 and $100,000 for pandemic-related infrastructure investments, making unplanned e-commerce investments, and more. For some, the grants literally saved their businesses. While CEI is a lender and not a grant-making agency, it is an example of how CDFIs can rise to the challenge of disbursin
FSA quickly implemented crucial programs amid challenging year
Purkey
SIDNEY USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) helped farmers, livestock producers and foresters weather a tough 2020, marked with a pandemic and natural disasters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FSA continued to deliver farm programs to producers through phone and online tools, using social distancing guidelines. The agency also provided extra flexibilities to its programs, adjusting reporting dates and loan processing timelines, and continued to expand technology and streamline services to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
“Shelby County has over of 200,000 cropland acres with the top three commodities being soybeans, corn and wheat. We serve over 3,000 farm operators and owners,” said Annette Purkey, the Shelby County executive director (CED) for the Farm Service Agency (FSA). She also serves as the Acting CED for the Miami County FSA office.