USDA starts rollout of debt relief for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers According to USDA, there are about 14,400 SDA borrowers with about $2.7 billion in debt, as well as another $400-million-plus that is delinquent. More than 80% of the borrowers hold direct loans and account for about 65% of the debt — about $2 billion. The rest, guaranteed lenders, have about $1 billion. 5:30 am, Jun. 5, 2021 × U.S. Department of Agriculture's Whitten building. (Agri-Pulse photo) The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects debt relief payments for socially disadvantaged farmers to begin in early June and continue on a rolling basis, but some farmers and lenders are still asking questions about how the new program will work.