FSA Debt Relief

American Rescue Plan Act and USDA Agriculture Relief Efforts

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) includes over $16 billion for agriculture relief and programs at USDA, that can help support Tribal governments and Tribal producers. These funds build on existing and new opportunities for relief through USDA. This #IndianAgRescue page created by the IAC and our partners, is a resource for your update-to-date information on what relief is available, how to access it, what questions to ask, and how we can help.

FSA Debt Relief

FSA Loan Debt Relief for “Socially Disadvantaged Producers”

The ARP authorizes payments of 120 percent of socially disadvantaged producers’ FSA farm loans, FSA guaranteed loans, and Commodity Credit Corporation Farm Storage Facility loans as of January 1, 2021. USDA’s definition of “socially disadvantaged” includes Native producers.

Status:  February 1, 2022 - Update:  No Accelerating or Foreclosing on any Direct Loans

https://www.farmers.gov/blog/update-no-accelerating-or-foreclosing-on-any-direct-loans

USDA Resources: 

• FSA Debt Relief FAQs

  •  Who qualifies for this debt relief?

    • Any socially disadvantaged borrower with direct or guaranteed farm loans as well as Farm Storage Facility Loans qualifies. The American Rescue Plan Act uses the 2501 definition of socially disadvantaged, which includes Black/African American, American Indian or Alaskan native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian American or Pacific Islander. Gender is not a criteria in and of itself, but of course women are included in these categories.

  • I qualify as socially disadvantaged under the American Rescue Plan definition, but I am not late on my payments. Do I still qualify?

    • Yes. Any socially disadvantaged borrower with direct or guaranteed farm loans as well as Farm Storage Facility Loans qualifies.

  • When will qualified borrowers begin to see a loan pay-off or other payment in response to the American Rescue Plan?

    • USDA is now reviewing and working to gather feedback to implement the Act, and more guidance will be forthcoming for socially disadvantaged borrowers with direct or guaranteed farm loans as well as Farm Storage Facility Loans. For borrowers in arrears, the moratorium established on January 26th to stop all debt collections, foreclosures and evictions for all borrowers, including socially disadvantaged producers, remains in effect.

  • What You Can Do Now

    • Producers who have worked with USDA’s Farm Service Agency previously may have their ethnicity and race on file.  A borrower, including those with guaranteed loans, can contact their local USDA Service Center to verify, update or submit a new ethnicity and race designation using the AD-2047.

Questions and Recommendations:

• If I have an FSA or guarantee loan payment coming up, should I make my payment?

  • Please reach out to your loan officer or local USDA office with questions about payments. 

  • From FSA Letter to Banks:

    • “ . . . . we are encouraging lenders and borrowers to continue normal loan activities on all loans that are in “current” status. FSA recognizes that the calculation of the payment amount will be based on the outstanding indebtedness as of January 1, 2021, and any subsequent reduction in indebtedness as a result of payments received after that date will not reduce the amount of the payment the borrower receives.”

Technical Assistance Funding, Financial Assistance, and Support for “Socially Disadvantaged Producers

• Financial assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners that are former farm loan borrowers who suffered related adverse actions or past discrimination or bias.

• Outreach, mediation, financial training, capacity building training, cooperative development training and support, and other technical assistance on issues concerning food, agriculture, agricultural credit, agricultural extension, rural development, or nutrition to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners, or other members of socially disadvantaged groups.

• Grants and loans to improve land access for socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners.

• Funding for agricultural research, education, extension, scholarships, federal pathways internships at the following institutions:

  • 1994 Tribal Colleges and Universities land grants; 

  • Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions; 

  • 1890 land grants; additional entities serving socially disadvantaged communities.

  • Hispanic-serving institutions; and 

  • Insular area institutions.

• Establishing one or more equity commissions that will address racial equity issues at USDA.

Status: Still Being Implemented