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The Agency targets a portion of its loan funds to minorities and women farmers and ranchers. These targeted funds are not a program type; rather it distinguishes a specific funding source, which is known as Socially Disadvantaged Applicants (SDA). SDA’s include women, African-Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Hispanics, Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

The loan process and all loan requirements are identical for SDA applicants to those for non-SDA applicants. To be considered for targeted SDA loan funding, the applicant must voluntarily provide his or her ethnicity, race and gender on the loan application.

SDA targeted loan funds are available for FSA Guaranteed loans, Direct Operating Loans and Direct Farm Ownership loans.

We encourage you to contact your local office or USDA Service Center to learn more about our programs and the information you will need for a complete application. To locate your local FSA office, click here or find a listing in the telephone directory in the section set aside for governmental/public organizations under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency. Our local FSA offices will be happy to provide you with further information and a loan application.