WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for February 2013. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for February 2013 is 0.125 percent, unchanged from 0.125 in January 2013. For 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for loans disbursed during February 2013 is 1.125 percent, unchanged from 1.125 in February 2013.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for February 2013 are as follows, 1.250 percent with seven-year loan terms, up from 1.125 in January 2013; 1.875 percent with 10-year loan terms, up from 1.625 in January 2013 and; 2.125 percent with 12-year loan terms, up from 1.875 percent in January 2013. The interest rate for Sugar Storage Facility Loans for February 2013 is 2.375 percent, up from 2.125 in January 2013.

The maximum discount rate applicable for February 2013 for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program is 5 percent, unchanged from January 2013. This is based on the 3.250 percent prime rate plus 2 percent, rounded to the nearest whole number.

Past monthly releases announcing interest rates charged by CCC on commodity and marketing assistance loans disbursed for that particular month reflect the interest rate the U.S. Treasury charged CCC for that month. This was the interest rate specified by CCC since Jan. 1, 1982, but the process of establishing the interest rate was changed by a provision of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the Act), enacted on April 4, 1996.

Section 163 of the Act requires that monthly interest rates applicable to commodity and marketing assistance loans are to be 100 basis points — or 1 percent — greater than the rate determined under the applicable interest rate formula in effect on Oct. 1, 1995. This formula resulted in a rate equivalent to the amount the U.S. Treasury charged CCC for borrowing, for the month.

Further program information is available from USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Financial Management Division at 202-772-6041.

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