Programs

State Programs

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
The CRP Program is the USDA's single-largest, most effective environmental program. Producers enroll in CRP and plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve water quality, control soil erosion and enhance habitats for waterfowl and wildlife. In return, USDA provides producers with annual rental payments. CRP contract duration is from 10 to 15 years.

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
In 2001, USDA and the Commonwealth of Kentucky agreed to implement CREP on a section of the Green River to restore up to 100,000 acres. Through some minor contract modifications/acreage cancellations, the cumulative total acreage is 101,917.7, thus bringing to a close this part of the Green River CREP.

Kentucky FSA 2012 Annual CREP Report

Non-insured Assistance Program (NAP)
The program covers non-insurable crop losses and planting prevented by disasters. Eligible crops include commercial crops and other agricultural commodities produced for food or fiber for which the catastrophic level of crop insurance is not available.

Direct and Counter-cyclical Program
The Commodity Title of the Farm Bill helps to stabilize agriculture by providing payments to eligible producers who enroll their farm each year.

Farm Storage Facility Loans
FSA may make loans to build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities. The maximum term is 7 years, 10 years and 12 years.

Marketing Assistance Loans
Marketing assistance loans provided producers interim financing at harvest to meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows.

Farm Loan Programs

FSA makes and guarantees loans to farmers who are temporarily unable to obtain private commercial credit. Under the guaranteed loan program, FSA guarantees loans made by commercial agricultural lenders up to 95 percent of any loss.

Farm Ownership Loans
Farm ownership loans may be used to purchase or improve real estate or reorganize the farm business.

Farm Operating Loans
Farm operating loans may be used for normal operating expenses, machinery and equipment, real estate repairs, and refinancing debt.

Conservation Loan Program (CL)
The Conservation Loan Program (CL) allows FSA to provide guarantee conservation loans to eligible borrowers to cover the cost of implementing qualified conservation projects.

Microloans
The Microloan Program was developed to better serve the unique financial operating needs of beginning, niche and the smallest of family farm operations by modifying its Operating Loan (OL) application eligibility and security requirements. The application process for the microloans is simpler, requiring less paperwork to full out, to coincide with the smallest loan amount that is associated with microloans. Eligible applicants may obtain a microloan for up to $50,000.

Socially Disadvantaged Loans
Socially Disadvantaged applicant is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethic, or gender prejudice with out regard to his or her individual qualifications.

Your FSA Farm Loan Compass (A Guide to Help Answer all your Questions)