USDA Highlights Emergency Loans for Horse Farms
Monday, March 12, 2012
Copyright American Horse Council
Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Administration (FSA) issued a press release highlighting equine producers' eligibility for the FSA's emergency loan program. The law making equine producers eligible for emergency loans was originally passed in 2008 as part of the last "farm bill."
Equine producers were not eligible to receive USDA emergency loans for many years. However, because natural disasters were increasingly impacting horse farmers and ranchers the American Horse Council (AHC) requested Congress change the law to make equine producers eligible for emergency loans following disasters. In 2008 Congress passed the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 that explicitly made equine producers eligible for USDA emergency loans.
USDA emergency loans can be made to agricultural producers in counties that have been designated disaster areas by the President or the Secretary or Agriculture. Loans can be used to restore or replace essential property, pay for production costs and living expenses, and refinance debts.
This is a federal agricultural program. Therefore to qualify for USDA emergency loans you must be an agricultural producer, such as an owner of a horse farm or ranch that breeds horses for profit. An individual who owns a horse only for racing, recreation, or showing would not qualify.
If you have any questions please contact the AHC.
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