Resources to Assist Your Farming/Ranching Operation
This program is closed, and the application period will not reopen. Awards were announced July 31, 2024. If you have not received a letter about an award or denial, please call the DFAP call center at 1-800-721-0970.
Resources to Assist Your Farming/Ranching Operation
USDA has many programs to help with your farm or ranch. These include conservation assistance, disaster assistance, risk management tools, agricultural financing, safety net programs, and marketing. We encourage you to explore the many resources available. This fact sheet can help you to get started. Much more information is available at farmers.gov.
USDA has an office in almost every county to support farmers. We have been working to improve programs and expand the access of programs throughout USDA, including at the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA).
Disaster Assistance
If your farm or ranch has been impacted by a natural disaster, we have financial assistance and technical assistance available to assist you with your loss and to support your recovery. Our programs include support with livestock loss and damages through the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); compensation for feed and grazing loss through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP); cost-share to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes or vines through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP); and support for crop damage either through the Noninsured Assistance Program (NAP) or through Federal crop insurance. We also have programs available to restore fencing, damaged farmland or forests and removal of debris. Learn more at http://fsa.usda.gov/disaster.
Conservation Assistance
NRCS offers assistance with conservation planning and installing practices that are specific to your natural resource needs and business goals. From simple management systems, such as planting cover crops, to complex structural practices, such as animal waste management systems or innovative irrigation devices. Programs at NRCS have received an increase in investments due to the Inflation Reduction Act. NRCS provides financial assistance and technical assistance for your operation. Applications for conservation programs are accepted year-round at your local NRCS office.
Farm Loan Options and Improvements
FSA has various loans available to support your operation:
- Farm Ownership Loans can be used to purchase or expand a farm or ranch.
- Farm Operating Loans can be used to purchase livestock, seed, and equipment. Operating loans can also cover farm operating costs and family living expenses while a farm gets up and running.
- Microloans are designed to meet the needs of small and beginning farmers, or non-traditional and specialty operations, by easing some of the requirements and offering less paperwork.
- Emergency loans are available if you suffered a qualifying loss caused by natural disasters that damaged your farm or ranch.
FSA has a significant initiative underway to improve its farm loan programs. As you restart, continue or being your relationship with FSA we want to highlight some key improvements we’ve made:
- A simplified direct loan paper application, reduced from 29 pages to 13 pages.
- The Loan Assistance Tool that provides customers with an interactive online, step-by-step guide to identifying the direct loan products that may be a fit for their business needs and to understanding the application process.
- The Online Loan Application, an interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet, and build a farm operating plan.
- The Farm Loan Application Fast Track Pilot Program expedites loan underwriting for certain qualifying applicants using underwriting criteria based on financial benchmarking data.
Learn more about these improvements at farmers.gov/loans.
Working with Partners
We understand that sometimes you may want to work with a trusted local non-profit as you engage with USDA. We’ve invested in cooperative agreements throughout the country to help provide education and outreach to better engage with producers.
We’re also cooperating with FarmRaise, Inc. to provide a digital educational hub that delivers free, user-friendly, producer- and cooperator-tested resources and is helping FSA expedite program delivery to agricultural producers. Learn more at Farmraise.com.
Additional Programs and Services
If you’re interested in these or other programs, you can contact FSA or USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at your local USDA Service Center. FSA and NRCS staff can meet with you one-on-one to discuss your vision, goals, and ways USDA can help. Find your local USDA Service Center at farmers.gov/service-locator.
If you’d rather have a conversation first, you can call the Farm Service Agency hotline at 1-877-508-8364.
