For this week’s Networking with NIFA, partners from across the state discuss the variety of agricultural support programs available to Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers, many tailored to those early in their careers.
Presentations by Cathy Anderson (Production and Compliance Programs Chief at Farm Service Agency), Lisa Liska (Farm Loan Specialist at Farm Service Agency), Karla Bahm (Next Gen Administrator at Nebraska Department of Agriculture), Bob Campbell (Senior Vice President at Farm Credit Services of America), and Dudley Beyer (Agricultural Programs Manager at NIFA), who also moderated with John Turner (Manager of Community Development and Research at NIFA).
Lisa Liska & Cathy Anderson - Overview of FSA and its programs:
- FSA is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Delivers federal farm programs
- Authorized by federal farm bill legislation
- Over 400 NE staff members in 71 county offices
"The focus of the Farm Service Agency is really to provide a comprehensive safety net for farmers and ranchers through two primary program portfolios… our farm programs and our farm loan programs."
"At FSA, we are tasked with implementing ad hoc assistance programs as they're passed by Congress and currently one of those programs is the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program."
- So far have issued $500M under CFAP
- FSA Program Portfolio
- Farm Programs: Safety net, Disaster, Conservation Reserve
- Farm Loans: Direct and Guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans, Microloans, Beginning Farmer, Youth, and Farm Storage Facility loans
- Beginning farmer loans provide credit opportunities to farmers who have been farming for 10 years or less
- Great resources available at farmers.gov
Karla Bahn - Next Gen, Neb Department of Agriculture
- Helps next generation of farmers and ranchers overcome two hurdles:
- Capital investment
- Access to agricultural assets
- Provides a refundable income tax credit to asset owners who lease to eligible beginning farmers
- Issued $12.5M in tax credits to over 450 beginning farmers
Bob Campbell - Farm Credit Services of America
- Customer-owned cooperative serving rural America
- Pays cash-back dividends, allowing member-owners to share its success
- Helps young and beginning producers build their business acumen through understanding their financials, developing and implementing business plans based on their goals, and understanding the importance of proactive marketing
Dudley Beyer - Nebraska Investment Finance Authority
- Beginning Farmer/Rancher Program
- Assists in obtaining low-interest rate Agriculture loans for the purchase of land, equipment/machinery, and breeding livestock
- Lender receives bond exempting loan interest income from federal and NE state tax
- Beginner receives below-market interest rate
