The USDA is looking for other funding sources for the FSA Operating Loan Program. The $2.65 billion allocated has run out as requests for financial assistance grow amid the economic downturn in agriculture. That’s a concern to leaders with the Center for Rural Affairs who had warned that was possible over a year ago. Rural Affairs Executive Director Brian Depew says there is no emergency
funding options, so farmers will have to wait until the new fiscal year begins to receive loans.

He says smaller farmers and beginning producers will be the hardest hit by the funding shortfall.

Depew says his group will be pushing Congress to put even more dollars into the Operating Loan Program for next year.

Currently FSA loans are funding more than 113,000 borrowers, with loans totaling nearly $23 billion.