Minnesota Land Stewardship Project leaders are pleased with the expansion of USDA’s Microloan program.  It creates a new financing avenue for farmers to buy and improve property.  LSP Policy Program Organizer Tom Nussmeier says this expansion will be beneficial for beginning farmers and small and mid-sized farming operations as it will help them purchase farmland and buildings.

He says this will help address some of the land access difficulties beginning producers have been struggling with.

Nussmeier says the Microloan expansion will also help beginning operators make improvements on their land as well as purchase land and buildings.

The recent Microloan expansion will also help producers with soil and water conservation projects. In the past the program helped with feed, fertilizer, tools, equipment and fencing.