Title 12Banks and BankingRelease 119-73

§2279aa Definitions

Title 12 › Chapter CHAPTER 23— - FARM CREDIT SYSTEM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VIII— - AGRICULTURAL MORTGAGE SECONDARY MARKET › § 2279aa

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Gives plain meanings for important words used in these rules. "Agricultural real estate" means land or buildings used to grow farm products, or a modest single-family home in a rural area. The farm land must meet minimum acres or yearly income set by the Corporation. The home meaning excludes places with more than 2,500 people and any dwelling (not counting the land) worth more than $100,000 (as adjusted for inflation). "Board" means the board of directors created to run the Corporation. "Certified facility" means a mortgage-marketing facility that has been officially certified, or the Corporation and its affiliates. "Corporation" means the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. "Guarantee" means a promise to pay principal and interest on securities that are backed by groups of qualified loans. "Originator" means any bank, credit union, Farm Credit System institution, cooperative, insurer, trust, savings association, or other business that makes and services farm mortgage loans. "Qualified loan" covers certain first-lien farm mortgages to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (or companies mostly owned by them) who have enough farming experience, plus certain Secretary-guaranteed loan portions and some rural electric/telephone cooperative loans. "State" has the same meaning used elsewhere in the law.

Full Legal Text

Title 12, §2279aa

Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For purposes of this subchapter:
(1)The term “agricultural real estate” means—
(A)a parcel or parcels of land, or a building or structure affixed to the parcel or parcels, that—
(i)is used for the production of one or more agricultural commodities or products; and
(ii)consists of a minimum acreage or is used in producing minimum annual receipts, as determined by the Corporation; or
(B)a principal residence that is a single family, moderate-priced residential dwelling located in a rural area, excluding—
(i)any community having a population in excess of 2,500 inhabitants; and
(ii)any dwelling, excluding the land to which the dwelling is affixed, with a value exceeding $100,000 (as adjusted for inflation).
(2)The term “Board” means the board of directors established under section 2279aa–2 of this title.
(3)The term “certified facility” means—
(A)an agricultural mortgage marketing facility that is certified under section 2279aa–5 of this title; or
(B)the Corporation and any affiliate thereof.
(4)The term “Corporation” means the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation established in section 2279aa–1 of this title.
(5)The term “guarantee” means the guarantee of timely payment of the principal and interest on securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, pools of qualified loans, in accordance with this subchapter.
(6)The term “originator” means any Farm Credit System institution, bank, insurance company, business and industrial development company, savings and loan association, association of agricultural producers, agricultural cooperative, commercial finance company, trust company, credit union, or other entity that originates and services agricultural mortgage loans.
(7)The term “qualified loan” means an obligation—
(A)(i)that is secured by a fee-simple or leasehold mortgage with status as a first lien, on agricultural real estate located in the United States that is not subject to any legal or equitable claims deriving from a preceding fee-simple or leasehold mortgage;
(ii)of—
(I)a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or
(II)a private corporation or partnership whose members, stockholders, or partners holding a majority interest in the corporation or partnership are individuals described in subclause (I); and
(iii)of a person, corporation, or partnership that has training or farming experience that, under criteria established by the Corporation, is sufficient to ensure a reasonable likelihood that the loan will be repaid according to its terms;
(B)that is the portion of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.), except that—
(i)subsections (b) and (c) of section 2279aa–6 of this title, and section 2279aa–8 and 2279aa–9 of this title, shall not apply to the portion of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary or to an obligation, pool, or security representing an interest in or obligation backed by a pool of obligations relating to the portion of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary; and
(ii)the portion of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary shall be considered to meet all standards for qualified loans for all purposes under this chapter; or
(C)that is a loan, or an interest in a loan, for an electric or telephone facility by a cooperative lender to a borrower that has received, or is eligible to receive, a loan under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.).
(8)The term “State” has the meaning given such term in section 2277a of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, referred to in par. (7)(B), is title III of Pub. L. 87–128, Aug. 8, 1961, 75 Stat. 307, which is classified principally to chapter 50 (§ 1921 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1921 of Title 7 and Tables. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, referred to in par. (7)(C), is act May 20, 1936, ch. 432, 49 Stat. 1363, which is classified generally to chapter 31 (§ 901 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 901 of Title 7 and Tables. Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical

Amendments

to this section. The

Amendments

by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2018—Par. (2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 5411(42)(A), substituted “means the board of directors established under section 2279aa–2 of this title.” for “means— “(A) the interim board of directors established in section 2279aa–2(a) of this title; and “(B) the permanent board of directors established in section 2279aa–2(b) of this title; as the case may be.” Par. (6). Pub. L. 115–334, § 5411(42)(B), (C), redesignated par. (7) as (6) and struck out former par. (6) which defined “interim board” to mean the interim board of directors established in section 2279aa–2(a) of this title. Par. (7). Pub. L. 115–334, § 5411(42)(C), (D), redesignated par. (9) as (7) and substituted “(b) and (c)” for “(b) through (d)” in subpar. (B)(i). Former par. (7) redesignated (6). Par. (8). Pub. L. 115–334, § 5411(42)(B), (C), redesignated par. (10) as (8) and struck out former par. (8) which defined “permanent board” to mean the permanent board of directors established in section 2279aa–2(b) of this title. Pars. (9), (10). Pub. L. 115–334, § 5411(42)(C), redesignated pars. (9) and (10) as (7) and (8), respectively. 2008—Par. (9)(C). Pub. L. 110–246, § 5406(a), added subpar. (C). 1996—Par. (1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 104–105, § 101, substituted “, excluding the land to which the dwelling is affixed, with a value” for “with a purchase price”. Par. (3)(A). Pub. L. 104–105, § 102(1), substituted “an agricultural mortgage marketing” for “a secondary marketing agricultural loan”. Par. (3)(B). Pub. L. 104–105, § 102(2), struck out “, but only with respect to qualified loans described in paragraph (9)(B)” after “thereof”. Par. (9)(B)(i). Pub. L. 104–105, §§ 108(c)(1), 109(b)(1), substituted “(d)” for “(f)” and “2279aa–8” for “2279aa–7, 2279aa–8,”. 1990—Par. (3). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1839(a), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “The term ‘certified facility’ means a secondary marketing agricultural loan facility that is certified under section 2279aa–5 of this title.” Par. (9). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1839(b), amended par. (9) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (9) read as follows: “The term ‘qualified loan’ means an obligation that— “(A) is secured by a fee-simple or leasehold mortgage with status as a first lien on agricultural real estate located in the United States that is not subject to any legal or equitable claims deriving from a preceding fee-simple or leasehold mortgage; “(B) is an obligation of— “(i) a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or “(ii) a private corporation or partnership whose members, stockholders, or partners holding a majority interest in the corporation or partnership are individuals described in clause (i); and “(C) is an obligation of a person, corporation, or partnership that has training or farming experience that, under criteria established by the Corporation, is sufficient to ensure a reasonable likelihood that the loan will be repaid according to its terms.” 1988—Par. (9)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 100–399 substituted “holding” for “hold” and struck out “and” before “are”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Effective Date

of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–399 effective as if enacted immediately after enactment of Pub. L. 100–233, which was approved Jan. 6, 1988, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 100–399, set out as a note under section 2002 of this title. Statement of Purpose Pub. L. 100–233, title VII, § 701, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1686, provided that: “It is the purpose of this subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 701–705) of title VII of Pub. L. 100–233, enacting this subchapter, amending section 2012, 2033, 2072, and 2093 of this title and section 9105 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and enacting provisions set out as a note below]— “(1) to establish a corporation chartered by the Federal Government; “(2) to authorize the certification of agricultural mortgage marketing facilities by the corporation; “(3) to provide for a secondary marketing arrangement for agricultural real estate mortgages that meet the underwriting standards of the corporation—“(A) to increase the availability of long-term credit to farmers and ranchers at stable interest rates; “(B) to provide greater liquidity and lending capacity in extending credit to farmers and ranchers; and “(C) to provide an arrangement for new lending to facilitate capital market investments in providing long-term agricultural funding, including funds at fixed rates of interest; and “(4) to enhance the ability of individuals in small rural communities to obtain financing for moderate-priced homes.” GAO Studies Pub. L. 100–233, title VII, § 704, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1706, as amended by Pub. L. 100–399, title VI, § 603, Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1006, directed Comptroller General of United States to conduct studies of (1) implementation of

Amendments

made by subtitle A (§§ 701–705) of title VII of Pub. L. 100–233 (which enacted this subchapter and amended section 2012, 2033, 2072, and 2093 of this title and section 9105 of Title 31, Money and Finance) by Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation and effect of operations of Corporation on producers, Farm Credit System, and other lenders, and capital markets, (2) feasibility and appropriateness of promoting establishment of a secondary market for securities representing interests in, or obligations backed by, pools of agricultural real estate loans for which a guarantee had not been provided by Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, and (3) feasibility of expanding authority granted under

Amendments

made by such subtitle A to authorize sale of securities based on or backed by a trust or pool consisting of loans made to farm-related and rural small businesses, and required, not later than Jan. 6, 1990, Comptroller General to transmit to Congress a report on the studies, including therein such recommendations for administrative action and legislation as might be appropriate.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

12 U.S.C. § 2279aa

Title 12Banks and Banking

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73