Farm Loans Get Paperwork Checkup from USDA
Published Date: 10/6/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Agriculture is asking for public feedback on its Farm Loan Program info collection, which helps family farmers get loans for land, equipment, and farming needs. They want to make sure the paperwork is useful, clear, and not too much of a hassle. Comments are open until November 5, 2026, so farmers and others can weigh in before any changes happen.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Access to Farm Service Agency Loans
If you are a family farmer, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loan Program (FLP) provides loans to buy real estate, buy equipment, and finance agricultural production under 7 CFR part 761. The program is intended for family farmers and is administered through FSA local offices (OMB Control Number 0560-0238).
Risk if Information Is Not Collected
The agency states that failure to collect the required information, or collecting it less frequently, "could result in the failure of the farm operation or loss of agency security property."
Mandatory Supervision, Counseling, and Management Help
FSA is required to actively supervise FLP borrowers and provide credit counseling, management advice, and financial guidance as part of the program's administration.
Required Paperwork and Public Comment Deadline
If you apply for FLP loans, you must submit information to your local FSA office; the collection has 66,041 respondents and a total of 158,263 burden hours, with responses occurring on occasion and annually. The Department is accepting public comments on this information collection through November 5, 2026 at www.reginfo.gov.
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Key Dates
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