LEWISTON — Loans for “socially disadvantaged” farmers, including women, African Americans and Hispanics, are available from the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Farm Service Agency “targets a portion of its loan funds each year to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers,” farm loan manager Michael A. Dennison said. “Farming and ranching is a capital intensive business and FSA is committed to helping producers start and maintain their agricultural operations.”

The USDA defines socially disadvantaged applicants as a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities. For farm loan program purposes, socially disadvantaged groups are women, African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Hispanics and Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Socially disadvantaged producers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank can apply for either Farm Service Agency direct loans or guaranteed loans. The direct and guaranteed loan program offers two types of loans: farm ownership loans and farm operating loans.

For more information on the Farm Service Agency’s farm loan programs, please contact your farm loan Service Center at (207) 753-9400, ext 2.