Landowners and farmers in Southwest Wisconsin are invited to a workshop that explains the process of applying for a loan with USDA’s Farm Service Agency. “The benefits of working with FSA include favorable interest rates and terms for farm ownership and operating loans, access to non-traditional types of credit such as microloans, and assistance in completing loan applications,” says Joanne Reynolds, FSA Farm Loan Officer.The workshop is a partnership of two organizations that focus on farmer-to-farmer training: Southwest Badger RC&D and Angelic Organics Learning Center. Southwest Badger RC&D offers recent graduates of UW Madison’s Shortcourse and other beginning farmers support to starting raising livestock on rented land, including business plan coaching from Badgerland Financial. Angelic Organics Learning Center’s farmer training initiative (www.learngrowconnect.org/farmer) supports and serves farmers in all stages through programs focused on training in production, business planning, and farm finance.Paul Dietmann, Emerging Markets Specialist for Badgerland Financial says “we often partner with the Farm Service Agency, particularly through the FSA Guaranteed Farm Loan Program and the Beginning Farmer Down Payment Loan program. The USDA Farm Service Agency is a crucial source of assistance for beginning farmers and others who might have difficulty meeting commercial lending standards.”The workshop will also cover practical steps you can take to prepare for meeting with a lender – such as prescreening your own credit report to check for accuracy. A diverse panel of livestock producers will describe their experience with FSA programs and farm funding opportunities.The “Growing Your Livestock Farm Business with an FSA Loan” workshop is scheduled for May 17, 2017 from 6:00 pm-8:30 pm at the Iowa County Health and Human Services Building, Conference Room, 303 W Chapel Street, Dodgeville, WI 53533. The cost is $15 per person. Full scholarships are available for military veterans; contact Robert Bauer at 608-732-1202 for more information. The event is open to the public but registration is requested online by May 12th at http://estore.learngrowconnect.org/Growing-Farm-Business-FSA-Loan.html.The Mentorship Program for Future Livestock Farmers connects beginning livestock farmers to financial coaching, business mentorship, and land through the Southwest Badger RC&D Grazing Broker. The program is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. To sign-up to receive updates on events in the region visit www.swbadger.org, www.facebook.com/SWBadger, phone 608-732-1202, or email [email protected]
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